Installing OpenNI (for Kinect) On Ubuntu 12.04

Credits for this tutorial go out to Andre.

Make sure your existing libraries are updated.

• sudo apt-get update
  
  
• sudo apt-get upgrade
  
• sudo apt-get install libusb-1.0-0-dev freeglut3-dev g++
  
  

Create a folder somewhere where you want to keep all your Kinect and OpenNI related stuff inside. I created a "kinect" folder in ~/workspace.

• cd ~/workspace
  
• mkdir kinect
  

Download all the packages you will need.

• Go to ​http://www.openni.org/Downloads/OpenNIModules.aspx and download:
  
  
• OpenNI Binaries -> unstable -> OpenNI unstable build for Ubuntu 12.04 [x86 or x64] v1.5.4.0
  
• OpenNI Compliant Middleware Binaries -> unstable -> Primesense NITE unstable build for Ubuntu 12.04 [x86 or x64] v1.5.2.21
  
  
• Then go to ​https://github.com/avin2/SensorKinect/zipball/unstable and download that package.
  
  
• Extract each zip file into your "kinect" folder. There should be three folders once you're done.
  
• Rename the folders to "openni", "sensorkin", and "nite". It should be apparent which folder should be renamed to what based on the previous folder names. We are just renaming them for simplicity.
  

• cd ~/workspace/kinect/openni/
  
• chmod a+x install.sh
  
• sudo ./install.sh
  

• cd ~/workspace/kinect/sensorkin/Platform/Linux/CreateRedist/
  
• chmod a+x RedistMaker
  
• sudo ./RedistMaker
  
• cd ../Redist/Sensor-Bin-Linux-x64-v5.1.0.25
  
• sudo chmod a+x install.sh
  
• sudo ./install.sh
  

• cd ~/kinect/nite/
  
• chmod a+x install.sh
  
• sudo ./install.sh
  

• Connect the Kinect (haha) and run:
  
  
• cd ~/workspace/kinect/openni/Samples/Bin/x64-Release/
  
• ./Sample-NiSimpleSkeleton
  
  This should enable skeleton tracking and start tracking a persons head once they stand far enough in front of the camera.