Kinect: Works Lying Down. Ish.

We know Kinect works if you stand up, we know that it will work if it has been programmed to recognise you are sitting but what if you are really, really lazy and lay down? This important question has been answered at the Develop conference by Blitz CTO, Andrew Oliver.

Blitz are working on a game based on ‘The Biggest Loser’ TV show, a fitness title that features push ups and yoga. It appears Kinect runs in to problems if you are lying flat on the floor to do exercises but there is a work around.

“We had to consider, would this skeletal tracking ever realistically be able to work out that a player is laying on the floor,” Oliver said, “We asked – believe me we asked – and we were told it wasn’t going to happen.”

To get round this problem the Blitz team have coded their own detection routines and simply use a players silhouette rather than the skeletal tracking system.

“You don’t need to rely on the system. You can write your own [detection routine] if you know what you’re looking for.”

Hopefully this paves the way for a system of controlling Halo by waving your arm occasionally whilst safely snuggled under a duvet with a tin of Quality Street. No? Just me then.

Source: Joystiq