The ‘HoloLens’ is Microsoft’s Window into Augmented Reality

<p>Microsoft&&num;8217&semi;s future is in holograms&comma; the company revealed today&period; While its rivals <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;bagogames&period;com&sol;project-morpheus-sonys-virtual-reality&sol;">dabble in virtual realities<&sol;a>&comma; Microsoft is currently investing in augmented realities&comma; some of which involve you dreaming up your own creations&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The concept video shown demonstrates potential applications for entertainment&comma; design&comma; engineering&comma; and scientific exploration&period; You won&&num;8217&semi;t hear one mention of &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;augmented reality&comma;” though – instead&comma; Microsoft&&num;8217&semi;s chosen to call the project &&num;8220&semi;Windows Holographic&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Unlike the simulated environment of virtual realities&comma; augmented reality overlays digital constructs on top of the real environment&period; Every Windows 10 device will support Holographics&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>To see the holograms&comma; participants must strap on Microsoft&&num;8217&semi;s wireless&comma; head-mounted display&comma; the HoloLens&comma; complete with integrated sound&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;youtube&period;com&sol;watch&quest;x-yt-ts&equals;1421828030&&num;038&semi;x-yt-cl&equals;84411374&&num;038&semi;v&equals;aThCr0PsyuA<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>There are no external cameras&comma; phones&comma; or environmental markers required to make the device work&period; Microsoft’s HoloStudio will give users the opportunity to create and &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;3D print” their own holograms&period; These can then be shared with other users&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The HoloLens uses everything from voice commands&comma; gaze tracking&comma; and tap gestures to navigate and activate menus&period; In HoloStudio&comma; the tapping gesture can be used to glue pieces of a construct&comma; spray colors&comma; rotate&comma; and resize them&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;cdn&period;bagogames&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2015&sol;01&sol;05042447&sol;Quad-Copter-Microsoft-VR-BagoGames&period;jpg"><img class&equals;"aligncenter wp-image-71566 size-full" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;cdn&period;bagogames&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2015&sol;01&sol;05042447&sol;Quad-Copter-Microsoft-VR-BagoGames&period;jpg" alt&equals;"Quad Copter Microsoft VR BagoGames" width&equals;"800" height&equals;"465" &sol;><&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Once complete&comma; the holograms can be sent to a 3D printer for construction&period; Project director Alex Kipman showed a working prototype of a quad-copter created with HoloStudio&comma; as seen above&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Via<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;engadget&period;com&sol;2015&sol;01&sol;21&sol;windows-holographic-is-microsofts-take-on-augmented-reality&sol;">Endgadget<&sol;a> &amp&semi; <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;youtube&period;com&sol;channel&sol;UCFtEEv80fQVKkD4h1PF-Xqw">Microsoft on YouTube<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;