As promised by Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, at this year’s CES, Kinect for Windows began shipping yesterday. The hardware was previously only available as an add-on for the Xbox. As for what you can do with the new hardware, not much right now. Microsoft has already released a developer’s kit, so people can create programs that Kinect can control – voice commands, hand gestures… that kind of thing. Since it’s brand new, don’t expect it to be compatible with too many programs. Judging from the continued interest in the Xbox version, however, I don’t think it’s going to be too long before there are more options than we know what to do with.

Speaking of the Xbox Kinect, a team of German engineers are using it to let you look inside your body. If the sensors are pointed at your chest, for example, look at the screen, and you’ll see your ribs and other bones in that area. Gives a whole new meaning to “I love you for what’s on the inside.”