I've been fairly critical of Kinect recently. It's not that I don't like the tech, just that I don't think it works that well for video games, or hasn't done to this point. But the actual technology itself, in terms of its application on life outside of video games, can be astounding and — occasionally — life changing.
In this example Kinect is used to directly translate sign language to people who can't understand or sign. It's this kind of functionality that makes me wonder why the Kinect brand is being wasted on video games where it frequently feels inaccurate or flat out doesn't work.
It reminds me of when Kinect was first released. It seemed as though incredible hacks were being discovered every other day, as folks started to get a handle on what Kinect could do outside of video games. The potential for Kinect is dazzling and I'd love to see it used in ways like this, where it's actually genuinely useful.
Via Fast Company
This post originally appeared on Kotaku Australia, where Mark Serrels is the Editor. You can follow him on Twitter, if you're into that sort of thing.