Microsoft ushers in new era of virtual computing

Microsoft ushers in new era of virtual computing

Microsoft recently surprised most of us with the announcement of its Hololens project

The Hololens is a wearable augmented reality device, which superimposes virtual content onto the real world around us.  It does this using a headset comprising head-up-display glasses and surround-sound speakers.  And the really surprising thing?  It actually looks great.



Microsoft hasn't traditionally been the most consistent performer when it comes to marketing. Or hardware for that matter. This time it's ostensibly up against the likes of Facebook's Oculus Rift, Samsung's Gear and Sony's Project Morpheus. The difference is that whilst these headsets use immersive virtual reality, the Hololens promises augmented reality.

This could be a key difference, particularly when it comes to practical matters like display resolution, heat dispersion, battery life and product cost.

It also touches on the fascinating world of human-computer interaction. Recent developments in this space include Intel's Realsense, the Leap Motion and Razer Hydra. The Hololens might bypass all these tools with its mix of CGI and real-world interaction.

How this device interacts with real-time web content is an area of particular interest to us at Silverink, and we can't wait to get our hands on the development kit!

VIEW ALL ARTICLES