Now we are one

What's next?

It's hard to believe, but Kinect has its first birthday this week. Released in North America on 4th November 2010 and Europe on 10th November, the sensor has shifted over 10 million units worldwide and generated more body sweat than the Wii Remote every dreamt of.

Microsoft is keen to stress that the future of Kinect is even more exciting than the past, and has put together a video showing some of the potential uses for the sensor and how it's revolutionising everything from music to medicine and beyond.

Microsoft released the non-profit Kinect for Windows SDK earlier this year, but next year it'll also release a similar set of software tools for commercial endeavours.

Check out some of the interesting things happening over at The Kinect Effect website and let us know what you think the next 12 months holds for Kinect.

Xbox 360 Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of the “Kinect Effect”

LONDON – 31st October 2011 – Almost one year ago this week Xbox 360 set out to change the way we interact with games and entertainment with the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360. Controller-free games and entertainment – once the stuff of science fiction – had become a reality through the magic of Kinect. Sales immediately soared with more than 10 million Kinect sensors sold, setting the Guinness World Record as the fastest-selling consumer electronics device in 60 days along the way. Kinect opened up Xbox to a broad set of new audiences, bringing new categories of entertainment to the platform. Leading brands such as Disney, Sesame Street and National Geographic were inspired by the simplicity and intuitiveness of Kinect’s voice and gesture control technologies, developing immersive, fun experiences for everyone. Nearly 40 world-leading entertainment providers, including Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC, LOVEFiLM, MSN, YouTube, Blinkbox and Muzu, will join current providers like BskyB on Xbox 360 this Christmas and beyond, to deliver TV entertainment experiences that are more personal, effortless and social.

Six months ago, a diverse group of hobbyists and academics from around the world embraced the possibilities of Kinect. In a wave of creativity, they downloaded the Microsoft Kinect for Windows SDK and began developing creative applications and innovative uses in healthcare, education, art and so much more. Microsoft has recognised this phenomenon as “The Kinect Effect.”

Marking the US 4th November and UK 10th November anniversary of Kinect, Xbox 360 today announced that the Kinect for Windows commercial program will be launched early next year. The commercial program will give businesses the tools to develop applications that not only could improve their own operations, but potentially revolutionise entire industries. To date, more than 200 businesses worldwide - including Toyota, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Razorfish - have joined a Kinect for Windows pilot program to begin exploring the possibilities of Kinect. While no one knows what the future holds, if the past year is any indication, it’s going to be inspiring.