Kinect is a camera for Xbox 360...
Let's boil this down to its most simple: Kinect is an Xbox 360 peripheral. Think of it as a webcam on steroids that plugs into the console's USB port that looks like it belongs with a PS3.
...formerly known as Project Natal...
Yes, you've heard "Project Natal" for a year now—and we've covered "Natal" extensively (read this and this if you haven't). That was just the working title. Now, it's called Kinect...which is horribly confusing to those of us who played Nike Kinetic on Sony's EyeToy, right?
...that uses IR to track you in 3D space...
So Kinect is smarter than your average webcam. First, it has excellent sight thanks to its secret trick: spotlighting the room with invisible infrared light. The camera sees you wonderfully thanks to this infrared. And, coupled with some advanced software that will run on the 360, it can track 48 points of your body in realtime for up to two players simultaneously.
...plus some other goodies...
Kinect is equipped with a microphone so you can talk to the 360. Also, it doesn't just see you in IR; it can also film you in full RGB color, recognizing your face to automatically sign you in. And its tilt? Fully motorized to track you! Oohhhh.
...equipped with a interface all its own...
When Kinect is equipped, you'll use a separate menu system than you've known on the 360. It's simpler, ditching tabs for simpler iconography. To load Netflix, you can wave to hit the Netflix button, or you just say "Netflix." Pause by telling it to pause or reaching in the air to grab a virtual pause button.
...and Skype-like chat software called "videokinect"...
Whether your friends are on Xbox Live or Windows Live Messenger, you can video chat with them. But you can also do some other neat stuff, like watch a video together. And as mentioned above, it can track you in realtime thanks to motion sensing and the motorized tilt.
...that's coming this November for an undisclosed price....
http://gizmodo.com/5563047/what-is-xbox-360-kinect
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