Microsoft has unveiled its vision of the future workplace and it involves carrying out meetings in holograms.
Last night, the tech giant announced its new mixed-reality headset, the HoloLens 2, at MWC in Barcelona. Alex Kipman, a technical lead for AI and MR at Microsoft, took to the stage to showcase the device, which is lighter and more comfortable than the previous version.
Microsoft’s inclusive design policy meant the new headset was tested on thousands of different head shapes and sizes, across different gender, age and ethnic backgrounds to ensure it is comfortable for everyone, particularly if you wear glasses, too.
Other improvements include double the field of view than the first HoloLens, which means the holograms are bigger and easier to interact with.
All the better because the HoloLens 2 has improved eye sensors to make interacting with holograms more natural, as well as fully articulated hand tracking that calibrates to the size of your hand, allowing you to touch the holograms for the first time.
During a demo on stage, a senior research at Microsoft, Julia Schwartz, played a piano and held a hummingbird in her hand. But, as this is an enterprise device aimed at businesses and not consumers, the HoloLens will firmly be in the place of work, not least because it will cost $3,500 (UK pricing yet to be announced).
Toy company Mattel uses an app named Spatial developed for HoloLens that facilitates holographic meetings, so employees can chat and work together through the device to discuss new toy ranges. For staff without a headset, they can video conference in using an iPad and still see their virtual employees.
Immersive technology like this is key to improving productivity by ensuring employees don’t need to travel to attend meetings.
Microsoft is also introducing a customisation programme so companies can adapt the HoloLens 2 headsets for their work environment, such as adding a hard hat for use in building sites.
As well as the HoloLens 2, Microsoft also announced a new Azure Kinect DK, a camera that uses AI to analyse its surroundings. Hospitals in the US are using the device to predict when a patient may fall and to notify the nurse in good time.
Speaking about the announcements on stage, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said: “This medium is just the beginning of experiencing what’s possible. When you connect the digital and physical world, you transform how we work, learn and play."
