diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/SimpleMovingAverage.h b/libraries/shared/src/SimpleMovingAverage.h
index 858ee21371..0404ab9646 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/SimpleMovingAverage.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/SimpleMovingAverage.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public:
 
     void addSample(T sample) {
         if (numSamples > 0) {
-            average = ((float)sample * WEIGHTING) + ((float)average * ONE_MINUS_WEIGHTING);
+            average = (sample * WEIGHTING) + (average * ONE_MINUS_WEIGHTING);
         } else {
             average = sample;
         }
diff --git a/plugins/hifiKinect/src/KinectPlugin.cpp b/plugins/hifiKinect/src/KinectPlugin.cpp
index 6d29a261dd..3a36be0982 100644
--- a/plugins/hifiKinect/src/KinectPlugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/hifiKinect/src/KinectPlugin.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 Q_DECLARE_LOGGING_CATEGORY(inputplugins)
 Q_LOGGING_CATEGORY(inputplugins, "hifi.inputplugins")
 
-
 const char* KinectPlugin::NAME = "Kinect";
 const char* KinectPlugin::KINECT_ID_STRING = "Kinect";
 
@@ -493,11 +492,23 @@ void KinectPlugin::ProcessBody(INT64 time, int bodyCount, IBody** bodies) {
                                 //_joints[j].orientation = jointOrientation;
                                 if (joints[j].JointType == JointType_HandRight) {
                                     static const quat kinectToHandRight = glm::angleAxis(-PI / 2.0f, Vectors::UNIT_Y);
-                                    _joints[j].orientation = jointOrientation * kinectToHandRight;
+                                    // add moving average of orientation quaternion 
+                                    glm::quat jointSample = jointOrientation * kinectToHandRight;
+                                    if (glm::dot(jointSample, _RightHandOrientationAverage.getAverage()) < 0) {
+                                        jointSample = -jointSample;
+                                    }
+                                    _RightHandOrientationAverage.addSample(jointSample);
+                                    _joints[j].orientation = glm::normalize(_RightHandOrientationAverage.getAverage());
                                 }  else if (joints[j].JointType == JointType_HandLeft) {
                                     // To transform from Kinect to our LEFT  Hand.... Postive 90 deg around Y
                                     static const quat kinectToHandLeft = glm::angleAxis(PI / 2.0f, Vectors::UNIT_Y);
-                                    _joints[j].orientation = jointOrientation * kinectToHandLeft;
+                                    // add moving average of orientation quaternion 
+                                    glm::quat jointSample = jointOrientation * kinectToHandLeft;
+                                    if (glm::dot(jointSample, _LeftHandOrientationAverage.getAverage()) < 0) {
+                                        jointSample = -jointSample;
+                                    }
+                                    _LeftHandOrientationAverage.addSample(jointSample);
+                                    _joints[j].orientation = glm::normalize(_LeftHandOrientationAverage.getAverage());
                                 } else {
                                     _joints[j].orientation = jointOrientation;
                                 }
@@ -643,4 +654,4 @@ void KinectPlugin::InputDevice::clearState() {
         int poseIndex = KinectJointIndexToPoseIndex((KinectJointIndex)i);
         _poseStateMap[poseIndex] = controller::Pose();
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/hifiKinect/src/KinectPlugin.h b/plugins/hifiKinect/src/KinectPlugin.h
index 90794fa6b0..158e66ee62 100644
--- a/plugins/hifiKinect/src/KinectPlugin.h
+++ b/plugins/hifiKinect/src/KinectPlugin.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 // Kinect Header files
 #include <Kinect.h>
+#include <SimpleMovingAverage.h>
 
 // Safe release for interfaces
 template<class Interface> inline void SafeRelease(Interface *& pInterfaceToRelease) {
@@ -58,6 +59,11 @@ public:
     virtual void saveSettings() const override;
     virtual void loadSettings() override;
 
+private:
+    // add variables for moving average
+    ThreadSafeMovingAverage<glm::quat, 2> _LeftHandOrientationAverage;
+    ThreadSafeMovingAverage<glm::quat, 2> _RightHandOrientationAverage;
+
 protected:
 
     struct KinectJoint {