Microsoft HoloLens 2: A first dive into the future of AR
[MUSIC]
Augmented Reality feels like the future.
But headsets that use it that everyday people are wearing haven't fully arrived.
Microsoft's Hololens 2 is pushing the field forward in a couple of key ways, but it's intended for enterprise use.
So here at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond where we're getting a chance to use this and walk through it for the first time.
[MUSIC]
The headset's design has been reconfigured this time.
It's meant to slide over the head like a baseball cap.
It's comfier, and the center of balance isn't so front-heavy.
And now the visor flips up, like Microsoft's VR headsets.
Hololens 2, unlike the Magicleap 1, another AR headset that creates 3D graphics that seem to blend with the real world, works with glasses on I can flip it down over my thick glasses, no problem.
The field of view is bigger so now I'm basically getting something like that which is a lot better than it was before and for most things on a desk, I'm able to see things without it being cut off.
The thing about AR headsets versus VR, is there is a point where the field of view cuts off making holograms suddenly seem like you're viewing them through a narrow window.
The Hololens 2 expands its field of view to 52 degrees, versus the first Hololens 30 degrees.
It may not sound dramatic, but it means instead of seeing things through a deck of card shape window, it's more like a big paperback book.
[MUSIC]
Now there are a couple of demos that we saw here at Microsoft campus.
One was of the interface here in a livingroom environment, which I call the shell demo.
I'm gonna go over here and there's a hologram floating on the desk, that's showing a short line power wind if i bring my hand out Like this.
I see the box.
If I grab with both hands and pull, it expands and then it goes back down.
And over here by the way are some other hologram things.
This one's an engine with a spinning part that's over here.
This is a windmill.
But again, Picking them up and placing them down and being able to drag and position them.
So now, it's just sitting on the desk.
There's also a demo using a new app called Guides that is guiding you through how to do things and how to build things.
[UNKNOWN] also has eye tracking, which can not only work through my glasses seamlessly let me glance at objects and control them with my voice.
But Microsoft says the in headset cameras could sense a motion too.
Eye tracking means being able to track your interest and attention and make interfaces more fluid.
Enterprise interests include using it to study engagement and focus, but it also starts to feel like mind reading.
There still arent physical controls with the hololense 2 but the sensor cameras can now detect more hand movements.
The gestures make it seem more like you're pushing buttons or pulling corners of objects minus the physical
[UNKNOWN] feedback.
Microsoft designing HoloLens 2 to become more collaborative to use this with multiple people in a space using Microsoft's Azure Cloud services and to connect to IoS and Android because hey, you already got phones That have AR.
And the idea is to build an ecosystem so that people can start viewing the same stuff together.
That type of collaborative AR started to emerge last year with Google and Apple on phones.
But Microsoft's aiming to take it to a much more accurate direction that will be used for Enterprise for much more mission-critical uses.
But what about the future beyond HoloLens 2?
Ultimately, the goal is these things transform humans They've empowered people, and organisations to do things they just plainly they are not about to do before, they allow us to displace space and time on a daily basis as if we were instinctually with those super powers,
[MUSIC]
Microsoft is targetting how lense 2 for enterprise use, this isn't for home users.
And this is very clearly targeted for factories or fieldwork or ways that people could really use this in a helpful way in work environments in areas where they can't use a computer or something else.
Will we start seeing this in consumer devices?
Will we see it in other types of immersive experiences?
No doubt.
But what's interesting here is how Microsoft is working to make hand gestures, expand the field of view, and to get ways that AR can start feeling more comfortable over longer periods of time.
That's something that future aerotech, no matter where it is, is gonna need to take advantage of.
[MUSIC]
Up Next
Texas Sues Facebook Over Facial Recognition, Apple Could Release 3 New Macs Soon
Up Next
Texas Sues Facebook Over Facial Recognition, Apple Could Release 3 New Macs Soon
Vaccinated Amazon employees can remove their masks, Samsung offers some high-end phones and tablets
Vaccinated Amazon employees can remove their masks, Samsung offers some high-end phones and tablets
Choosing the best webcam
Choosing the best webcam
Apple addresses AirTag tacking concerns, YouTube outlines new creator features
Apple addresses AirTag tacking concerns, YouTube outlines new creator features
I attended Samsung's Galaxy S22 event in the metaverse. It did not feel great
I attended Samsung's Galaxy S22 event in the metaverse. It did not feel great
Samsung's Bridgerton spoof makes fun of Apple
Samsung's Bridgerton spoof makes fun of Apple
Samsung's Unpacked event in 11 minutes
Samsung's Unpacked event in 11 minutes
Oscars Nominations Are In, Apple Announces Tap to Pay on iPhone
Oscars Nominations Are In, Apple Announces Tap to Pay on iPhone
Spirit and Frontier airlines are merging, Verizon's contracts extended to 3 years
Spirit and Frontier airlines are merging, Verizon's contracts extended to 3 years
Joe Rogan apologizes for racial slurs, Amazon rumored to buy Peloton
Joe Rogan apologizes for racial slurs, Amazon rumored to buy Peloton
Tech Shows
Latest News All latest news
Meta Expands Its Mixed Reality Beyond the Quest Headsets Explainer
Meta Expands Its Mixed Reality Beyond the Quest Headsets Explainer
What AirPods Rumors Tell Us About Apple's Health Ambitions
What AirPods Rumors Tell Us About Apple's Health Ambitions
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Apple May Give FineWoven Accessories One More Season
Apple May Give FineWoven Accessories One More Season
US vs. TikTok: What Happens Next
US vs. TikTok: What Happens Next
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Most Popular All most popular
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Latest Products All latest products
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
Latest How To All how to videos
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro