Introduction to Augmented Reality
The concept of augmented reality (AR) has been around for several years, however it’s only recently that we have seen significant advancements on this field. One such innovation is Microsoft’s HoloLens, a wearable device that gives a brand new type of experience. Imagine having the ability to interact with virtual objects in your environment, and having them respond as in the event that they were real. This is what HoloLens offers, and it’s an experience unlike some other.
What is HoloLens?
HoloLens is a self-contained wearable Windows 10 computer that maps the wearer’s environment and displays virtual objects anchored to that environment. It’s a stand-alone, untethered device that weighs just 580 grams, making it comfortable to wear. The HoloLens is powered by a 32-bit Intel Atom processor and Microsoft’s custom Holographic Processing Unit (HPU). The HPU creates a 3-D model of the encompassing environment, allowing apps to position holograms without wasting processing capability.
How Does it Work?
The HoloLens experience starts with a hand gesture that invokes the holographic equivalent of the Windows start menu. The pointer is controlled by your gaze, and clicking is finished with a finger gesture. Most items will be dragged through space using a pinching gesture, and you’ll be able to enter text by utilizing a gaze-activated keyboard. The gesture recognition may be very reliable, although the variety of actions appears to be fixed, meaning developers won’t give you the chance to define custom gestures.
Features and Apps
One of essentially the most impressive features of HoloLens is its ability to anchor apps and holograms in the actual world. If you place a hologram on top of a desk, it should stay where you place it as you walk across the room. The HoloLens also builds a catalog of different rooms it maps, so you’ll be able to return to a room after several days away and find your holograms and apps where you left them. There are currently only a handful of made-for-HoloLens apps, including Skype for HoloLens, HoloStudio, and three games that adapt to your real-world environment.
The Future of Augmented Reality
Despite the high cost and shortcomings of the Development Edition, it’s clear that future iterations of the HoloLens could profoundly change how we relate to our computers and even to our surroundings. Wearing a HoloLens seems like having a glimpse of an unfinished future. As the technology continues to evolve, we will expect to see more advanced features and apps that reap the benefits of the HoloLens’s capabilities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Microsoft’s HoloLens is a revolutionary device that provides a brand new type of experience. Its ability to map the wearer’s environment and display virtual objects anchored to that environment is a formidable technological feat. While there are still limitations and shortcomings, it’s clear that the HoloLens has the potential to profoundly change how we interact with computers and our surroundings. As the technology continues to evolve, we will expect to see more advanced features and apps that reap the benefits of the HoloLens’s capabilities, making it an exciting time for the longer term of augmented reality.
