A new headset unveiled Wednesday at Microsoft’s Windows 10 event in Redmond, Wash., beams 3-D content right into your living room or office.
The device and its accompanying software, called the “HoloLens” and “Windows Holographic” respectively, look similar to virtual reality headsets already on the market. However, Microsoft’s device projects 3-D content into the physical world already around you rather than putting you in a different virtual world entirely. While Microsoft called the 3-D images “holograms,” they’re not viewable if you’re not wearing the headset.
The company pitched the HoloLens and Windows Holographic as tools to help investors, designers and scientists interface with their work in ways never before possible. The HoloLens can also power augmented reality gaming, which blends the virtual and physical worlds for a unique entertainment experience that’s not possible on standard gaming consoles or computers.
Microsoft says the HoloLens is a completely untethered unit, meaning you won’t have to hook it up to a PC or other device to power it. There’s no word yet on how much the device will cost, but the company did say it would be available around the same time as its new PC operating system, Windows 10. That software is expected to hit store shelves sometime this year.
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A brand ambassador tests Samsung's Gear VR headset at the Samsung Galaxy booth on Jan. 6, 2015.Jae C. Hong—APFrank Lee, Brand Marketing for LG Electronics MobileComm USA, demonstrates the enhanced selfie feature on the new LG G Flex 2 mobile phone on Jan. 5, 2015. Michael Nelson—EPAAttendees lay on Serta mattresses at the Serta stand on Jan. 6, 2015.Robyn Beck—AFP/Getty ImagesJoe Clayton, CEO of Dish, arrives on stage banging a bass drum followed by company mascots during the Dish news conference on Jan. 5, 2015. Rick Wilking—ReutersA transparent TRW model car is seen on Jan. 6, 2015. Yang Lei—Xinhua Press/CorbisAt the 'Unveiled-event' a young woman has a look at salad on Jan. 4, 2015. Britta Pedersen—dpa/CorbisThe drone 'Nano' from 'Zano' on Jan. 8, 2015. Britta Pedersen—dpa/CorbisAttendees interact with wity screens that run on Intel's Realsense technology on Jan. 6, 2015.Michael Nelson—EPAAn attendee wears Altspace Virtual Reality head ware on Jan. 6, 2014.Michael Nelson—EPASony Electronics President and COO Mike Fasulo displays the Sony 4K Action Cam at a press event on Jan. 5, 2015.David Becker—Getty ImagesConsumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro exits a Mercedes-Benz F 015 autonomous driving automobile after it was unveiled at a Mercedes-Benz press event on Jan. 5, 2015.David Becker—Getty ImagesA display shows Panasonic's virtual make-up mirror at a Panasonic news conference on Jan. 5 , 2015.Steve Marcus—ReutersSelfie sticks of the company 'Noosy' displayed on Jan. 8, 2015.Britta Pedersen—EPAWorld freediving champion Stig Severinsen holds his breathe underwater for a total of 5 minutes, 35 secs to demonstrate the functionality and accuracy of the Masimo SET pulse oximetry device on Jan. 8, 2015.Robyn Beck—AFP/Getty ImagesWorkers install an advertisement for a new S'UHD TV from Samsung Electronics on the side of the Las Vegas Convention Center on Jan. 4, 2015.Steve Marcus—Reuters
