Home Gaming The Kinect 2.0 borders on alien tech, could exploit vulnerable gamers

The Kinect 2.0 borders on alien tech, could exploit vulnerable gamers

3 min read
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alien technology

Across the vast lands of the internet, gamers have been raising concern about the Xbox One’s Kinect and their privacy, but do we really know just how much the Kinect 2.0 is capable of? The peeping tom super-camera is more sophisticated than we think and has the potential to take advantage of gamers when they’re mentally most vulnerable.

While our primary concerns have been that the Xbox One won’t drop the Kinect requirement and that it’ll always be watching, the Kinect’s other capabilities are undeniably impressive. These capabilities are similar to that we’ve seen in movies or never really considered to be a reality. Something that would be in thousands, maybe millions of homes much sooner than any would have thought.

Jamie Madigan, a writer who writes about the psychology of video games, published a very interesting blog on Gamasutra, discussing the possibility of the Kinect to exploit gamers’ mental exhaustion to sell them games.

Madigan starts off by mentioning some of the Kinect 2.0’s demonstrated features. It can tell where you’re looking, tell what mood you’re in from your facial expressions and even estimate your heart rate by the colour of your skin. The Kinect 2.0 will have night vision and the obvious voice recognition system. Yes, all this is pretty impressive, assuming it actually works come the time to see these features in action from the comfort of your very own home. After which it will transform into a T-1000 model and Skynet will take over the planet! *Cough!* Anyway, here’s the interesting part.

“And though it hasn’t been discussed, I wonder if the Kinect ‘s high definition camera could be programmed to measure one other important biometric: pupil dilation. This would be both awesome and worrisome, because while not exactly a mirror into our souls, the eyes can reveal a lot about what goes on in our minds. Madigan writes.”

XBox-One-Kinect-Sensor-Front-Large.jpg

It isn’t that far fetched either, but let’s not give Microsoft any ideas here. Pupil dilation can be used as an indicator of how hard the mind is working, when it’s working the hardest, and when it gives up because a problem is too hard to solve. It all boils down to “the more mentally taxed we are, the bigger our pupils get.”. Once the brain gives up, pupils snap back to normal size.

How is it possible to use this data in gaming through a piece of technology like the Kinect? It’s simple. The Kinect could use it to adjust game difficulty, and detect when a player is mentally tired.

“If the Kinect (or any camera) could detect pupil size, it would open up a whole new level of scaling game difficulty. A puzzle game could be made more and more difficult until you’re taxed just the right amount to get you in the zone –something psychologists call “psychological flow.” Imagine playing a rhythm game like Guitar Hero and having the game adjust the speed of the note highway until you’re pushed just to the brink of your abilities based on how hard you’re concentrating on the task.” 

The unsettling implication of this capability, according to Madigan, would be that the Kinect would be able to tell when a gamer is stressed and mentally taxed, and then use this opportunity to sell gamers stuff.

“Willpower is like a muscle that can be exhausted by any mental activity, and when it’s depleted we’re more likely to do dumb stuff like make impulse purchases”.

I doubt that should any company try use this exploit, they’d not be caught out by the masses of superior internet minds. However, I won’t exactly put it past the world we live in today to try it.

Last Updated: July 9, 2013

89 Comments

  1. Jonah Cash

    July 9, 2013 at 14:39

    Yeah!!!! The Kinect is your friend….. until you are vulnerable and weak and then it pounces and eats you!!! More reasons to get excited about BONE ONE….

    Reply

    • Mike E. Delta

      July 9, 2013 at 17:03

      Yes…eat me, lol =p

      Reply

  2. The Infamous KingKongShlong

    July 9, 2013 at 14:40

    “and even estimate your heart rate by the colour of your skin” Brace yourselves, memes are coming.

    Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      July 9, 2013 at 15:01

      “Are you sure you should be playing a game in your condition?”
      “Damn it Kinect, there’s nothing wrong. It’s winter & my tan has faded!”

      Reply

    • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

      July 9, 2013 at 15:10

      What happens if you have blue skin syndrome? (aka: Argyria) and the kinect thinks you are dead?

      Reply

      • Trevor Davies

        July 9, 2013 at 15:14

        It deletes all the games from your library because they’re not transferable upon death 🙂

        Reply

        • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

          July 9, 2013 at 15:16

          hahaha

          Reply

        • RinceWind

          July 9, 2013 at 15:16

          Winner!

          Reply

  3. Tarisma

    July 9, 2013 at 14:41

    Ya read about this yesterday how it will notice hat you have in your room and will pick up what you like and try sell you stuff you like. ie if you have lots of starwars posters it will try sell you starwars based games addons etc.Pretty cool but very creepy.

    Reply

  4. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    July 9, 2013 at 14:42

    Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuun.

    That’s it. I have no idea what else to say

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      July 9, 2013 at 14:42

      One more reason for me NOT to get it

      Reply

  5. Argentil

    July 9, 2013 at 14:42

    Glasses are an option. All of this is so hypothetical though. The only real concern I have is that Kinect will activate product recognition in conjunction with invasive advertising.

