Is it possible for children to program Microsoft Kinect?

Question

I read the answers "How to Get Children in Programming" , and Microsoft Kinect was noticeable due to its absence. However, the "Kinect for Windows" homepage talks about using this to educate students.

Presumably, the APIs are still evolving and relatively complex, but how is it possible to get a younger audience (say 10-15) working with the technology? I ask because I think that the physical feedback loop from the sensor will be a great experience like Mindstorms for kids.

Are there any books, software training wheels, or online resources to work even more with Kinect?

Answer 1

Working with the actual Kinect APIs requires a deep understanding of mathematics and computer science. The API provides you with 1) a byte [] representing the various images that the sensors capture, and 2) a series of {x, y, z} points representing the various joints that it tracks on users' bodies.

Doing anything useful with them requires either trigonometry or linear physics (analyzing the relationship between the “joints” and how they change over time to make gestures) or working with the image byte [] s.

Skeletal material may be suitable for advanced students at the high end of your age range.

It is probably more interesting to create an abstraction layer around the Kinect SDK that does the “hard parts” and provides a more “fun” API designed to provide children with reasons to learn simpler CS concepts.

Answer 2

In addition, I conducted other programming camps with people of my age who do not receive WeScheme , so I would set up a camp to find out who STRONGLY understands how computers work and who will be dedicated to finding out. Most people who sign up do not actually enjoy programming, as it was difficult for them to start at age 12 or at an early age. And I forgot in my first comment that I’m 3-4 years ahead of everyone in mathematics, which makes it much easier for me. So, I would say, start at 15, weed out the uninitiated, and then start the basics of the language you are going to use, then you can jump into Kinect. Hope this helps!