After getting an overwhelming response on the release on Xbox Kinect, Microsoft is here with another exciting feature for Xbox users. Steve Ballmer announced ‘Avatar Kinect’ at CES 2011 during Microsoft’s press briefing.
Steve Ballmer delivers keynote at CES 2011
Avatar Kinect is basically an Xbox 360 feature that allows users to act as their digital avatars on the screen using the Kinect for Xbox. It makes use of Xbox Kinect sensors to read the gestures and even the finer moments of smile and eyebrow. These gestures and motions are then replicated on the screen.
Avatar Kinect In Action (via Engadget)
The idea is a superb, innovative one, you can hang up with friends on Avatar; join the virtual chatroom with other Kinect users over internet and much more. Microsoft describes the phenomena like this:
With Avatar Kinect, a player can invite up to seven friends to join them in one of 15 imaginative virtual environments to reflect their mood and inspire their conversations or performances. Arrive or leave sessions in style with unique animations like flying in with a jet pack, or snapping fingers to vanish. Players can also add cool animated and visual effects to creatively express their thought.
The Avatar Kinect is expected to be released this Spring, and the good thing is it would be available for free to all Xbox LIVE Gold members. Now that’s great, here is Avatar Kinect’s trailer to let you watch it in action!