We have already seen in the movie various holograms that can be displayed without special headsets. In the movie, these images are generated by robots, specialized overhead devices, or holographic diodes. Now that Microsoft is trying to make everything in the movie a reality, the company’s ultimate goal is to create holograms that can be displayed without any head-mounted device.
Of course, there is still a long way to go before this hologram really comes out. Currently, the developer and enterprise versions of Microsoft's HoloLens headset are priced at $3,000 and $5,000, respectively. In addition, the hardware components of these devices are also expensive. At present, this kind of technology is still in its infancy, so these expensive devices can't create similar holograms in movies.
“We have already projected a three-dimensional hologram from a prototype device in the lab. You can see it without any equipment,†said Dave Coplin, chief conceptual officer at Microsoft. “This process is complicated The cost is high, and the solution is not very reasonable, but this is our first step."
The Microsoft HoloLens is like a giant sunglasses. Obviously its purpose is not to withstand the sun. After wearing it, it will generate a hologram in front of your line of sight, mixing the virtual world with the real world. This approach is called mixed reality or augmented reality. Mixed reality and Google Glass's virtual reality are two completely different technologies.
Microsoft said that this type of holographic technology currently has no consumer version. As the market is in its infancy, many developers and companies are experimenting with new ways to make holograms easier to implement. For example, NASA scientists have already achieved Mars walking without leaving the office, while Israel uses holographic technology to train soldiers.
One day in the future, holography will become a mature technology. Coplin said, imagine that customers who step into supermarkets in the future will turn to catalogues to see actual product images. At the same time, the hologram can also show the current real-time location of the consumer. Of course, holographic technology still has a long way to go before it is put into practical use. Therefore, in recent years, you don't expect to be able to talk with relatives and friends in the kitchen through holograms.
But please rest assured that technology is moving in the desired direction. Looking back at the previous X-Files, you will find that the phone at the time was only a small screen, a device with digital cases and a long antenna. However, the current mobile phone is already quite smart. You can use your mobile phone to chat with friends who are thousands of miles away, take some amazing photos, go out for navigation, or play some games based on augmented reality technology.
“One of my favorite things to do this summer is to play Pokémon Go,†Coplin said. “It's not just because the game itself is fun, but because it makes augmented reality a lively discussion in everyday life. One of the topics is that not only the technology geek will play this game, but you, me, and the ordinary people around us are deeply attracted to it."