    “I see your Mountain Dew levels are running low, Argentil. Allow me to redirect you to our store front, and while you’re there, would you like some Doritos to accompany your purchase?”

    Reply

    • ElNicko

      July 9, 2013 at 14:50

      Dew yes please , Doritos no thanks !!

      Reply

    • Mike E. Delta

      July 9, 2013 at 17:05

      Tying directly into the Domino’s App…Pizza Time! Xbox, Order Nao! @_@

      Reply

  6. Trevor Davies

    July 9, 2013 at 14:43

    The Kinect is pretty impressive tech, I just… don’t want one in my house. Unless they give it a voice & a personality, then it can be my robot friend. I actually would like that lol.

    Reply

    • Argentil

      July 9, 2013 at 14:44

      Or girlfriend, you mean? I get it.

      Reply

      • Trevor Davies

        July 9, 2013 at 14:48

        Don’t judge me!

        Reply

      • John Ambitious

        July 9, 2013 at 14:50

        Think Jarvis

        Reply

        • Vampyre Squirrel

          July 9, 2013 at 15:02

          I just think Alt, Ctrl, Del

          Reply

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            July 9, 2013 at 15:05

            Ctrl Alt Del* Sorry. Slight OCD

          • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

            July 9, 2013 at 15:09

            I’m with you

          • RinceWind

            July 9, 2013 at 15:10

            sLiGhT? Tr0LoLOl0

          • Trevor Davies

            July 9, 2013 at 15:10

            LOL!

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            July 9, 2013 at 15:12

            lul wut?

          • Vampyre Squirrel

            July 9, 2013 at 16:16

            Yeah… my bad, sorry.

            But I’m with Rince on this… sLiGhT?

      • RinceWind

        July 9, 2013 at 14:51

        Bwaahahahah!

        Reply

  7. ElimiNathan

    July 9, 2013 at 14:44

    I duno, I kinda want One……..

    Reply

  8. John Ambitious

    July 9, 2013 at 14:49

    I’ve got it

    Reply

  9. RinceWind

    July 9, 2013 at 14:51

    HAAL!

    Reply

  10. Kromas

    July 9, 2013 at 14:52

    This looks about right.

    Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      July 9, 2013 at 14:58

      “That was a joke.” That made me lol when I heard it.

      Reply

    • Mike E. Delta

      July 9, 2013 at 17:07

      Wow, what is that…can I have one? O.o

      Reply

      • BacchusZA

        July 9, 2013 at 19:55

        Play Mass Effect (2 & 3), EDI is a character in that 🙂

        Reply

  11. Skyblue

    July 9, 2013 at 14:54

    Oh FFS, enough about all this horsehit surrounding the Kinect 2.0. It’s part of a fucking console and will not teleport you along with a fly to another room or steal your best wankbank moments and share them on youtube or take over the damn world… FFS, enough of this crap already

    Reply

    • RinceWind

      July 9, 2013 at 14:57

      I can see why people are talking about this. If you think about it, people also spoke about the invasive nature of the cellphone before it was popular, and that has been used for almost all your examples, except maybe the fly bit 🙂 With the more recent NSA still fresh in peoples minds I don’t think someone can just dismiss this as tinfoil hat territory.

      Reply

    • Spathi

      July 9, 2013 at 14:57

      No, but it is INTRUSIVE! Why the fuck would I want to buy a console that intrudes in my private space when I can buy a console that doesn’t do it. I DON’T WANT ADS ON MY DESKTOP OR MY XBOX.

      Reply

      • gwarth

        July 9, 2013 at 15:26

        Then don’t.

        Reply

    • Argentil

      July 9, 2013 at 14:57

      I think the drama comes from the compulsory nature of the camera, and blurred policies. I agree that yapping on about it is not constructive and annoying. MS aren’t removing it.

      Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 9, 2013 at 15:09

        Mmm, we said the same about the DRM 😉

        Reply

        • Argentil

          July 9, 2013 at 15:11

          Difference is, the camera is integrated into the development of some games already underway. That and people seem willing to settle with the camera.

          Reply

          • RinceWind

            July 9, 2013 at 15:12

            That;s the reason the raging is going on and on, settle. I won’t, but then I don’t care as I’m apparently now a Psfanboyhipsterroadkilljunkiewhoreboy 🙂

    • Mark Wilkes

      July 9, 2013 at 15:23

      Well, if MS want to spy on my household they are welcome… all 4 kids running around screaming and fighting with eachother all day. MS will soon have a gigantic headache..ahahahahah..and if they can tell me the 2 teenagers moods, all the better for me!

      Reply

      • Argentil

        July 9, 2013 at 15:24

        You sadist.

        Reply

  12. Anon A Mouse

    July 9, 2013 at 14:57

    Can’t you just do to the kinetic what you’re going to do to the blue light in front of the PS4? Tape it shut?

    Reply

    • Argentil

      July 9, 2013 at 15:04

      Might give you an error saying the Kinect can’t pick you up.

