740°

Kinect has problems recognizing dark-skinned users?

Gamespot: GameSpot testing suggests facial recognition features of Microsoft's motion-sensing camera system might not work properly for some gamers.

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gamespot.com
-Mezzo-4950d ago

What does *Motion* has to do with Skin Tone, if this truly turns out to be a problem, Microsoft would lose a ton of sales.

T9X694950d ago

Well I saw a review the other day posted here on N4G by a dark skinned user, and he didn't seem to have any problems. He wasn't like Akon dark, but he was pretty dark and from the video it worked pretty well. Then again a lot of reviewers are saying the calibration setup is difficult regardless of skin color, so that could come into effect as well.

feelintheflow4950d ago

one dark skinned worker never got it to recognize his facial recognition. Another got it to do it sometimes and a third never had any trouble. So who knows if it is going to be a problem or not. Seems pretty quick to start using this type of headline. They act like it is a given when it only didn't work for facial recognition so he could still play games, and it worked for one and not the other person, maybe the dude was just so ugly it wouldn't recognize him. I am gonna wait to make any final judgments.

gaden_malak4950d ago Show
BulletToothtony4950d ago (Edited 4950d ago )

some HP computers have this same problem.. i guess the contrast might be an issue under the wrong lighting..

it's pretty bad thou

reminds me of this..

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

---stone---4950d ago

gaden_malak
Don't all black folk look the same?

@gaden

all black people do not look alike. They're the chocolate rainbow...

black people all different colors

Black walnut

Burnt almond

Chocolate

Chocolate mocha

Pecan

Vanilla

Yeller

Meller

Light

Bright

Damn-near white

-quote Redd Foxx lol

ElementX4950d ago Show
gaden_malak4950d ago

for all the disagrees - I was clearly joking.

Perhaps I should ask if all internet people lack a sense of humour.

DORMIN4950d ago (Edited 4950d ago )

"Kinect Doesn't Care About Black People"

MasterGuru4950d ago

Would Kinect recognize my dog? My dog is half human half dog.

J_Cob4950d ago

I saw an E3 video of this guy dressed in all black and it couldn't track his movements.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

So much for 3D tracking. Looks like it tracks colors. Wth is the point of two cameras?

awiseman4950d ago

I have been waiting for a comment like yours to come along...

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InfectedDK4950d ago

Kinect is a pedo natzi spying tool

MorganX4950d ago

Why don't you tell your black jokes to real black people on the street instead of online, don't forget to ask them if they have a sense of humor.

MasterGuru4950d ago

I wonder what HHG has to say about this.

va_bank4950d ago

We joke like this with our black friends (they have lots of white jokes too), but I probably wouldn't do the same with strangers.

rogersz4950d ago

Like a lawsuit to MS lol

darthv724950d ago

guess we wont be getting the HHG review anytime soon.

lol

Heisenberg4950d ago

It's official... Kinect is racist.

Dee_914950d ago

so this means the tanned guidos and guidettes in jersey wont b able to play this lol
jk

solidt124950d ago

From Little MAN the movie " He wasn't Mocha he was like a caramel cream Latte color black"

morganfell4950d ago

So are white people. What's the point? It is only a racist attitude that thinks they are all "white". It's just that white people don't have a fit over it when they are generalized. It isn't the end of the world.

AndrewRyan4949d ago

Now thiefs won't be able to use Kinect and therefore won't be stealing it! Amazing strategy by Microsoft!

Dee_914949d ago

im sure they would have a fit if they was slaves
and get racially profiled
even tho most people try to pretend its not as bad as it used to be :)

thank for telling black people to forget about their history and pretend nothing happened\is happening

morganfell4949d ago (Edited 4949d ago )

Who alive today is a slave in the free world? Do you realize how other people, many of them Irish, were indentured and brought to the US to be bought and sold, treated like property?

Do you realize how many racial jokes are told about other races?

Do you realize that most Africans were sold into slavery by other blacks?

Who alive in the US today was a slave owner? Seriously, the reason a lot of racism won't die is certain people keep bringing it up as if it is the source of every damn problem they have. No one is saying forget your history but Judas Priest, take that rock out from around your neck that you are keeping there like some badge.

Instead far too many feel like beating that damn drum to keep that angst alive. You'll never have an identity until YOU choose to be free of it. There isn't some guy in a sheet around every corner.

But then again, it's the fault of all these white people alive today, right? People like you fail to realize you'll never move forward as long as you insist on keeping yourself chained to Kunta Kinte.

Let it go already and stop playing the entitlement game. Want to talk skin? Grow some with a little thickness like everyone else has and realize that not every word in every language nor every comment is racist. Even if it refers to skin color. If you can't acknowledge the differences between the races and laugh about them, including your own, then you'll never be free. You are still a slave alright and you are your own massa.

+ Show (21) more repliesLast reply 4949d ago
deadreckoning6664950d ago (Edited 4950d ago )

LOL...love the pic. T9X69 pretty much sums it up. Unless your Wesley Snipes black...I think ull be fine.

@bviperz- Yeah man. Robert Downey Jr., one of the best comedic actors of our time :)

bviperz4950d ago

I can't stop laughing just looking at the pic and remembering the sh@t he said in the movie!

RageAgainstTheMShine4950d ago (Edited 4950d ago )

Wow that's why Oprah was never offered to demo it so instead Ellen was the right demonstrator all along.

Is M$ racist?

How about us Indonesians, Malaysians, East Indians, Samoans, Filipinos and Africans? Drats!

EVILDEAD3604950d ago

LOL @ people believing this is actually an issue..

Will be debunked tommorow..

MorganX4950d ago (Edited 4950d ago )

Based on the idiotic photo the author chose to use, a white man in blackface. If it is true, it only effects white men in blackface. Not real black people.

BTW, I love Sgt. Osiris in Tropic Thunder and Robert Downey. But using this photo in this article is not the best choice.

CYCLEGAMER4950d ago

Its a freakin lie....I have it and I am playing it right now and it has no problem signing me in or recognizing me, and on top of that its dark outside and I don't have a well lit room. So this article is crap.

CYCLEGAMER4950d ago

LOL at disagree, must be a part of the fanboy patrol.

shoddy4950d ago

-small apartment
-dress/ baggy cloths
-load noise
-black people

jony_dols4950d ago

Uh oh, Microsoft African division better sort this out.

MorganX4950d ago

99.9% of blacks in America are American. Africa ancient history. Microsoft and American company, would have to figure it out if it was an issue.

I know Sony is desperate, but this is beyond the pale.

syanara4950d ago

you people disappoint me! I CAME HERE LOOKING FOR SOME FUNNY COMMENTS! whats wrong with you guys?!?!

edgeofblade4950d ago

Quite simply, if the skin absorbs infrared light too readily, the IR camera won't be as capable of detecting depth.

Certain kinds of clothes do that too. I recommend playing naked, if you're white and in a grey jumpsuit if you're black...</sarc>

princejb1344950d ago

is just fan boy bashing thats all
this article aint true

solidt124950d ago

LOL Kinect is racist? I hope not.

Sano644949d ago

I would not be suprised if lots of people try and return it because they think that theirs is broken but then find out it does not like "some" black people

+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 4949d ago
ALFAxD_CENTAURO4950d ago (Edited 4950d ago )

There are a lot of reports about this.

Wonder why the demonstration on Gamespot didn't work well with a dark skinned guy.

@mezzo

I thought this problem was fixed long time ago.

The reports about that, started in 2009. When Kinect was called Natal.

There are reports from 2009, the camera have problems to track black skinned people.

What a shame.

-Mezzo-4950d ago

But the thing i don't get is that why the Skin Tone is even a problem, it's Motion Controller not a Skin Tone Controller.

-Alpha4950d ago (Edited 4950d ago )

If the camera uses light to see, and dark people are dark, then doesn't it mean they are hard to see? Especially for something like facial recognition?

Hm, I'm a little confused too now, wonder what Operah thinks about this.

badz1494950d ago

but she's shining, even M$ want Kinect to be with her!

Death24944950d ago

a problem as it is a querk. What people are forgetting is that is "software" related, meaning it can be adjusted and fixed. Actually the CastTV post, he said that it did have some trouble with the facial recognition feature. If you're not black/cuban/ or a dark skinned mexican than you're okay. The auto sign in uses facial recognition to do this, and if your Kinect can't recognize your face then it won't sign in. But to be honest, I don't think people who drop $150.00 on this are going to care much unless it affects their gaming experience.

MorganX4950d ago

If that were the case. I would think it would have trouble tracking light skinned people in a white room.

edgeofblade4950d ago

This is the part where you get past Kinect being "just-a-camera". It's an infrared depth sensor that also has an RGB camera on it. If certain shades of skin absorb IR light too easily, there will be nothing to reflect back for the depth sensor to read.

MasterGuru4950d ago Show
+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4950d ago
Carlos_Irwin_Estevez4950d ago (Edited 4950d ago )

picture is pure win, it also doesn't like proper beards.

They took out alot of the heat sensors, it doesn't work in low light either

TheLastGuardian4950d ago

Why did you use a picture of a white guy made to look like a black guy? You should've used a picture of Wesley Snipes instead.

n to the b4950d ago (Edited 4950d ago )

off topic: I had absolutely no clue what was the freakin point of that movie A Scanner Darkly until I watched my bro's special edition copy with all the commentary. now I like it ok. :)

downey jr. looks baked in that pic. which is prob appropriate if it's the premier event for that film. ;)

-GoldenTimeLover-4950d ago

Officer Tenpenny wont be pleased. :P

vhero4950d ago

Either way its EPIC FAIL. Imagine buying it and it didn't work correctly because of your skin tone. You couldn't return it as there is no return policy once open in the states. Luckily in the EU we have statutory rights which allow us 10 days to return even after we opened and used.

Show all comments (184)
20°

Joy Ride Turbo - The Beginning of the End for Xbox Kinect

Joy Ride Turbo launched 10 years ago today. The first title was Xbox Kinect exclusive, yet this sequel failed to support the device at all.

300°

10 of the Biggest Video Game Hardware Failures Ever

Cultured Vultures: "Sadly, not all hardware is created equal, and no matter how much developers might try, some gaming hardware just fails to hit the mark. We’ve compiled a list of 10 gaming hardware fails, and boy did some fail hard."

Read Full Story >>
culturedvultures.com
Knightofelemia853d ago

I would label the Power Glove, Kinect, and that Tony Hawk skateboard more as hardware addons hardware failure would be like the Virtual Boy and one day Stadia.

Magog853d ago

Kinect was bundled with every Xbox One and inflated the price on an already underpowered and low RAM machine so for the One it wasn't an accessory as much as a white elephant.

CaptainHenry916853d ago (Edited 853d ago )

Definitely the RROD but that power glove had a lot of issues as well. The Kinect just didn't work

853d ago
CrimsonWing69853d ago

Hardware add-ons are more like RAM or a video card, basically components that enhance capabilities or performance of the computer.

If you really want to get technical the Kinect is more of a peripheral device, kind of like a keyboard or mouse to a computer.

ThatsGaming853d ago

The person in this article obviously is not up on their gaming history....

Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Coleco Gemini, Commodore 128, Commodore Amiga, Atari 5200, Atari 7800 were all massive failures and in most cases cost their companies participating in future gaming generations.

Gamer79853d ago

Sega saturn (successful in Japan) and dreamcast were not failures.
Seems like you're not up on you're gaming history

septemberindecember852d ago

@Gamer79

How in the world are the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast not seen as failures? They both sold around 8M each, which is much lower than the ~30M that the Genesis had sold before it, and even the Master System before that. They were both the worst selling consoles in their respective generation (PS1, N64 outsold Saturn, PS2, GC, and Xbox outsold Dreamcast). Both of the consoles were incredibly short lived. The Saturn was discontinued in every territory but Japan after just three years. In Japan the console was discontinued after six years. Meanwhile the Dreamcast was discontinued worldwide in 2001 after launching in most territories in 1999 and in Japan in 1998. The failure of the Saturn and Dreamcast lead to Sega pulling out of the hardware market. Which, by the way, all of this occurred when Sega was massively dropping the price of their consoles quickly to compete. Sega was hemorrhaging money at this point.

None of this indicates a successful console. Saying the Saturn was a success because it did better in Japan is like saying the Vita is a success (they both sold around the same amount of units in Japan). Even the Wii U outsold these consoles worldwide.

Magog853d ago

The picture should be the 360 RROD. When I think of gaming hardware failures that's what springs to mind. Kinect and it's bundled price tag definitely hobbled the already underpowered Xbox One though for sure so I would give it a close second place.

porkChop853d ago (Edited 853d ago )

That's not what the author means by failures. It's about hardware that failed in terms of sales (Wii U) or just failed to deliver on its promise (Kinect).

Magog853d ago (Edited 853d ago )

Given that the 360 had a year head start, much easier hardware to develop for, was cheaper, and still ended up in third place I think it qualifies especially when you factor in the frustration and huge losses incurred by RROD.

porkChop853d ago

Selling over 80 million consoles isn't a sales flop. We get it, you don't like Xbox, but that doesn't mean the 360 is suddenly a failure.

