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Kinect Monitoring Could Usher New Era of Personalized Gaming

by Warren Riddle on November 15, 2010 at 06:40 PM

xbox kinect
Xbox Kinect users have already provided the world with numerous demonstrations of ungainly goofiness. According to Engadget, Kinect doesn't just offer unbridled moments of uncoordinated motion-control hilarity, though. Microsoft exec Dennis Durkin believes the system possesses powerful targeted advertising capabilities. While gamers naively flail and lunge, the Kinect system could conceivably monitor the room, and intimately analyze everyone in range so that Microsoft can determine "what content gets presented to you based on who you are."

At a recent investment summit, Durkin reportedly touted the benefits of Kinect monitoring, particularly its ability to scrutinize emotions, responses, gameplay and -- yes -- even attire. Microsoft has attempted to quell the inevitable '1984' paranoia by stating: "Xbox 360 and Xbox Live do not use any information captured by Kinect for advertising targeting purposes." Despite the privacy concerns, the Kinect's targeting capabilities could herald the arrival of revolutionary, personally stylized gaming. Microsoft contends that Kinect could help players to "improve performance" through style analysis, and "help plan new experiences" by scrutinizing their playing histories.

It could also create a new era of tailor made, online multiplayer gaming by specifically grouping players with similar styles, likes and preferences. But, secretive gamers (who want to project an air of being at least somewhat cool) still might want to exercise caution the next time they're frolicking -- in supposed solitude -- in that incredibly lame Kinect Life Boat.

Tags: BehavioralAdvertising, gaming, microsoft, privacy, TargetedAdvertising, top, Xbox-360, XboxKinect

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