MS To Release Kinect SDK

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Microsoft has announced it will release a Kinect for Windows software development kit (SDK) from Microsoft Research some time later this spring.
Their reason for releasing a “starter kit” is to help application developers make it easier for academic research and ‘enthusiast communities to create even richer experiences using Kinect technology’.

The blurb:
The Kinect for Windows SDK from Microsoft Research is being developed and released by Microsoft Research (MSR) in collaboration with the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB) to support a growing community of academic researchers and enthusiasts who are exploring potential applications built using Kinect.
The starter kit will give academic researchers and enthusiasts access to deep Kinect system capabilities such as audio, system APIs, and direct control of the sensor. Although this initial release is non-commercial and for personal use only, Microsoft will deliver a commercial version of the SDK later.
NUI or natural user interfaces is part of MS’s long term vision of creating more simpler computers that are intuitive to use. The benefits from such investments range across many of Microsoft’s products, including Kinect for Xbox 360, Windows Phone 7, Microsoft Surface 2.0, Bing for Mobile and Office 2010 Mini Translator.
More info can be found at www.research.microsoft.com.