Kinect Has Trouble Recognizing Gamers In Low Light, Not Dark Skin

Posted by: Ernice Gilbert November 8, 2010 in Hot, Microsoft, News 5 Comments

There’s been reports on whether there was a “Kinect Racism” issue as many called it, as apparently the motion-sensing device couldn’t recognize dark skin people. Consumer Reports has done some research, however, and concluded instead it’s lighting problems that caused the motion control device not to recognize some folks.

In other words, when playing Kinect, your room must be brightly lit.

â€œWe did not experience any instance where one player was recognized and the other wasn’t under the same lighting conditions,” the report claims.

Gamespot had originally reported on the issue, and found that some of their darker-skinned staffers werenâ€™t being recognized by tests.

Let’s hope this isn’t a big problem or else we’ll be having a lot of return products.

Joshua Tompkins

I knew that was going to happen. That is why Move has a big glowing ball on the end of it.
http://www.gamesthirst.com Ernice Gilbert

Oh that’s what the glowing ball on Move’s for? I hope this doesn’t turn into a colossal mess for MS.
Joshua Tompkins

yeah. Since the camera does not have a flash or anything to be able to recognize the move in the dark. They made it where the camera follows the glowing ball, which has led lights in it. Now when you use the Move in extreme lighting, like outside on an extremely sunny day, the camera has trouble picking up the Move, but I would rather be able to play in the dark, like I usually do, than having to play with the lights on.
http://www.gamesthirst.com Ernice Gilbert

Yep, I usually play in the dark too.
nick

playing in a bright room wont solve the problem, you cant have a window behind you just like any camera like webcams they have trouble seeing you if theres direct light shining onto it.
same with the move, why i dont play it during the day otherwise i have to draw all the curtains and i hate sitting in dark rooms hurts my eyes.