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Hands-On with Microsoft's New Holographic Goggles

wired.com

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

#52
So many questions. I can understand light reflecting into the eye from a microdisplay (using the same principle as a car HUD), but are they actually creating opaque imagery as well? How is that physically possible?

Then there's 3D spatial interaction: In my experience with Leap Motion, Kinect, and other competing tech, the level of accuracy still limits interactions to broad gestures. If they've made a big enough leap in this domain to enable precise object manipulation, that's a major achievement on its own.

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

#53
post #4

Now it makes sense that Google just announced that they're stopping Glass from being sold retail. They did not want to have their device compared to the new product from MS. Actually I see this new device as more prone to success than the Glass. These devices are competing for the same markets: healthcare, education and entertainment. And here Glass is somewhat underpowered.

One is sci-fi reality, the other is putting a screen right in front of your eyeball.

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

#55

So many questions. I can understand light reflecting into the eye from a microdisplay (using the same principle as a car HUD), but are they actually creating opaque imagery as well? How is that physically possible? Then there's 3D spatial interaction: In my experience with Leap Motion, Kinect, and other competing tech, the level of accuracy still limits interactions to broad gestures. If they've made a big enough lea…

As I understand it, the light is not merely being projected or reflected, but dispersed on a coordinate system, so the display actually illuminates where it was transparent before. That would interfere with natural light coming through (it's tinted as well) allowing the 'hologram' to obscure the real world. I could be wrong, though.

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

#56
post #5

It seriously took me several minutes to realize this wasn't a joke. Even Peter Bright on the Ars live blog had to stop and say "wat".

The name doesn't quite sound right, which triggered the same response in me.

Probably because it's more AR than Holo. But meh, still wicked cool.

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

#57

So many questions. I can understand light reflecting into the eye from a microdisplay (using the same principle as a car HUD), but are they actually creating opaque imagery as well? How is that physically possible? Then there's 3D spatial interaction: In my experience with Leap Motion, Kinect, and other competing tech, the level of accuracy still limits interactions to broad gestures. If they've made a big enough lea…

The WIRED article seems to imply that this device has outwardly-facing cameras that use Kinect-like technology to track the operator's hands, which is probably how they are able to let you interact with the projections without using some kind of wand or controller.

I could see some "high-precision" gloves being an optional accessory for this that would include some kind of tracker markings to allow even more precise controls (maybe for medical applications or something)

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

#58
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.

It starts around 1:37 Live demo starts around 1:53

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

#59

That's pretty evil/clever of them to throw Minecraft into their marketing images.

They have a vision, Minecraft was fitting that vision. So they consumed it. It was smart. Project Spark makes more sense now as well.

Totally agree. I meant it as a compliment.

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

#60
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I don't think Oculus wants to the the IMAX of virtual experiences.
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