HoloLens has gone through a relatively quick public evolution. In January, the augmented reality headset received overwhelming praise for its futuristic look at computing and gaming. HoloLens almost single-handedly brought Microsoft out of the quagmire of typical Windows reporting. For months, reporters, journalist and Windows affiliates seemed jazzed at Microsoft’s potential stake in turning augmented reality into the respected market of the future. Combining highly sophisticated hardware, a newly refined operating system and some clever demos, Microsoft was able to tickle the imaginations of many. Unfortunately, Microsoft was unable to maintain that momentum after they gave reporters and Windows developers a closer look at the headset a few months later during its Build conference.
Instead of the full-room field of vision demonstrated on stage in January during a Windows 10 event, developers and journalist were presented with a much more realistic downsizing of the product. The feel for HoloLens quickly went from utter exuberance to hopefully optimistic. Microsoft has also shifted the message behind the usage of HoloLens. In January, the headset device showcased some Skype and Minecraft usage, envisioning a market of gaming and communication. Since then, Microsoft has been positioning the augmented reality device as an enterprise, academic and productivity tool.
In a recent video demo, Microsoft has fully encapsulated the future of HoloLens. The new demo not only displays a much more accurate field of view for the device but further highlights what and where HoloLens will excel in the future. The video subtly shows a shaded area around a more refined FOV for the headset in various first-person examples. The two-minute video walks through how HoloLens will help medical researchers in discovery while also allowing the freedom of exploration.
“By creating simulations with HoloLens that lets them have an experience where they can feel, that would be the best way to learn. Because we don’t allow people to fail too much in real life medicine.”
Other use cases included in the demo are groups of classes all interacting with 3D models as well as recreating interactive 3D models of art to teach art history and anthropology. While the field of view for HoloLens may be a bit constrained, it looks like the future of the device is rather open.
Further reading: Education, Enterprise, HoloLens, Microsoft
