How Xbox Kinect Lives On in the Strangest Places | Image Source: www.theshortcut.com
REDMOND, Wash., March 07, 2025 – The Xbox Kinect was once hailed as the future of the game, allowing players to control their consoles using body movements and voice commands. However, despite a good start, the device was unable to maintain its momentum and was officially stopped by Microsoft in 2017. Although it is no longer a basic element in the game, the Kinect found a second life in unexpected industries: from hospital operating rooms to security surveillance and even ghost hunting.
Unexpected role of Kinect in security oversight
In an unexpected turn, the Kinect was seen playing a crucial role in security and surveillance. According to several reports, major retailers such as Walmart have been using the device as part of their loss prevention systems for over a decade. Originally designed to track the movement of video game players, Kinect infrared sensors and depth cameras make it an effective tool to monitor store corridors, detect movement and identify suspicious behaviour.
It doesn’t stop in the shops. According to eye evidence, the Kinect was also reused to ensure airport security. Movement tracking technology was reportedly seen in baggage recovery areas and terminals, used to monitor crowds and improve security operations. This adaptation highlights how a consumer quality gaming device has become an asset in areas where real-time motion detection and analysis are critical.
From the game to health care: Kinect in the operating room
Beyond retail and safety, Kinect also found a surprising application in the medical field. Some hospitals, including Sunnybrook in Toronto, have incorporated Kinect into their surgical procedures. Surgeons can use hand gestures to move through medical images such as CAT scanners without breaking sterility. By eliminating the need to touch a computer or mouse, Kinect technology allows physicians to maintain a more hygienic and efficient workflow during operations.
Medical researchers have also explored Kinect’s potential to analyze human movement. Studies suggest that the Kinect V2 sensor can accurately evaluate gait models, making it a cost-effective tool for physiotherapy and rehabilitation. By following a patient’s movement with its depth sensors, the device provides valuable ideas for diagnosing mobility disorders and evaluating recovery progress.
Kinect and paranormal: A Ghost Hunter Tool
Maybe the strangest use of Xbox Kinect comes from the world of ghost hunting. Paranormal researchers have modified the device in what is called a structured light sensor chamber (SLS). This configuration uses Kinect infrared sensors to detect human forms, which appear as stick figures on a screen.
Ghost hunters believe that these unexplained figures represent spiritual presences that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The popularity of Kinect-based ghost hunting increased significantly after its use was exposed in the Paranormal Activity 4 horror film. Although skeptics argue that Kinect’s tendency to misinterpret environmental elements as human forms leads to false positives, their presence in the paranormal community remains strong.
A device in front of your time
When Microsoft launched the Kinect in 2010, it was the fastest periphery in history, reaching a million units sold in just 10 days. However, their dependence on movement controls and lack of support for convincing games have reduced their popularity. The technology was then relaunched for Xbox One in 2013, but due to the consumer’s reaction to Kinect’s mandatory integration, Microsoft eventually left the device.
Despite his failure in the game market, many experts believe that the Kinect was ahead of his time. The same motion tracking and voice recognition technologies that have defined Kinect are now on today’s smart home appliances, AR/VR systems and facial recognition software. Microsoft’s early experimentation with motion detection has helped pave the way for innovations in modern AI and machine learning applications.
Beyond the game: Kinect’s lasting impact
Kinect may no longer be part of conventional games, but its influence remains visible in several industries. By helping surgeons catch forklifts and even detect supposed spirits, the Kinect showed that its technology goes far beyond video games. At a time when AI tracking and depth detection are more relevant than ever, Kinect’s legacy lives unexpectedly and unconventionally.
For those who still have an old Kinect, their potential uses go far beyond collecting dust on a shelf. Whether in artistic installations, robotics or experimental research, this forgotten device still leaves its mark. Although Microsoft has progressed, Kinect’s influence remains rooted in the world of motion sensor technology.
