Microsoft talk about what’s next for Mixed Reality and confirms development of next HoloLens

In a post on Linkedin Microsoft’s Alex Kipman has details some of the key trends for mixed reality in 2018.

The first tend Alex talks about is the combination of Mixed Reality and Artificial Intelligence and how the next version of HoloLens will include a custom chip from Microsoft for processing AI called a Holographic Processing Unit (HPU). Microsoft announced last year that the next version of HoloLens was in development but there had been rumours that Microsoft may have halted development of its MR platform but this confirms that isn’t the case.

We announced last July that the next version of HoloLens will further incorporate AI into our custom silicon in the HoloLens the Holographic Processing Unit or HPU for short. This continues our journey of enabling computers to truly perceive their environments, and we’re just beginning. The computing power delivered by the cloud is one of the catalysts accelerating AI, and this is the year that the mixed reality cloud becomes real. Cloud-assisted AI for understanding physical objects is happening today. Combining this with mixed reality will enable us to deliver persistent mixed reality experiences with people, places, and things.

The 2^nd trend Alex talks about is the mix of VR and AR and how devices like the HoloLens and immersive Windows Mixed Reality headset can work together.

There is also tremendous value in using mixed reality to collaborate and co-create in the most immersive way possible. Sometimes you can’t stand shoulder to shoulder with someone, but the work you are doing requires that level of proximity. More than just a shared communication experience, you require presence. Mixed reality allows you to be present and spatially understand things, even when people are not physically in the same space

The 3^rd tend talked about is social experiences and how mixed reality can change the way we communicate. I have experienced that with services like vTime and Altspace where the devices enable much more social experiences what traditional methods.

I also think about how mixed reality will change the way I communicate in my personal life. Space and cost are limitless in mixed reality. As a father with a 7-year old daughter, with most of my family living in Brazil, I love imagining a reality where she can interact with my entire family on the weekends, to play a board game around the table with all her cousins across the globe in a socially present and immersive way.

Our work with AltspaceVR is just the beginning. You will see us bring this innovation forward in new ways.

There will be a lot more to share in the coming months. Watch this space for regular updates from me and others on our team.

There are few details in the post and a lot of “..in the coming months” but it is going to fascinating to see how the platform developers in 2018. Read the full post on Linkedin.