Kinect Toolkit Launches Today: lets get moving

Microsoft today released the Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) that will allow academics and enthusiasts alike to be part of the movement. No doubt that this will help turning creative ideas into apps.

The Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) allows developers to plug the Kinect sensor—and the in-depth stream of 3-D imagery it gets from its camera—directly into a Windows-based PC. This gives developers access to the "raw sensor streams" in Kinect, including its high-performance skeletal-tracking capabilities, a sophisticated microphone array, and sample code to demonstrate how to use the sensor.

The release of the Kinect for Windows SDK shows Microsoft's deep support for developers and innovation, particularly in the area of natural user interface (NUI).
The beta Kinect for Windows SDK is just a "starter" for non-commercial purposes—Microsoft is developing a more detailed commercial kit that will let third parties develop using Kinect. This will allow people to create any number of uses for Kinect hardware and software and, with Microsoft's license, repackage and sell those uses.
This release of the Kinect for Windows SDK is about "unlocking the ecosystem, inspiring innovation, and creating a new Kinect-based enterprise market for Microsoft down the road.
Resources: Download the SDK, Check out the Kinect Quick Starts and view the Kinect Project Gallery on Coding 4 Fun.