"I'm not sure that Microsoft would position it as game-centric, but might instead use things like set-top boxes and business videoconferencing and add elements of Kinect within those," Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst at Parks Associates, told TechNewsWorld.

One possible use of the Avatar Kinect is within an entertainment experience, such as watching television, Parks Associates Scherf said.

"Microsoft has demonstrated Kinect with Sky in the UK and having the avatar represent the user within a chat room, where viewers can come together to discussing programming," Scherf stated.

The Avatar Kinect is relevant for sports viewing, offering users the possibility to taunt fans of opposing teams, for instance, Scherf suggested.

"For marketers and brands, the ability to receive real-time feedback on an audience's reaction to an advertisement will be critical, so I can see Microsoft expanding the avatars into the role of real-time market research and feedback," Scherf pointed out.

"They could take existing solutions such as Skype or Microsoft Mediaroom and add Kinect-like avatar and natural human interaction to these," Scherf opined.

From the article "Microsoft's Avatar Kinect: I Chat the Body Electric" by Richard Adhikari

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