LWN: Comments on "Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)"

Isn't this illegal?

pr1268 — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 05:37:53 +0000

Probably not. Refer to Kewanne Oil v. Bicron where the SCOTUS upheld reverse engineering as legal in the interest of "...dissemination of ideas and [encouraging] innovation in the marketplace..."

Now had Microsoft implemented DRM (Digital {Rights|Restrictions} Management) into its Kinect controllers, then circumventing that in order to develop an open-source driver may be illegal (in the U.S.) by the DMCA. IANAL.

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

rilder — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 05:18:18 +0000

Before more such developments take place (especially in FOSS), one question -- Isn't this illegal ?

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

elanthis — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:32:58 +0000

No need to wait, a regular high-def web cam can already do eye tracking.

There are also higher quality 3D/motion cameras. They are just probably out of your price range. :)

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

fandingo — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:17:39 +0000

I actually have to applaud Microsoft for not including client-side DRM on the Kinect. It's really cool that initial support took a single day.

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

drag — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:46:29 +0000

Probably can't do it very well. but if it was close enough to your face then it probably can do it somewhat.

I expect future devices to have higher resolution cameras and more capabilities.

I was thinking about the future applications of these types of devices.

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

ken — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:04:00 +0000

You mean head tracking ? Eye tracking is not something this device can do.

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

endecotp — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:24:42 +0000

> I'd love to have a kenetic-type device to control
> my HTPC or do presentations

Have you tried a gyroscopic mouse, like the Gyration one?

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

cowsandmilk — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:59:10 +0000

People might be interested in the contest that Matt Cutts is funding as a follow up to this:
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/open-kinect-contest/

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

TeDiouS — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 23:44:42 +0000

It makes me eager to see Free Software games taking advantage of this, and doing some creative work. :-)

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

drag — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:23:32 +0000

It's very cool. I'd love to have a kenetic-type device to control my HTPC or do presentations or just generally disregard the mouse.

Hell it would be cool to be able to eye tracking to switch windows and such.

Hacker wins $3,000 for first open source Microsoft Kinect driver (The H)

TeDiouS — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:13:26 +0000

*golf claps*