Ever since the first rumblings of a next generation console from Microsoft were heard, the wonder about what the second iteration of Kinect would be followed closely behind. Though images of Kinect 2 supposedly leaked back in August, there's been little to no proof that a new Kinect was on the way. However, a recent job posting on Microsoft's site may provide some insight as to what lies ahead for not just Kinect, but the next Xbox as well.
Microsoft is seeking out a new Software Development Engineer, who will join a crack team of former Xbox 360, Xbox Live, and Kinect veterans hoping to "push the envelope of today’s and tomorrow’s technology." The listing also reveals that whatever project or projects the team is working on are considered top secret, and that failure will be celebrated. "We will fail, and fail fast, on some projects. We will celebrate those failures because they are vital to making sure the right ideas take off in a big way," the listing reads.
The job also stands out from standard postings, as Microsoft indicates there will be risk involved, and that the applicant's skills will be pushed to the limit. "You’ll learn more than you even knew existed about machine vision, data mining, AI, voice recognition, and embedded systems," the description states. "You’ll become an expert in one or more of those areas. You will work on a truly agile team to build and iterate on prototypes to evolve and demonstrate our creative vision."
The picture of what lies ahead isn't much clearer after reading this posting, but Microsoft is definitely up to something. At least it appears the company isn't content to rest on existing technologies, and wants to push Kinect and the Xbox further into the future.
SOURCE: OXM UK
