News: Precise facial tracking capabilities allow Kinect to detect your smile and even eyebrow movement.
If there was one eyebrow raising moment during Microsoft's CES 2011 keynote address, it was when Steve Ballmer raised his eyebrows and his Kinect avatar followed suit. That's when the company's CEO revealed Avatar Kinect and the precise tracking of facial expressions behind it.
Avatar Kinect is Microsoft's attempt to add social benefits to its Kinect sensor as you enjoy all aspects of entertainment. During the Avatar Kinect video demo, we counted up to eight virtual friends chatting in 15 different environments, from a tailgating scene to a talk show set. The avatars in the video talked sports trash and reality TV episode opinions in the sports and talk show set environments, respectively.
Whether not not this non-gaming avatar chat service will be fun remains to be seen. Luckily, Ballmer closed with saying that Avatar Kinect will be free for all Xbox Live Gold members.
Read our full Microsoft CES 2011 keynote coverage for more event news.