At their latest press event, Microsoft unveiled the latest version of the Windows operating system, and revealed plans to give it away for free to Windows 7 and 8.1 users. However, the most interesting development didn't happen until the end of the day, when Microsoft showed off their new Hololens.
After showing off Windows 10 and the new surface hub, Alex Kipman (designer from the Xbox Kinect team) came onto the stage to explain their new tech, highlighted by Windows Holographic, Engadget reported.
The core device will be Microsoft's Hololens, a pair of electronic glasses that let users view holograms via see-through lenses. The system has a high-end CPU and GPU and will be able to process external information via sensors. A headset-based broadcast system will take the accompanying software and project the images onto everyday surroundings.
Microsoft showed off a lot of different functions for such hardware, from gaming to modelling to communicating with others via Skype.
Kipman says that all Windows 10 OS-powered systems will have the holographic APIs installed. This means that Windows 10 users will be able to run Windows Holograms via their computer. It will be compatible with many different VR consoles, including Oculus Rift and Motion Leap.
It's uncertain when Microsoft will release the Hololens to the public, or when we'll start seeing programs developed for it. In all honesty, the device is more resemblant of "augmented reality" goggles (such as Google Glass and Magic Leap) than holograms. But if hands-on reports are anything to go off of, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about Microsoft's new holographic ventures.
