Kinect to be utilised by real-world business

It's not just adequately sized home living rooms that are playing host to Kinect, the business world is putting Microsoft's motion-sensing technology to work too.

The Financial Times has reported that Microsoft is to sell a Kinect for Windows software development kit to businesses from early 2012.

Microsoft has apparently been working with more than 200 companies from 25 different industries to best utilise Kinect's motion sensing camera, depth sensors and microphone for businesses in fields as varied as education, advertising and the automotive industry.

Car manufacturer Toyota has developed a virtual showroom using the technology and Spanish technology group Tedesys has hooked up Kinect to a PC to enable surgeons to browse patient data during surgery.

“I can guarantee you that 12 months from now, educational, academic and commercial applications will look nothing like what they are today,” said Alex Kipman, director of incubation for Xbox.

Kinect had sold 10 million units as of March 2011, since which time Microsoft has not released any new figures.

Thanks, EG.