14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft's new augmented reality device, HoloLens, has been detailed at the company's BUILD 2015 conference. Although this is not the first time the Redmond-based company mentions HoloLens, it now offers more information about the hardware and how it works to make holograms real.
Unlike many other augmented reality devices, HoloLens has uses in multiple areas, not just entertainment. So although game fans will be thrilled to learn more details about Microsoft's HoloLens, there's more to this device than just playing games.
According to Microsoft, HoloLens is made possible thanks to a collaboration between industrial designers, human factor experts, and engineering teams.
The device is much lighter than a laptop, though it contains much more computing power. It's also worth mentioning that Microsoft's designer made HoloLens adjustable so it could fit a wide range of head sizes and shapes.
“Unlike typical VR systems, where the physical world is completely occluded, the see through lenses allow you to continue to see much of the world around you,” explains Microsoft in a blog post.
HoloLens comes with spatial sound, so users will be able to hear holograms even when they are placed behind. The device is able to synthesize a binaural sound, so that users perceive it to come from a specific location in the physical space around them.
In addition, HoloLens is packed with a microphone array that will be used to capture your voice commands, a depth sensor for spatially mapping the environment, as well as a photo/video camera so that users can share what they're doing with their friends.
HoloLens includes a third processor invented by Microsoft
Microsoft also states that HoloLens is equipped with a processor and graphics processing unit. Since the traditional CPU and GPU wasn't enough, Microsoft invented a third processor, which is called Holographic Processing Unit (HPU).
This specific HPU allows HoloLens to understand where a user is looking, and provides it with the ability to understand gestures and to spatially map the world around.
The HPU is capable of processing large amounts of data coming from the sensors, which translates into a simple yet informative output that can be easily used by devs to create amazing experiences without having to work through complex physics calculations.
Microsoft has yet to announce when exactly the HoloLens augmented reality device will be available for purchase, but developers will soon be able to create apps for it.
