New HoloLens, Services Aim to Boost Mixed Reality

• New HoloLens mixed reality hardware aims to address shortcomings of the first version.
• Dynamics 365 services exploit mixed reality in areas such as field service and space planning.
• Mixed reality and HoloLens are still evolving and expensive.

HoloLens holographic hardware and new services support mixed reality solutions that could improve organizational processes. Mixed reality solutions use specialized hardware and software to present images of virtual objects overlaid upon a user’s view of the real world. Such solutions could help users collaborate on field-service tasks and provide instruction and training. However, cost, development complexity, training requirements, and process changes could reduce returns on investment in mixed reality.

Mixed Reality Blends VR, AR

Mixed reality virtual objects, which Microsoft calls holograms, can be contextually anchored to real-world locations and objects, and users can interact with the virtual objects using inputs such as hand gestures and voice commands. Mixed reality can be contrasted with virtual reality, where the real world is excluded from a user’s perceptions, and augmented reality, where virtual objects appear overlaid on a real-world view but offer less interaction and manipulability than with mixed reality.