Exploring the Unexpected Revival of the Xbox Kinect: A Journey into Its Surprising Afterlife

The story of the Microsoft Xbox Kinect is a bit of a heartbreak. It was an innovative device that ended up being used in ways that didn’t work out well for gaming. As a result, it was discontinued, even though it shines in other fields. For a glimpse into how the Kinect has been repurposed, check out this article from the Guardian. You won’t find any computer games mentioned, but it’s an interesting read.

Think about it: a camera that can create a 3D depth map alongside a regular image has huge potential outside of gaming. In the hands of innovators, the Kinect can do so much—like help build self-driving robots, scan objects in 3D, and create unique user interfaces. Artists, for example, have embraced the Kinect for interactive art projects all over the world.

Interestingly, the Kinect has gained popularity in ghost-hunting communities. Many of those spooky TV shows are filmed in low light, which fits perfectly with the Kinect’s infrared technology. Its ability to track human figures through machine learning makes it a handy tool for those looking to capture elusive spirits. But as the Kinect becomes harder to find in second-hand markets, its unique capabilities may fade away, replaced by pricier specialist devices.

If you haven’t seen the Kinect used outside of gaming, there’s an old project for scanning rooms to spark your interest. Just for fun, there’s a gaming idea Microsoft didn’t think of, but it’s sad to note that the company has truly moved on from this once-promising product.