Microsoft patent envisions using Kinect to make physical replicas of scanned objects

Microsoft Kinect patent

Microsoft has been granted a patent for technology that can convert the 3D scan data collected by the Kinect cameras into a real physical replica of the scanned object.

The popular Kinect camera has been hugely popular among gamers, but has also found its way in the health care space. It scans, with great accuracy, the movements of a user’s body and translates them into character movements in the game. Also, the same tech could be used to, say, scan the body movements of people doing physical therapy at home.

The invention presumes using a pair of Kinect cameras that send the dimensional data to another device that recreates the shape in the real world. That other device uses an array of air blowers which blow streams of air at varying strengths on a piece of malleable material such as stretch fabric or elastomer to form the shape.

It’s unclear what kind of real-world uses this technology will enable, though. Perhaps the growing telehealth industry can somehow benefit from its use and bring virtual doctor-patient visits to a whole new level. Or perhaps, this ends up a gaming thing, only. If you have any ideas, feel free to drop your two cents below…

[Via: VentureBeat]