HoloLens: Have Microsoft’s nerdy new holographic goggles just completely changed the game? (video)
Mere days after Google called a halt to its Google Glass project, Microsoft may have changed the game with its version of digital glasses.
The company unveiled its "HoloLens" during its Windows 10 launch last night. And while reviewers were largely nonplussed by Windows 10, they were pretty impressed with the holographic goggles, which use augmented reality to allow users to merge computer graphics with their real lives.
It's easier to demonstrate than to explain, so watch the video below:
Admittedly, it's not the best-looking piece of kit, putting even the Glass to shame with its nerdy appearance. But so far, the device has a pretty impressive array of uses: from Nasa using it to "make working on the Red Planet a reality", to the designer in the video using it to make a prototype of parts for a motorbike. In fact, you could argue that its "immersive"-style augmented reality makes devices such as Facebook's virtual reality headset Oculus Rift seem hopelessly outdated.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we'll be playing Minecraft on our coffee tables any time soon: Piers Harding-Rolls, a gaming analyst at IHS, said it's unlikely a consumer offering will happen "in the very near term".
"[And] considering the proprietary technology involved, we believe the price point when released will make this a niche consumer proposition in the early cycle."
Shame.