Microsoft is putting massive efforts to enlighten the future of mixed reality. Immersive communication, the amalgam of MR with AR and the blend of AR & VR are Microsoft’s plans for 2018. MR with the support of HoloLens, structuring a new concept that will yield productive outcomes in future. Holoportation, a new branch of communication via teleportation and also a stronger one. Microsoft moved the scenario of Holoportation from dream to reality. What Microsoft executives said about this cutting-edge technology was
“A new type of 3D capture technology that allows high quality 3D models of people to be reconstructed, compressed, and transmitted anywhere in the world in real-time.”
Holoportation allows the presence of multiple virtual immersive images of other people in same physical space even though they are physically far away from each other at that moment. HoloLens uses different AI algorithms after capturing the 3D models to project them in to the real environment. To enhance the ability of processing data, HoloLens will be equipped with an AI co-processor in the headset. Enabling cross-device communication was also planned to be implemented with help of Windows 10 core in the device. According to a research page,
“When combined with mixed reality displays such as HoloLens, this technology allows users to see and interact with remote participants in 3D as if they are actually present in their physical space. Communicating and interacting with remote users becomes as natural as face to face communication.”
The acquisition of AltSpaceVR, a vendor of social virtual reality, by Microsoft seems to be the foundation component of its MR strategy to implement immersive communication. The working of acquired module is same as of holoportation. To achieve the final goal, Microsoft may use the card of AltSpaceVR.
Microsoft Research Interactive 3D Technologies (I3D) team is working on the current wave of technology where research on 3D graphics, computer vision, machine learning, AR-tech, innovative hardware, natural user interfaces play key role. They have also worked on the projects of similar nature including Kinect Fusion and HoloDesk. The team’s working theme requires MR for reconstruction and real-time tracking, capturing reality with high-tech cameras and latest algorithms to gather somatic assets in a scene.
Till date Microsoft is still developing Holoportation technology. Only the developer’s kit is available by the company at $3000. Developers need deep pockets to buy this mind blowing equipment.