Live data from Hacker News

Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

wired.com

21–30 of 395 posts

Re: Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

#21
post #18

I know this is the future, and I feel somewhat weird in saying this but I am not quite happy. I feel like technology is coming to replace the physical world instead of augment and improve on our actual experiences. Either way it's some awesome work that was done.

This is 100% designed to augment our actual experiences. That's why they said "this is not VR". It's putting digital objects in the real world. That's augmenting actual experiences.

Re: Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

#22
post #18

I know this is the future, and I feel somewhat weird in saying this but I am not quite happy. I feel like technology is coming to replace the physical world instead of augment and improve on our actual experiences. Either way it's some awesome work that was done.

This discussion is happening quite often in the VR world. Essentially the accepted opinion is that 1) AR is harder than VR and 2) solving the problems that VR has will get us closer to usable AR

Re: Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

#23
What are your thoughts about this? I'll tell you mine.

I just watched Google slowly, painfully, realize that Google Glass isn't commercially viable (in it's current form and to the general public). I can't help but feel that this is a larger, albeit more immersive, version of Google Glass.

I only make this point in regards to any plans for a sci-fi, everyday wearable HUD. There is obviously a great demand for this kind of immersion within the gaming community (although I would argue that Oculus will have market control for the forseeable future).

My opinion is that the kind of augmented reality that we all dream of, that sort of matrix-like constant data download, won't become a reality until someone figures out how to take it (visibly) out of human interaction, i.e. with smart contacts, etc. The current tech is just too intrusive in normal human interaction. My understanding is that this kind of tech is still a long way off.

I'd love to be wrong though!

Re: Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

#24
post #8

Is it really "holographic", or just stereoscopic?

It's "augmented reality", so multiple people can walk around and see the display from all angles at the same time. So it's beyond stereoscopic, but it's not a traditional hologram. (It's much better than the Tupac "hologram" which was a single 2D image!)

Re: Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

#25
post #6

Key feature: see-through glasses. The eye strain was a major problem with Google Glass, that's not present here.

Yes, and Oculus Rift is now less relevant as well (good timing for selling it to Facebook). Why buy a dedicated heavy wired non-see-throw helmet? To shit yourself when someone is tapping your shoulder?

To get fully immersed in another world. For example, playing games or watching a movie. I go to an IMAX theatre because it engulfs my senses, audio all around me, most of my field of view watching the screen. If the screen were translucent it simply wouldn't be the same.

This will no doubt have some incredible applications, most of which augment reality. Not quite the same goal as Occulus.

Re: Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

#27
post #13

What sort of use case is this for? The demos talked about in the article seem rather specific. I don't see how this will appeal to mass consumers.

Couple things that spring to mind:

-working in restricted spaces like planes

-shared gaming worlds

-CAD/architecture/3d sculpting at 'real' size

-virtual help (wired gives example of remote help with electrics)

-home improvement (virtual paint/furniture)

-weirdo ghost in the shell style window management

Re: Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

#28

What are your thoughts about this? I'll tell you mine. I just watched Google slowly, painfully, realize that Google Glass isn't commercially viable (in it's current form and to the general public). I can't help but feel that this is a larger, albeit more immersive, version of Google Glass. I only make this point in regards to any plans for a sci-fi, everyday wearable HUD. There is obviously a great demand for this ki…

I think this product hits the sweet spot between the Oculus which covers/masks your eyes completely and Google Glass which had a relatively "small" and non immersive screen.

The glass front allows these holograms to appear more naturally to the user all the while still being aware of your surroundings.

The real challenge is not the hardware, but the software and "experiences".

Re: Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

#29

What are your thoughts about this? I'll tell you mine. I just watched Google slowly, painfully, realize that Google Glass isn't commercially viable (in it's current form and to the general public). I can't help but feel that this is a larger, albeit more immersive, version of Google Glass. I only make this point in regards to any plans for a sci-fi, everyday wearable HUD. There is obviously a great demand for this ki…

What I find interesting is Microsoft launching this technology just after Google dropped it. I think the focus on business is the right way to go in this case, not everything can start from the consumer, e.g. look at how PC started from a geeky thing for scientists and is now in our pockets and wrists.

Re: Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

#30
post #9

It was demoed just right now here: http://news.microsoft.com/windows10story/ It looks really really really impressive! It's a see through pair of glasses so not like Occulus and they said they invented a new technology: HPU. The glasses will have their own GPU, CPU and HPU and will be wireless.

HPU isn't really much of a "new technology". It's just a custom coprocessor, not all that different from the motion coprocessor in the iPhone (except designed for video processing, so presumably a lot more powerful).
Post reply on HN