Microsoft’s Avatar Kinect feature allows users to customize their on-screen representations.
LAS VEGAS — Kinect, the new gaming add-on for Microsoft’s Xbox, was introduced last year as a change in the way video games are played, by allowing people to control the game by waving their arms and legs at a sensor.
During a keynote event on Wednesday night at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft revealed plans to extend the Kinect’s capabilities to other living room activities.
Ron Forbes, a Microsoft engineer, demonstrated the new features, showing how users could navigate through Netflix and Hulu Plus without using a controller. In addition, the company introduced a new feature called Avatar Kinect that creates custom characters for each Kinect user — not unlike the Miis on Nintendo’s Wii — that can mirror live facial expressions, like raising an eyebrow or moving lips. Players can direct their avatars into general chat rooms where they will be able to interact with other Kinect users.
“The Xbox is becoming the hub of your living room,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive of the company. “It has become the place for your favorite TV shows, playlists and social networks. Kinect brings games and entertainment to a new level of excitement and accessibility to everyone.”
Mr. Ballmer said the Kinect, which was released in the United States in late October, had beat the company’s expectations. Microsoft, he said, had hoped to sell at least 5 million of the Kinect devices by the end of the holiday season.
“In the first 60 days, we sold over 8 million Kinect sensors,” he said.
Microsoft also demonstrated several new PC and laptop computers, as well as updated software for its new line of Windows 7 phones. The company said there were now 5,500 applications available for the handsets, including a Kindle e-reading application and popular games.
