Microsoft looks to integrate Kinect into displays and laptops

By Gloria Sin March 5, 2013

Forget the Leap Motion sensor from Kickstarter. Soon, you’ll be able to use the same gestures that you already know from using your Xbox’s Kinect camera to control your computer, assuming Microsoft has its way.

Microsoft has been showing off some Kinect-embedded concept devices at its newly opened Envisioning Center during its annual TechForum, where the Redmond-based company demos its latest research projects to tech journalists at its Seattle campus. Judging by the video tour of the Envisioning Center, it is clear Microsoft believes the future involves large displays that fill up walls with built-in stereoscopic 3D Kinect cameras that you can control with your voice and gestures (in addition to touch controls via touchscreens).

The Verge asked Microsoft’s Craig Mundie how the company plans to make use of its Kinect technology, and Mundie admitted that the goal is to shrink the sensor and reduce its cost so it can be integrated into more products beyond the video game console. Displays and laptops embedded with a thinner and smaller version of the Kinect 3D cameras are definitely in the works. In fact, “[Mundie’s] dream is to get a Kinect into the bezel of something like this [Surface tablet].” Considering that Microsoft researchers and engineers are already able to show working models of Kinect-embedded devices, we may not have to wait long for these machines to reach store shelves.

Of course, anyone who has used the Kinect on an Xbox knows that the technology is not perfect. For example, the current generation of the Kinect sensor requires quite a bit of physical space before it can accurately track your motions, but that’s a not a luxury that a tablet or laptop user has when using mobile devices. Microsoft definitely has its work cut out to integrate the Kinect technology into every device it can, but at least it is working on it. We can’t wait to see a Kinect laptop or smartphone hit the market.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gloria’s tech journey really began when she was studying user centered design in university, and developed a love for…

Computing

The 5 weirdest laptops ever made that you forgot existed

The HP OmniBook 800CT on a table with Civilization loaded up on it.

In the past couple of years, laptops have been released that I never thought would be possible. Whether it's a foldable laptop like the ThinkPad X1 16 Gen 1, a fully modular gaming laptop like the Framework 16, or a laptop with a glasses-free 3D display, we're in a golden era of design experimentation right now.

But there's a long legacy of experimentation with laptop design, and as I looked back, I came across plenty of older machines from the 1990s and 2000s that are every bit as strange and conceptual.
HP OmniBook 800CT
Exploring the HP Omnibook 800CT

Computing

The thinnest laptops you can buy in 2024

Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air placed on a desk with its lid closed.

The thinnest laptops today are paper-thin compared to their predecessors, and though they aren't literally that trim, they're getting pretty close. In recent years, one of the biggest advances made to the modern laptop is that the chassis continues to shrink. Best of all, battery life and performance continue to improve. It's a no-compromise situation — and we love it.

One of the thinnest laptops around is the Apple MacBook Air at just 0.44 inches thick. It's incredibly thin, but provides awesome performance and battery life thanks to Apple's excellent M3 CPUs. There are some other excellent laptops that are also incredibly thin. Here are some of our favorites.

Computing

Microsoft Surface sale: Save on Surface Laptop 9, Pro 9, and more

The Surface Pro 9 with the Type Cover keyboard lifted up.

For anyone seeking great laptop deals, Best Buy is perfect for fans of the Microsoft Surface range. Right now, you can buy select Microsoft Surface Pro 9 models for over $500 off while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 can be purchased for $200 off. Just a few of the examples in the sale that spans over 20 different devices, hit the button below to see the full sale for yourself. Alternatively, take a look at some of our favorites while we guide you through things.

What to shop for in the Microsoft Surface sale
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 tops our look at the best 2-in-1 laptops so this should be your first port of call. The most appealing option for many people is the which is usually $1,540 but is currently down to $1,000. The laptop has a 12th-generation Intel Core i5-1235U processor, 16GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage. Its 13-inch touchscreen has Dynamic refresh rates up to 120Hz while there’s Dolby Vision support so it’s great for watching shows on the move.