      Reply

    • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

      July 9, 2013 at 15:15

      Just put a pic of someone up in front of it. Wonder if it would tune you that you haven’t moved in like 3 weeks and suggests you phone an ambulance. Might even pop up an add for it on screen lol

      Reply

      • Argentil

        July 9, 2013 at 15:16

        It has depth perception, so it would recognise that the photo were a flat surface.
        Nice try though.

        Reply

        • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

          July 9, 2013 at 15:19

          Just crumple it up a bit to give the illusion of cloth 😛

          Reply

          • Argentil

            July 9, 2013 at 15:20

            Figurines. You saw it here first, folks.

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            July 9, 2013 at 15:21

            Your idea wins

        • Anon A Mouse

          July 9, 2013 at 15:19

          Darn, I already had this in mind…

          Reply

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            July 9, 2013 at 15:21

            Hahahaha! Nice

        • Trevor Davies

          July 9, 2013 at 15:33

          Depth perception? For a console? trollol

          Reply

  13. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    July 9, 2013 at 14:59

    Kinect: Hey…let’s play a game….

    Le vulnerable gamer: uhm….okay….

    Kinect: Okay…I spy, with my little eye…something beginning with a M

    Le vulnerable gamer:hmmm…Mouse?…no…Monkey??

    Kinect:….Invalid…answer is….

    Le vulnerable gamer: *excited*

    Kinect: Masturbate…do it..NOW….

    Reply

    • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

      July 9, 2013 at 15:03

      urm. I worry about you dude

      Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 9, 2013 at 15:04

        You and me both, at least there was no video!

        Reply

        • Vampyre Squirrel

          July 9, 2013 at 15:05

          It’s the small graces that save us

          Reply

          • RinceWind

            July 9, 2013 at 15:08

            I fear he is lulling us into a false sense of security, and then, BAM, Friday comes, and that’s it, game over man! Game over!

          • Trevor Davies

            July 9, 2013 at 15:09

            Tentacles, tentacles everywhere!

          • RinceWind

            July 9, 2013 at 15:10

            Not the tentacles again! *grabs corks, tentacle proof, HOOO!

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            July 9, 2013 at 15:10

            WHOA wait…………………………. 🙁 no I just ….I just wanted to make a funny 🙁

          • RinceWind

            July 9, 2013 at 15:11

            Hammer Bans Umar from posting videos for a week…

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            July 9, 2013 at 15:12

            But…… 🙁 ………….

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            July 9, 2013 at 15:13

            Yeah, I think @Erwin_Kempff:disqus needs to whip out his hammer… I mean… urm….

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            July 9, 2013 at 15:15

            HAH! I knew it, the inner personality is coming out ….!!

          • RinceWind

            July 9, 2013 at 15:15

            0-O Silently, and now apparently alone, carries on backing away…

          • Trevor Davies

            July 9, 2013 at 15:13

            …says the Rebecca Black poster…

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            July 9, 2013 at 15:14

            Yeah Rebecca Black Poster!! Ban @rincethis:disqus

          • RinceWind

            July 9, 2013 at 15:15

            You mean this? Edit: Just kidding!

          • RinceWind

            July 9, 2013 at 15:14

            I know not of what you speak! *fingers in ears lalalalalala laaa laaa Sittinglaaaaa… InLaaaalaa theLaaaa…

      • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

        July 9, 2013 at 15:14

        🙁

        Reply

    • RinceWind

      July 9, 2013 at 15:05

      0-O Backs away with @LlewellynCrossley:disqus slowly… Don’t make contact with his, nay IT’S eyes man, don;t do it!

      Reply

  14. Mark Treloar

    July 9, 2013 at 15:24

    Or studying your pupil dilation decides you are stoned and calls the cops?

    Reply

  15. Zubayr Bhyat

    July 9, 2013 at 15:27

    BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING. NO THIS IS NOT 1984. ITS 2013 HAR HAR.

    Reply

  16. Mabenito

    July 9, 2013 at 16:09

    “It can tell where you’re looking, tell what mood you’re in from your facial expressions and even estimate your heart rate by the colour of your skin” < This is racist. I'm black, so how the hell would it recognize my skin color, as if i'm gonna turn green. Where's the ANCYL, they need to hear about this.

    Reply

  17. BacchusZA

    July 9, 2013 at 19:58

    So…… I’m guessing turning this thing to face the wall – Bad Kinect!! Go stand in the corner!!! – isn’t an option, until such time as you have a game with kinect features you want to play?

    Reply

  18. Charles Clarke

    July 9, 2013 at 20:18

    I love how people take the advantages and development in technology and turn them against Microsoft. Its ridiculous really. I mean come on. Its better technology for gaming, sure and it can be applied elsewhere. Robots are learning to do activities from the kinect watching people doing them and reproducing the algorithms. Its brilliant.

    Reply

  19. Sentient_Slug

    July 10, 2013 at 01:47

    Oh God, this is a serious stretch….

    Reply

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