October 22, 2026, 9:05 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Many gamers probably still remember the Kinect camera for the Xbox 360. It made controllers unnecessary and recognized movements directly via sensor. What revolutionized the gaming experience back then is now making a comeback in a completely different setting: modern hospitals.
An Instagram post by the account “Pubity” highlighted this unusual connection. According to the post, some CT systems use technologies similar to or based on the principles of the former Kinect. Instead of capturing player movements, the sensors now measure patients before a CT scan and create a contactless digital 3D image of the body.
From Xbox to Radiology
An example of this is the “FAST 3D Camera” from Siemens Healthineers. The system captures a patient’s height, position, and contours in three dimensions. Infrared sensors are also used to provide additional information about the body shape.
The collected data is then evaluated by AI algorithms. The software assists medical staff in aligning the patient as precisely as possible and determining the appropriate examination area. This aims to reduce errors in positioning and ensure that the desired body region is correctly captured.
This offers several potential advantages for hospitals. The preparation for CT scans can be faster while maintaining consistently high image quality. Additionally, the technology is intended to help better adjust the radiation dose to the individual patient.
Study Supports the Theory
According to a scientific study led by Siemens, automatic positioning using a 3D camera was significantly more accurate than manual alignment by professional staff. The average deviation was about five millimeters, compared to 19 millimeters for manual positioning. For patients, this can mean more precise images and, above all, an optimized radiation dose.
For the technology behind the Xbox Kinect camera, it’s a remarkable comeback: from a gaming innovation to a tool now used in medical examinations.