HoloLens is a headset that projects high-definition 3D holograms into the wearer’s field of vision, in order to create a mixed reality of both the “real” and “virtual” worlds around the user.

Microsoft has been working on this ground-breaking technology for years and has recently made it available in North American markets only. Datacom has led the way locally, bringing the first HoloLens development unit into New Zealand earlier this year, followed by the establishment of the first HoloLens practice in the country. 

Datacom Systems Managing Director A/NZ Greg Davidson says, “We are excited to see this technology continue to evolve. Augmented reality has reached the point where humans can interact with it in completely natural ways, from visualisation to gesture and speech recognition, which allows us to be much more efficient and do things we could never have done before. We are seeing widespread and surprising uses for this new technology across our customer base and predict it will become mainstream in the coming years.”

The company’s first real-world project in New Zealand is with Auckland Museum and the University of Auckland’s Information Systems and Operations Management Department. This project is using Datacom’s HoloLens units to explore ways in which the collaboration functions of HoloLens can be harnessed to allow users to share the same view of museum collection objects that have been scanned into 3D holographic images, despite the viewers being in different locations. The HoloLens technology also enables users to view real-world objects from a remote location through another person’s HoloLens device, and to discuss and annotate in that person’s field of vision in a natural way.

In Australia, Datacom has built a concept app that demonstrates how HoloLens can be used to support the motor vehicle industry. The app could allow retailers to sell cars without the need for a single vehicle sitting in a big expensive yard. Users can interact with a life-sized holographic car, from sitting in the front seat and walking around it to opening the doors and listening to the engine. Furthermore, users can do things you can’t with a real car, such as instantly changing the colour, modifying the interior or peering into the inner workings of the engine.

Video References:  

·        A Microsoft video of a university in USA that created an education app for medical students https://youtu.be/SKpKlh1-en0  

·        A “Virtual Museum” app we created as a demonstration to Auckland Museum using their actual 3D artefact scans, to show how people could interact with artefacts like never before https://youtu.be/uhMt4AK9_kQ and https://youtu.be/x1ZWGs-zmtM  

·        A game demonstrating how holograms can interact with real objects in our boardroom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBMSNzX2J6k