Augmented Reality with Kinect

by Rui Wang

If you know C/C++ programming, then this book will give you the ability to develop augmented reality applications with Microsoft’s Kinect. By the end of the course you will have created a complete game. Overview In Detail Microsoft Kinect changes the notion of user interface design. It differs from most other user input controllers as it enables users to interact with the program without touching the mouse or a trackpad. It utilizes motion sensing technology and all it needs is a real-time cameras, tracked skeletons, and gestures. Augmented Reality with Kinect will help you get into the world of Microsoft Kinect programming with the C/C++ language. The book will cover the installation, image streaming, skeleton and face tracking, multi-touch cursors and gesture emulation. Finally, you will end up with a complete Kinect-based game. Augmented Reality with Kinect will help you get into the world of Kinect programming, with a few interesting recipes and a relatively complete example. The book will introduce the following the installation and initialization of Kinect applications; capturing color and depth images; obtaining skeleton and face tracking data; emulating multi-touch cursors and gestures; and developing a complete game using Kinect features. The book is divided in such a way so as to ensure that each topic is given the right amount of focus. Beginners will start from the first chapter and build up to developing their own applications. What you will learn from this book Approach This book is a mini tutorial with plenty of code examples and strategies to give you many options when building your own applications. Who this book is written for This book is meant for readers who are familiar with C/C++ programming and want to write simple programs with Kinect. The standard template library can also be used as it is simple enough to understand.

108 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Mandar Kulkarni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I completed reading this book today and what I would like to say about it is a good book for the people who are willing to move up from beginners level in Kinect programming. But if you are just starting the development with Kinect you can still join the club and catch up the speed as this book starts from scratch.

Good things first -
The book mainly focuses on development using c++ language and all the code in the book is well written and well explained. It tells you how to work on OpenGL as a graphics library for Kinect based apps if you are working with c++. It doesn't go in deep with OpenGL though, which is fine for simple projects. I especially liked the chapter "Designing a Touchable User Interface" and I wish if I had this kind of stuff when I started Kinect programming two years ago.

And some drawbacks -
This book explains how to create a simple game using Kinect feeds and OpenGL but wait, does it really explain Augmented Reality in deep? No. It explains and implements just basic Augmented Reality. What the author did in the game is he mixed translucent feed from Kinect with the game's graphics and gameplay but it didn't really create an effect that augmented reality creates. Augmented reality needs many more concepts to be implemented, more parameters to be considered and rich integration & interaction of virtual objects with video feeds. I really wish they will overcome this drawback in their next edition.

Conclusion -
You want to learn basic game development with Kinect? Go ahead and read this book.
You want to go from beginners level to intermediate level in Kinect programming? Go ahead and read this book.
You want to learn basics of Augmented Reality with Kinect? Go ahead and read this book.

Good work Rui Wang and Packt Publishing. I am glad to see people sharing their knowledge in my favorite field of natural interaction.

[Hitesh Khatri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewing book: Augmented Reality with Kinect By Rui Wang

Just started reading this book couple of days ago as its title looked quite interesting, whilst I am always looking for material on Kinect for windows.

so far, I can see that the Author, has tried to keep the book simple in language without too many un-necessary jargons.

It starts with simple steps of explaining how to set up development environment
what Open source libraries should be used and why?
Also, I found that the TOC, leads up-to a game development of Fruit Ninja, which is very widely known game.
also, as you read further, the author explains how to use open source libraries in conjunction with Kinect API to create augmented scenes and application
over all the book is a good starting place for apps like Fruit Ninja and motion detection.

[Waleed · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is considered pioneer in walking-through AR using Kinect sensors. It guides you from the very basic steps of testing the Kinect hardware to advanced game design.

One of the major observations is the ease of code flow (compared to most of C++ coders), meanwhile, each section is well illustrated in a way that would allow any developer with moderate programming skills to comprehend.

The chapter concerning gesture recognition (chapter 5) is a must read chapter. You will turn your PC screen into touchable plate in less than hour. Once again, the flow of the code is remarkable.

My overall experience is beyond satisfaction. I hope the author could publish more books with multiple development languages like C# and MATLAB keeping it as simple as this master piece.

[Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just completed this book and in my opinion is a good book for start to develop with Kinect SDK in C++ language. You do not need know anything about Kinect NUI (Natural User Interface), the book shows you how go from zero, installing all the free software that is needed, till develop a simple version of the famous casual game Fruit Ninja.
In the book is very well explained code, all the lines of code are documented and is very easy follow all the steps, then if you are not an expert is not a problem.
In my opinion the best part of the book is the chapter 4, where is explained skeletal motion and face tracking, two techniques that you can take all the best from the Kinect sensors.

[Novia Ratnasari]

Remember when hey Mr Dimas A.S