If you've been watching Microsoft's progress with its holographic computer system Hololens with interest, you aren't the only one. At this year's Microsoft Build conference in San Francisco, interest in the new platform was high, and getting a slot as an attendee to get your hands on the device was a difficult task.
So when we were offered a chance to get a look at the device close-up, it was eagerly taken up. There were some strict rules though: no outside tech was allowed into the demonstration area.
Secrecy
That meant every laptop, tablet, smartphone and camera had to be securely locked away before we got anywhere near Hololens.
Instead, in its place, we were offered a pen and notebook to record, firsthand, our experiences with the headset.
It was a little baffling; after all, Microsoft has shown off Hololens in public and demonstrated its capabilities. But rules are rules, so we duly locked up our valuables and shuffled off to the introduction, which was a demonstration of how Skype and Hololens can work together.
I won’t go into all the details of the presentation, but it gave a decent idea of how you can create digital content, such as models of a building, and share it with someone over Skype.
Hololens allows you to bring that digital content into the real world, creating the digital model first, putting it into your living room, and resizing it or making other edits as needed.
It’s all very impressive, but watching people demonstrate Hololens is a bit like watching someone else play a video game: it looks nice but you really want to try it for yourself. Preferably now.
But before getting hands on with the device, there was a tutorial.
First up, how to put Hololens on. While the device itself looks like it simply rests on your head, it’s a more complicated arrangement that involves a band that tightens to fit your head size, and then adjustable arms that take the headset closer or further away from your eyes.
That means it can accommodate people wearing glasses, which is a major bonus point.
Easy to wear
It takes a bit of getting used to. The headset isn’t weighty by any means, but you know it’s there.
It’s definitely easier to fit and wear than other head-mounted displays I’ve used in the past, which is promising. Your vision is somewhat restricted while wearing it because the screen for the device floats in front of your eyes.
The demonstration we were given was aimed at showing how Hololens could work for the construction industry.
First up, how you can edit a building model with your computer, and see it instantly reflected on the Hololens output. You can also take your computer mouse and drag the building’s roof higher or lower outside of the computer screen, using Hololens itself.
One click and suddenly I was at street level, seeing the proposed building in all its glory in real-world surroundings.
A few adjustments to make sure that the building fitted in with its surroundings and it was ready for sign off.
Superimposing blueprints
The next phase of the demonstration involved superimposing blueprints on the building, and construction of a door between the building and an annexe.
The blueprints showed a proposed location for a door, but the building schematics indicated a problem– there was a beam in the way of the proposed door and it couldn’t be moved.
Or at least that’s what Richard, a co-worker on the project, said in the voice note that he left on the building plan.
Richard, in all his creepily neutral avatar glory, proposed an alternative: moving the door to the right to avoid the beam. But again, the information at hand showed a new problem: a pipe in the way. It was my turn to leave a voice note, asking for the pipe to be moved.
And then we were done. Short and sweet. The headset was removed and it was back out into the real world.
It was certainly impressive, with the demo showing the potential uses for the platform when it is finally released.
It wasn’t quite what I was expecting: the size of the viewing area was a little more restricted than I thought but Microsoft could have something good here.
The platform isn’t ready for widespread adoption yet, and Microsoft isn’t claiming it is.
There’s still no firm date for the release of Hololens. But there’s enough here to get excited about what’s to come.
