Virtual Marionette

Kine-Puppet Show is another demonstration using the  Microsoft Kinect as a motion capture interface to control a virtual marionette inside a little puppet show environment.

Microsoft Kinetc is a must have device for exploring new ways of user interaction.But Kinect was built for Microsoft Xbox console, and for using with a standard PC or MAC you have to install some drivers and development tools.In the beginning only OpenNI framework and NITE middleware from PrimeSense (company behind Kinect) where available, now there are more, including the official Microsoft Kinect SDK.The different packages offer different platform support and Kinect Features like Kinect´s camera (color and depth), LED, microphone array, accelerometer and motor.

installing OpenNI is not so straightforward then the Microsoft Kinect SDK.

OpenNI and NITE step by step installation for WindowsXP
You should uninstall any other Kinect drivers or packages

1. Download OpenNI binaries from www.openni.org (OPENNI)
   chose the best option that fit your needs (v1.2 or superior version stable or unstable / development or redist edition)
   OpenNI Unstable Build for Windows x86 (32-bit) v1.3.2.3 Development Edition
   http://www.openni.org/downloadfiles/opennimodules/2-openni-binaries
   
   – Install the downloaded file (msi package)(OpenNI-Win32-1.3.2.3-Dev.msi)
   
2. Download Avin´s Hacked Kinect Drivers (SENSORKINECT)
   
   https://github.com/avin2/SensorKinect
   – navigate to bin´s folder and install the 32 or 64 bit SensorKinect(SensorKinect-Win-OpenSource32-5.0.3.4.msi)
   
3. Download OpenNI Compliant Middleware Binarries (NITE)
   http://www.openni.org/downloadfiles/opennimodules/12-openni-compliant-middleware-binaries
   – Install the NITE package with the PrimeSense provide (free) key 0KOIk2JeIBYClPWVnMoRKn5cdY4=
   (NITE-Win32-1.4.1.2-Dev.msi)
   
4. Connect the Kinect device to USB port (connect Kinect to power cord also)
   
   – Windows XP device installation appear and it can¥t automatically find the device drivers, so you better help windows indicating the fowling folderprogram filesprimesenseSensorKinectdriver (assuming your installation folder was the standard one)
   
   Choosing the right location for the driver
   Choose the SensorKinectDriver folder

   
   Driver installation
   You need to install the fowling drivers:
   Kinect Motor
   Kinect Audio
   Kinect Camera (Xbox NUI Camera driver)

   

   Reboot the system

5. Navigate to C:Program FilesOpenNISamplesBinRelease (assuming the standard installation)or C:Program FilesPrime SenseNITEBin
   and try one of demos to see if its working.

If everything works fine you have successfully installed Kinect in your Windows XP.Read the documentation

If you are running a version of OpenNI older than 1.1.0, then you need to replace the XML:
Sample-Scene.xml

Sample-Tracking.xml

Sample-User.xml
substitute the files from C:Program FilesPrime SenseNITEData

If you still have problems running the demos try to change the environment Variables of Open_NI

Open Control Panel and go to the advanced tab and open Environment Variables panelUnder system variables verify if the OPEN_NI_xxxx are correctly assigned

Another NUI plataform fromCode Laboratories to be used with Microsft Kinect

CL NUI Platform

http://codelaboratories.com/kb/nui

Kinect Download Resources

Jasper Brekelmans as a very nice site gathering important Kinect information and building tools for kinect and motionbuilder.

http://www.brekel.com

Kinectatrit is a great site dedicated to the Kinect.

You can find at this site a compilation of important information and data to start using the Microsoft Kinect

KINECT@TRIT

This Category compiles some information about Digital Puppetry, Interaction Interfaces, Performance Animation researches.