For Second Life and archaeological digs, the Kinect can create 3d representations of scanned items and folks! The Kinect 3d Object and People Scan gives users the technology to scan their objects and people and create a virtual 3d representation of them. This video by Chris Palmer showcases this Kinect setup and how the future of gaming and inventory can radically be changed by the Kinect. In the video people and objects, through a guided Kinect is able to capture a robust 3d image. Not only that, but also the depth and texture of the object is captured, giving a more detailed scan. The 3d images can be handy and in this case, scanned images of people can properly be imported to the game, Second Life. Another use is predicted on the archaeological digs, scanning ancient items/relics to be studied in 3d by historians miles away!
Here is a description by the developers:
“University of California, San Diego students preparing for a future archaeological dig to Jordan will likely pack a Microsoft Kinect, but it won’t be used for post-dig, all-night gaming marathons. Instead, the students will use a modified version of the peripheral Xbox 360 device in the field to take high-quality, low-cost 3D scans of dig sites.
Jürgen Schulze, a research scientist at UCSD’s division of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), along with his master’s student, Daniel Tenedorio, have figured out a way to extract data streaming from the Kinect’s onboard color camera and infrared sensor to make hand-held 3D scans of small objects and people.”
For more information about the Kinect 3d Object and People Scan, visit the project’s Youtube Page.
