Kinect technology coming to Windows Phone 8?

Hands-free gestures were in development for Windows Mobile 7.

VR-Zone.com is claiming to have inside knowledge suggesting that Microsoft is working on bringing Kinect Natural User Interface to Windows Phone 8.

Apparently inspired by the success of Siri on the iPhone, Microsoft has developed a new appetite for Natural User Interfaces (NUI).

VR-Zone claims the technology will show up either at launch or in the first or second update after.

Apparently the biggest challenge for the R&D department is lack of room for Kinect cameras on smartphones:"Kinect has three cameras, one of which his infrared. We can’t put an IR camera on a smartphone, and without it, NUI won’t work in dark." (See Canesta, now owned by Microsoft, small sensor here)

While the story may be a late April’s Fools by VR-Zone, we must remember had been thinking in this direction before, saying:

“Windows Mobile 7 will use motion gestures, something the iPhone does not. It will not use an intricate and complicated series of gyroscopes and accelerometers. Instead, it will use the camera on the phone to detect motions and create appropriate actions. You will be able to shake, twist and otherwise manipulate the phone and get things done. The phone will be able to perform actions when placed face down on a surface, and it will know when it is in your pocket or bag.”

Source:wmpoweruser