Microsoft HoloLens, is a pair of smart glasses that makes use of Mixed Reality. This technology is developed and manufactured by Microsoft. HoloLens runs with Mixed Reality platform under Windows 10 computer operating system.
It makes use of multiple sensors, advanced optics, and holographic processing. It makes use of holograms to display information and blend with the real world, or even simulate a virtual world.
Working:
The Hololens has optical sensors, with two on each side for “environment understanding” sensing, a camera facing downwards to pick up hand motions, and specialized speakers that generate sound from anywhere in the room. It also has many microphones, an HD camera, an ambient light sensor, and a “Holographic Processing Unit”. All this together helps to sense the orientation of the room, track walls and objects in the room, and blend holograms with the environment.
Mixed reality (MR) –It is a combination of real and Virtual worlds in order to produce new environments and visualizations. It is where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time.
It takes the best qualities of Augmented and Virtual realities. Hence Hololens makes use of Mixed Reality to make user environment trackable and interactable.
Augmented Reality VS Virtual Reality
Augmented reality (AR) adds digital elements in such a way that we can view them live on a smart phone camera. It creates an illusion that holographic content is a part of the physical world around us.
Ex: Snapchat lenses, Game Pokemon Go etc.,
Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create an environment in such a way that it places the user inside an experience. Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users will be completely immersed and can interact with 3D worlds. It shuts down the physical world.
Virtual Reality is being used in various fields like weather forecasting, data analysis, visualizations, gaming and many others.
