Scratch & Kinect

I have developed some software called Kinect2Scratch that allows data from the Microsoft Kinect controller be sent to Scratch, the programming language for kids from the MIT Media Laboratory.

Here is a video that explains how the old version worked: Kinect2Scratch Introduction

I have re-developed the software to use the official Microsoft Kinect SDK BETA 2. The older BETA 1 version is still available by emailing me directly. The new version is Windows 7 only, and requires a Kinect with its own power supply and USB cable (Kinects bundled with an XBox will need a separate cable) and the MS Kinect SDK.


Please fill in the following details to request a download link for Kinect2Scratch 1.5.
Don't worry, I will never sell or give your details to anyone else, they are just used to monitor interest in the program.
I might (very occasionally) email you with updates to the program.
Please include your country below (and city, state and school if you like) so I can plot them on my user map.

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You’ll need to follow these instructions to use the software:

  1. You must have Windows 7 (any version)
  2. Download and install the MS Kinect SDK BETA 2
  3. Download and install the .Net 4 Redistributable
  4. Ensure all your Windows Updates are installed
  5. Plug your Kinect into your computer, if you can’t find a way to do this, you may have the wrong kind of Kinect and need an extra power/usb cable
  6. Download and install Scratch from MIT
  7. Download and place Kinect2Scratch somewhere you can find it (like the desktop)
  8. Download, unzip and copy the the following files into your Scratch Project folder (in Documents\Scratch Projects) Scratch Sample Projects (901)
  9. Run Kinect2Scratch and click Launch Kinect. If this causes a crash, it is usually because some of the steps 1 – 6 were skipped. Email me for help.
  10. Stand (or get someone else to stand) in front of your Kinect so that the skeleton in Kinect2Scratch appears, you may have to angle the Kinect (gently!)
  11. Click Connect to Scratch, if the firewall queries this, allow it (it’s only communicating on the local machine, not to the outside world)
  12. Load Scratch and then load one of the sample files. Click the green flag in Scratch and have fun
  13. Finally, look at the source code in the sample files to find out how to modify the code for your own programs

Please email me at stephen.r.howell@gmail.com if you have any feedback on the software. I’d love to hear how you’ve used it!

  • I was interviewed about it!
  • One of the beta testers (lardyken) made this cool video showing Benji playing with Kinect2Scratch!
  • One of the beta testers (Skola2015) made this musical program with Kinect2Scratch!
  • My little girl Charis plays a maths game with Kinect2Scratch.
  • I showed Kinect2Scratch at Scratch Day Madrid! Here are some videos: Dancing girl and a different angle



Details on an older version for XP (which is harder to set up) is still available from my old blog.