Setting up KinectJS

KinectJS pipelines the data from Microsoft Kinect to Javascript. This is useful! I means that if you already understand HTML and Javascript, you don't need to learn the details of C# and WPF. Writing your code in C# and WPF is perhaps more powerful, but you will need to take time on your own to learn the frameworks.

To use the Kinect, you will need it to be connected to a Windows machine. If you do not have a Windows computer, you will need to install a partition. Do not run a virtual machine — everything is too slow and the Kinect can be more buggy. On Macs, use Bootcamp. You can download Windows at Stanford's MSDN. If your group cannot get a Windows machine, talk to the staff.

Steps for installation

1. Get a Kinect for your group from the staff
2. If you do not have a Windows computer, install Windows on a partition. Download Windows here.
3. Install Visual Studio 2012, including the C++ libraries. Download Visual Studio here.
4. Install the Kinect SDK and Developer Toolkit. Download both items from Microsoft. If you require the Kinect runtime as well, download it from Microsoft as well.
5. Install KinectJS. Download KinectJS from here. Verify you can get their demos running. You may need to run a Python SimpleHTTPServer so that your Kinect appears on a public IP address.

Known Issues

• The KinectJS depth camera only provides foreground/background data rather than a full depth gradient (example).
• Google Chrome v24 or greater cannot connect to KinectJS. Use an older version of Chrome: v23 for Windows and for Mac. On Windows, you'll need to uninstall v24 and install v23. For Mac, we recommend just mounting the dmg and run Chrome from there.

Questions? Go to Piazza first.

Please feel free to e-mail us at cs247@cs.stanford.edu if you have any questions.