"Obi-wan Kenobi, you're my only hope." The technology available in the Star Wars world, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away will becoming a reality to those of us on planet Earth. The technology being developed by Microsoft is called "Holoportation." With this new augmented reality product, people will be able to interact with each other- almost as if they were in the same room!
The HoloLens is an AR headset going out to the first group of developers in the United States and Canada to begin with on the 30th of March. They are selling at a cost of $3,000. There are prerequisites that a developer needs to have to get their headset according to the Microsoft website. A developer must be a Windows Insider. Insiders as developers help build apps and hardware, and provide feedback on the early access to products that they receive. There is an application that they fill out as Microsoft is "looking for a wide spectrum of developers to create diverse experiences." They want to see how developers will "help build the future of holographic computing" with them.
A little over a year ago in February of 2015, the project leader of Microsoft HoloLens, Alex Kipman, demonstrated the Microsoft HoloLens in a TED talk. He talked about interacting with each other instead of our devices. He explained how HoloLens will bring 3D holographic content right into our world- not in the distant future, but today. HoloLens is already helping car companies design their cars, and universities like Case Western redefine how medical students learn. NASA is also using the technology to let scientists explore planets holographically. A special camera allows the audience to see what he was seeing through his HoloLens glasses. He speaks of moving from the 2D world of monitors and screens and taps, to a future of interacting with 3D technology, including haptic technology that would allow you to feel temperature and pressure from the holographic images.
"HoloLens is a part of that journey, but the technology speaks to concepts so much more than a product-the ability to connect, to overcome space and time to create meaningful connections with other humans. Most exciting of all, this is just the beginning," Alex further explains in a Microsoft Devices blog entry
This new holographic vision is different than the AR products out that immerse their users into different surroundings. This technology allows people to see their surroundings as well as the 3D images that are being projected. One can walk through the room and still have reality totally in view.
According to Tech Times, there is an app that is coming out with the developer's edition of the soon-to-be-shipped HoloLens. This app will allow users to make movies that combine holograms and the world around them. This app is called Actiongram, and creators can "record mixed reality capture video where they can interact with avatars and add in special effects."
Here is an example of a movie one can create:
Are you interested in holographic technology? How would you put it to use? Let us know!
