QPORIT

•        Virtual Reality (VR) creates a completely computer generated world;
•        Augmented Reality (AR) allows you to get information while viewing the real world.
•        Mixed Reality (MR) allows you to mix the computer generated world and the real world as if they are one.

•     That it is a wearable computer;
•     That the holograms seem to be real objects in the real world: It mixes the real world and holograms together seamlessly, and they are shareable between HoloLens devices; and
•     That it can capture photos and video of this mixed world with holograms in the real world.

•     Is excellent for Augmented Reality; it can be used to acquire information about anything it sees and present that to the user;  it should be able to do anything the first version of Google Glass suggested, but better;
•     Is able to create a sense of its local, current environment by using its distance sensors to map the environment and create an internal mesh; software can then allow an interaction between digital, created objects and the real environment;
•     Is good for Mixed Reality, where virtual characters and objects (not just text and information) are placed within the field of view; (currently it is the best – actually the only – device optimized for Mixed Reality!)
•     Can be immersive, though differently from the Oculus Rift or Gear VR which block out the current environment; instead, the HoloLens can create an immersive aura within the user’s physical, actual environment; (note: live, immersive theater – eg SLEEP NO MORE – takes place in a real place too, not just in your head mounted display; and, of course, a naked person appearing to be lying on your bed in your own bedroom would also be pretty immersive);
•     Is a complete and quite powerful computer – which explains why it is expensive (currently $3K); it is untethered to any standalone computer fixed in position, so you can move around with it;
•     Is able to connect wirelessly to a local or remote computer, so it can be used for remote communication with other people (for example to collaborate on a repair on a remote object, or for videoconferencing), and it can offload heavy-duty processing (for example, to enable deep searching);
•     Includes 3D 360 degree audio headphones, distance sensors, microphone, and head tracking hardware;
•     Includes a camera (2D) which can take photos and videos that include both the real world and the holograms that the user sees;
•     Can be controlled by voice input, a clicker, Bluetooth connected devices like a mouse or keyboard, and by hand gestures in the air;
•     Is very good looking. 

• By making it more comfortable, including

• By making the field of view (FOV) larger for the portion of the screen where holograms appear;
• By making the setup process, and the development process easier;
• By consolidating the documentation;
• By improving the navigation and the text selection process (including improving the use of gestures) and adding a new controller (eg a 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) device);
• By adding more consumer Apps

• By continuing to extend the use of Cortana;
• By improving the on-board recording camera, including

• By implementing the display’s ability to create VR (ie totally immersive, totally computer generated) experiences, as well as MR experiences;
• By implementing modular hardware features (to allow the possibility of either less cost or more use cases) that would allow more or less

•         By reducing the cost.

•       MAGIC LEAP, whose plans are still mostly a mystery;
•       Google’s project TANGO, which is likely to be incorporated into a smart phone, and then may be integrated into Google Daydream;
•       HTC VIVE, which uses currently external sensors to locate the user in a physical space and then places the user in a virtual environment within that physical space, could possibly extend their model by integrating the real contents of the physical space with the virtual contents;
•       Other smartphones or VR devices (like the Oculus RIFT) could add local cameras and distance sensing, and integrate the views they see and the distances they measure with their VR computer generated views;
•       Tethered devices (like the RIFT or Meta) could become untethered by using powerful laptops worn by the user (perhaps in a backpack), or by using fast Wi-Fi connections to a powerful computer; or eventually with fast wearable computers.

•     The current installed base of HoloLens users – this is a small, but growing number of developers;
•     The future installed base of consumers – this is not likely to begin growing for a while; the size and rate of growth will depend on the utility, convenience and uniqueness of the HoloLens, as well as, of course, the quality of the marketing, and the price;
•     A targeted group of users who will buy the HoloLens specifically because they need it to use a critical application or suite of applications (for example, NASA);
•     A targeted group of users who will, essentially, rent the HoloLens which will be included in the price of the application (for example, players in a location based game, or a game-park).

•  Of course, Augmented and Mixed Reality applications;
•  One set of possible generalized applications could be any set of use cases where the ability to carry this powerful computer around on your head can be convenient; for example, students may find it a convenience to have a whole study room available on their head;
•  People who need hands-free complex information while operating in a real space could use it;
•  The ability to communicate remotely while sharing a view of the same space, object, or hologram may make it very valuable for industrial training;
•  Workers in hazardous environments could use coupled sensors analyzed by the powerful onboard computer to monitor environmental conditions while maintaining visual and audio freedom in the space;
•  Sensors for handicapped users: visual sensing for the visually challenged; speech-to-text for the hearing impaired;
•  Videoconferencing;
•  Serious gamers may love it;
•  If the device can be passed from user to user in a sanitary way (eg no head lice?), then units could be pooled at a VR theater or gamesite;
•  With the same caveat, units could be pooled at museums, tourist attractions, and other similar places. It could be used to give information at art sales, concerts and other places where you need added information while still present in the space;
• Porn;
• Transmedia, interactive, live, theatrical presentations where live actors are coupled with added pre-created content;
• Location specific games;
• Mapping real spaces, then exploring them remotely;
• Exploring mixed real and imaginary places.
• Shopping (for example, a virtual mirror), or placing potential purchases in a real setting -- curtains? couch? How does it look in my living room?
• Advertising;
• While some applications can be symmetric – both the creation of the app content, and the user employ a HoloLens -- other applications may be a-symmetric:
• created WITH a HoloLens, but FOR a different target device;
• created with NO HoloLens, but targeting a user wearing one;
• or (if the HoloLens were modular) created by the developer with some COMPONENTS of the HoloLens for a user with different components; for example, there may be applications that need only the distance sensors, or only the visual input, or only audio output, enabling a simpler, less expensive version of the complete device;
• While it might not be safe for a driver to wear one, mounting the visual input system on a vehicle could supplement the GPS for driving info; or a passenger/navigator could use the device for in-travel directions and other information;
• There’s no reason why the HoloLens should not be able to incorporate (optionally?) other devices, like a phone, a camera, a radio, and be linked to other wearable devices, etc

Labels: AR, Augmented Reality, eXtended Reality, Hololens, Microsoft, Mixed Reality, MR, Virtual Reality, VR, XR

# posted by QPORIT @ 4:49 PM