Rhythmattic852d ago

Porky....
You know how many people I know bought a 2nd or third 360 due to RROD? Even when MS had to confront the issue with replacement systems, my mates couldn't wait for even the turnaround of sending it in, and waiting for a replacement.,,..,..
If that's how you consider it a win... OK.. but so is having 5 , of which 3 don't function.... Its a win win....mwhahahahaha

porkChop852d ago

"my mates couldn't wait for even the turnaround of sending it in"

You're acting like it would take months. When I sent my 360 in I got a new one literally 5 days later. As soon as MS had tracking confirmation that you sent yours, they'd send a new one to you the same day. No one is going to spend hundreds to buy a new console instead of waiting a week. I swear you guys pull some of the dumbest shit out of nowhere and think people will actually believe it.

Regardless, none of this changes the fact that this isn't what the article is even about.

Rhythmattic851d ago (Edited 851d ago )

Porky
"You're acting like it would take months"
Sometimes it could.. FFS.. 'Strya here...
Best turnaround I reckon was 2-3 weeks.....
Either way, My mates experiences still exist.. So Sorry, no point trying to earn Xbox Achievements when it doesn't feature in what was a situation you never dealt with,,,,
3 of my friends would disagree (overall, 10 extra Xboxes purchased)
Regardless.. MS sold a lot of 360's that was due to this reason.. That is sales. Fact

"none of this changes the fact that this isn't what the article is even about."
Headline says HELLO !
Oh and "Sadly, not all hardware is created equal," that's enough to pass this on without taking your article bias into consideration.....
As for the rest.... Ok.. But you've actually gone out of your way to give MS a Pass... Fap on.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 851d ago
Aloymetal853d ago (Edited 853d ago )

Yup, and because of that big fiasco MS had to fork out 1 billion but knowing them I think they're very proud of the 360, it's the only time a MS console reached 80mil+ sales, RROD played a big part of that and a record they will never break again.

Rhythmattic852d ago (Edited 852d ago )

So true.. Even when MS accepted they where caught out in the biggest lie of any generation, The wait for a replacement was outweighed by just buying another, and having one be returned as a backup, which, btw, generally failed on first swap.
I own honestly can't believe MS tards are just supporting , or arguing why and what MS did by just dismissing it....

lonewolf10853d ago

Lol I had the Atari Jaguar, surprised its "competition" the 3DO isn't on the list too, both as "popular" as each other.

SullysCigar853d ago

Lol same. Played the crap out of Aliens Vs Predator and Tempest 2000 .... aaand that's about it really!!

lonewolf10853d ago

Sad but true that was pretty much it.

Kurt Russell853d ago

Agreed, I never actually saw a 3DO make it to retailers in the UK. At least the Atari Jaguar was sold for around 6 months.

lonewolf10853d ago

It made it to some my brother got one, fared just as well as the Jaguar so most probably hard to find in general.

darthv72853d ago

3do had way better games. Jaguar not so much. Neo Geo sold less than both and yet isnt considered a failure. Go figure.

LWOGaming853d ago

Stadia is a weird one. It hasn’t sold at all well but in terms of how it works it’s still miles ahead of Xcloud in terms of stability and performance. Xcloud is still a way behind and that needs sorting but it will be in time. Stadia for me is one of those things that will go down as a what could have been moments. With better marketing it could have been a roaring success. I still play it and it remains the best place in my opinion to play CyberPunk 2077. Only platform I have played it on without having any issues at all. The tech is great. The concept is fine. Marketing terrible. Shame really.

Magog853d ago

The sales model was awful. They should have teamed with an existing player to allow for local and cloud access to games or a gaming subscription service.

LWOGaming853d ago

It was a strange mess from such a huge company, as I said, as a system it works really well but without gamers it’s nothing. Such a waste,

LWOGaming853d ago

The Xbox One was Microsoft’s Nintendo Wii U. Undercooked, undersold and just an unholy mess. The thing is with any of these failures is to learn from them and thankfully both Nintendo and Xbox did just that to the benefit of gamers everywhere.

Show all comments (39)
120°

Pivotal Decisions in Gaming History - Xbox Goes All-In on Kinect

Xbox 360's Kinect had flopped yet Microsoft insisted on mandatory Kinect for Xbox One, driving the price up and alienating their potential customers.

Read Full Story >>
techstomper.com
darthv721030d ago

the tech was pretty damn good but their focus on making it the centerpiece was not. Had they opted to keep it as a secondary or even tertiary device, it may have found new use for AR/VR.

