Microsoft selects 11 participants for new Kinect development initiative

Newsbrief: Microsoft has announced 11 finalists for the 2012 Kinect Accelerator initiative, which tasks startups with developing new apps that leverage the motion-sensing Kinect hardware. The Seattle-based event begins this week and ends June 28, and each participating company will receive $20,000 to develop a Kinect application. Microsoft says in addition to gaming, these projects can also apply to disciplines like healthcare, the arts, and education. The finalists themselves come from all over the world, and plan on creating apps that serve as new user interfaces, animation tools, 3D scanners, and more. For more information on the Kinect Accelerator or its participants, visit the event's official website.