Kinect for Media Center is an application that interacts with my Media Center Remote Command Listener to control a Media Center computer using Hand Gestures and Voice Commands, utilizing the Kinect for Windows hardware.  The Hand Gestures and Voice Commands control the Media Center interface, as well as any add-ins running inside Media Center.  This includes popular add-ins such as Netflix, MyMovies, Media Browser, and Heatwave.

Also implemented are advanced Voice features such that audio coming from Media Center will not interfere with your Voice Commands, nor will the playing audio accidently trigger any commands, within a reasonable volume level.  Also, there are commands that can temporarily turn off the gesture and voice recognition until you turn them back on.

There are also configuration tools to tweak the settings.  One such setting is the 'Dominant Hand' (left or right), as certain commands rely on this.  Other settings allow you to invert the horizontal, vertical, and pinch/zoom actions, as well as their sensitivity.

The 'Kinect for 360' sensor is not supported.  Also, extenders such as the Xbox 360 are not supported.  Please see the FAQ for more information.

Gestures

• Hand Swipe Left, Right, Up, Down
  • Moves the selection in Media Center based on velocity of gesture.
• Hand Swipe then Hold
  • Moves the selection in Media Center and repeats the swipe continuously until you release the Hold.
• Hand Tap
  • 'Ok' in Media Center.
• Hand Zoom (Hands moving away from each other)
  • 'Ok' in Media Center.
• Hand Pinch (Hands moving closer to each other)
  • 'Back' in Media Center.
• Dominant Hand Hold
  • ‘Play’.
• Secondary Hand Hold
  • ‘Stop’.
• Wave
  • Signals that you are in control of the gestures, if multiple people are in view.

Voice Commands

General:

• 'Stop gestures'
  • Temporarily stops watching for Gesture Commands.
• 'Start gestures'
  • Starts watching for Gesture Commands again.
• 'Stop voice'
  • Temporarily stops listening for Voice Commands.
• 'Start voice'
  • Starts listening for Voice Commands again.

Basic Media Center:

• Ok, Enter, Select
  • 'enter' key
• Up, Down, Left, Right, Back
• Home, Start
  • Media Center home page
• Play, Stop, Next, Previous, Pause
• Info, Record

Navigation:

• 'Go to music,' 'Go to my music'
• 'Go to movies', 'Go to my movies', 'Go to movie library'
  • Launches 'MyMovies 4', 'MyMovies 3', the built in Movie Library, or 'Media Browser', depending on your configuation.
• 'Go to pictures', 'Go to my pictures'
• 'Go to videos', 'Go to my videos'
• 'Go to Netflix'
  • Launches Netflix add-in if installed.
• 'Go to Media Browser'
  • Launches Media Browser add-in if installed.
• 'Go to Now Playing'
• 'Go to weather', 'Go to HeatWave'
  • Launches HeatWave add-in if installed.

Media:

• 'Play Artist ...'
• 'Queue Artist...'
• 'Play Album...'
• 'Queue Album ...'
• 'Play Playlist ...'

Kinect for Media Center has the following requirements:

Windows 7 Installers
Kinect for Media Center 1.0.1 $6.99
Download the guide here.

This is a video of me controlling my Media Center using Kinect for Media Center Beta 4.

Donations to support the projects are always welcome!

The Media Center Remote Command Listener, Media Center Remote for Windows 8 UI, Media Center Remote for Windows Phone 7, Kinect for Media Center, and Natural User Interaction Service software are the intellectual property of Brad Mauk.  Use of this software outside of these applications is not permitted without the consent of the developer.  Please contact me if you are a developer interested in contributing to the projects or if you are interested in using this software outside of these projects.

Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Media Center, Xbox 360, and Kinect are all property of Microsoft.  Brad Mauk nor any of the projects listed on this site, are affiliated with Microsoft.

Please email me at brad.mauk@gmail.com for technical support, recommendations, and suggestions.  I will do my best to answer everyone promptly.

Visit my home page at www.bradmauk.me.