Introduction to Microsoft’s Augmented Reality Headsets
The U.S. Army has awarded Microsoft a contract to construct over 120,000 custom HoloLens augmented reality headsets. This contract could possibly be price as much as $21.88 billion over 10 years, in accordance with a Microsoft spokesperson. The deal has caused Microsoft shares to rise, with the stock increasing by 1.7% to $235.77 per share at the top of Wednesday’s trading session.
What are HoloLens Headsets?
The standard-issue HoloLens, which costs $3,500, enables people to see holograms overlaid over their actual environments and interact using hand and voice gestures. An IVAS prototype, based on HoloLens, displays a map and a compass, and has thermal imaging to disclose people at nighttime. The system could also show the aim for a weapon, making it a invaluable tool for the military.
The Contract and Its Implications
The contract, which was awarded on Friday, has a five-year base period, with a five-year option after that. The headset enables soldiers to fight, rehearse, and train in a single system, in accordance with the Army. This deal makes Microsoft a more distinguished technology supplier to the U.S. military, following a 2019 contract to offer cloud services to the Defense Department.
The Technology Behind the Headsets
The IVAS headset, based on HoloLens and augmented by Microsoft Azure cloud services, delivers a platform that can keep soldiers safer and make them simpler. The program delivers enhanced situational awareness, enabling information sharing and decision-making in quite a lot of scenarios. Alex Kipman, a technical fellow at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post that the IVAS headset is a platform that can keep soldiers safer and make them simpler.
Controversy Surrounding the Contract
Some Microsoft employees have expressed concerns in regards to the contract, asking the corporate to carry off on submitting for the cloud contract and calling on Microsoft to cancel the HoloLens contract. However, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has defended the Army augmented reality project, stating that the corporate made a principled decision to not withhold technology from institutions which were elected to guard freedoms.
Conclusion
The contract between Microsoft and the U.S. Army is a big deal that could possibly be price as much as $21.88 billion over 10 years. The HoloLens headsets will provide the military with a invaluable tool for training, fighting, and rehearsing, and can make Microsoft a more distinguished technology supplier to the U.S. military. While there was some controversy surrounding the contract, Microsoft has defended its decision to offer the technology, citing the importance of supporting institutions that protect freedoms.