PrimeVinister1030d ago

Maybe. But they were two early for VR and too late for motion control

1030d ago Replies(2)
Godmars2901030d ago

Their focus was marketing metrics. Information gathering for targeted advertising. Also "event curating" or head counting for special TV events. If MS had had their way with always online and mandatory Kinect pre COVID, as and during it they'd likely be turning into dominant presence in many Western homes. Be getting subsidized by Disney and other streamers as well as the NFL.

Thing was, Kinect as an actual game system, its games, just weren't ready. MS moved on it too soon. Thankfully.

Atticus_finch1030d ago

Sorry but it was incredibly bad for gaming. The thing barely worked as intended and the games were broken shovelware. And let's not forget all the lies from Xbox to try and sell it. What happened to Milo?
It's like Xbox it's a perpetual lying machine.

PrimeVinister1030d ago

I had almost forgotten about Milo. It looks so unbelievable in retrospect. How did anyone believe it?!

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1029d ago
TheEnigma3131030d ago

Kinect requirement, TV focused, DRM, and $100 buried Xbone before it even stared.

PrimeVinister1030d ago (Edited 1030d ago )

I think Kinect was the worst of the bunch. They reversed DRM overnight and try to play down the TV stuff when they realised it made them look disinterested in gaming.

Kinect stuck around for six months, preventing sales and making more and more people upset when they dropped the Kinect and the price.

Atticus_finch1030d ago

Don't forget the inferior hardware which affects their game development to this day.
And the constant boasting and lying that hasn't change very much to this day.

kayoss1030d ago

I was kind of excited for the kinect. It had potential. That was until i tried it at one of their Microsoft store. The thing was so laggy and worker who was there, had no clue what he was doing. It kind of made rethink about buying an Xbox One with Kinect.

PrimeVinister1030d ago

I had already been turned off of the idea by Kinect for 360. Even when it worked, the games were bad and showed no potential.

Wii made you understand what they were going to do with it within about 10 seconds of Wii Sports. It went on to become a bit of a joke but at least it worked and had a purpose.

Thundercat771029d ago

The damage to the Xbox brand was so hard that til this day they are just the last place brand in the market.

PrimeVinister1029d ago

Totally. They haven't been really all that relevant since.

Godmars2901029d ago

That has to do with repeatedly failing, having to reaffirm only to again fail at creating a competent flow of decent games.

@PrimeVinister:
Until Game Pass and BC are mentioned. Only for the point to be missed.

kayoss1029d ago

thats because they dont know what they want to be. A gaming console, Television, or a gaming service?

Godmars2901029d ago

@kayoss:
They wanted, expected, to be Steam. To have everyone coming to them and paying for the privilege. That's the exact mentality on display when they tried to push always online.

brewin1029d ago

Its sad because the Xbox one version of Kinect was actually pretty solid. Not for motion games, I couldnt care less about those, but for the other features that are now commonplace in the gaming ecosystem. Things like voice control and optional motion features in games. Stuff that Sony did with the PS camera was pretty sweet and they could have done some of that stuff with Kinect.

The tech was pretty sweet when implemented right though. Who remembers the implementation in Dead Rising 3?! You could lure zombies away by saying stuff into the kinect, it was a bit hokey at first, but it actually enhanced the game significantly once you learned all the different voice commands. There was and still is nothing else like that!

The focus on TV seemed to be an issue for people, but the TV pass through had some real potential. They could have had cable companies giving the XBone out instead of cable boxes! I understood what they were trying to do, but they needed to show the games too, and thats where they lost the core gamers. Being able to jump right to a sports event or TV show with out leaving the console was actually a pretty cool thing. I spent many nights switching between NHL games or TV shows and jumping right back into my games seamlessly, just by telling Kinect to do so. It was better than people care to admit, but I loved it!

People say XBone had no games, but on launch I got Dead Rising 3, AC Black Flag, Watch Dogs, Killer Instinct, Battlefield 4, Forza 5, and Ryse. That was actually a pretty solid lineup in hindsight! Then later on it got gems like Quantum Break, Dead Rising 4, Sunset Overdrive, Gears 4 and 5, the Ori games, Rare Replay, Forza Horizon 3/4, State of Decay 2, ReCore (SUPER UNDERRATED GEM), Halo 5, Halo Wars 2, and all the great 3rd party stuff as well! I dare anyone who sat on the Xbox One to go back and give it a shot now.

It was actually a pretty great console all things considered. Yes the PS4 had better 1st party stuff, stuff that MS just couldnt top or even compete with, but there are some really great games that a lot of people missed out on that they would probably really enjoy if they actually played them. Thats why I recommend a Series S and Gamepass to a lot of people, as its a great way to get an awesome lineup pf games for super cheap!

Show all comments (22)