Banking on mixed reality platform

MICROSOFT recently debuted hardware for reaching into virtual worlds powered by its technology as it looked to ‘mixed reality’ as the next big computing platform.

Developers can now purchase two headsets, one by Acer ( below) for US$299 (RM1,285), and the other by HP ( centre) for US$329 (RM1,414), on the Microsoft store.

Microsoft is also looking at similar collaborations with other partners, including Lenovo, Acer and Dell.

Both headsets, meant to be affordable alternatives to the more advanced HoloLens augmented reality gear, come with two 1400x1400 high-resolution liquid crystal displays, and 95° field-ofview.

Aside from minor build differences, including slightly more padding on the HP version, both devices are relatively similar in terms of specs.

Pre-orders for these headsets were first opened during Microsoft’s Build

developers conference in Seattle, Washington, in May.

At the time, the headsets were described as “the future of computing” by Microsoft technical fellow Alex Kipman, the software engineer behind HoloLens.

Microsoft slipped when lifestyles shifted to mobile devices, a market dominated by smartphones powered by Apple or Android software, but is dashing forward in the budding trend of augmented and virtual realities, according to Gartner analyst Van Baker. “In some ways Microsoft

is catching up, and in other ways, it is out ahead,” Baker said. While virtual reality devices such as those from Facebook-owned Oculus and Sony’s PlayStation unit immerse users in fantasy worlds, HoloLens and similar gadgetry ‘augment’ reality by overlaying holograms on the real world in view.

These new mixed reality headsets are expected to make a huge impact in the world of gaming, although Microsoft is largely keeping mum about its future plans for the devices. – Agencies