Microsoft has unveiled its new product, Windows Holographic, and a device called Microsoft HoloLens with multiple sensors, spatial sound, and multiple chips, including a Microsoft-crafted processor called a Holographic Processing Unit.
Windows 10 Holographic goggles unveiled
Consumers were given a first look at the inventions yesterday, January 21, 2015, by Alex Kipman, Chief Inventor for Microsoft's Studio C.
Consumers were given a first look at the inventions yesterday, January 21, 2015, by Alex Kipman, Chief Inventor for Microsoft's Studio C.
"Holographic computing enabled by Windows 10 is here," Kipman said. Every Windows 10 build features Holographic application programming interfaces (APIs) for multiple screen sizes, he said.
Microsoft intends to attract the attention of developers previously concerned with other augmented reality platforms.
"Oculus, Magic Leap, Glass developers, and everyone else — we humbly invite you to come create holograms with us," Kipman said.
There is software, Holo Studio, to give people the ability to create their own holograms while using the HoloLens.
Kipman called HoloStudio a sort of "Windows Paintbrush" for the three-dimensional world, and models created in HoloStudio can be sent to a 3D printer. A quadrocopter created with HoloStudio was printed in advance of the demonstration and flown onstage.
HoloLens can function as an augmented reality device as well. In addition to an onboard CPU and graphics processor, the headset contains what Microsoft calls a Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) to manage the data pulled in by HoloLens' onboard sensors. The device requires no external cameras, external sensors, or any tether to an external computer. HoloLens tracks the user's eye motions to determine where he or she is looking, and it also recognizes physical gestures with its onboard cameras.
Microsoft chief executive, Satya Nadella touted HoloLens capabilities that will debut with Windows 10 later this year as the next generation of computing.
"The number of devices is just exploding around us," Microsoft's Terry Myerson said during a presentation to press and analysts at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
"It should be easy to put one device down and pick up another where you left off; technology needs to get out of the way."
Microsoft also unveiled a new Web browser code-named Spartan, which will have Cortana built in and ready to chime in at presumably helpful moments.
Spartan is poised to be the successor to Internet Explorer.
"Project Spartan is a new browsing experience tuned for being mobile and working across this family of devices," said Microsoft's Joe Belfiore.
Windows 10 is also designed to hook gamers, according to Xbox team leader, Phil Spencer.
Watch the video demo of Microsoft HoloLens below:
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