Microsoft Windows Mixed Reality (WMR)
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 6:41 pm
Not too long ago, Microsoft renamed their Windows Holographic platform to Windows Mixed Reality with the announcement of new products coming out later this year for developers. The platform is now split in two with Hololens and Immersive headsets.
Microsoft is not taking preorders for developpers interested in the HP and Acer Windows Mixed Reality headsets to be released around August. From looking at the specs and pictures, the only differences are in the tightening mechanism and colors.
Products
VR and mixed reality headsets
Device support
stationary frame of reference, Both
Attached frame of reference, Both
Stage frame of reference, Immersive headsets only
Spatial anchors, Both
Spatial mapping, HoloLens only
Gaze, Both
Gesture, HoloLens only
Voice input, Both but needs a mic with the immersive headsets
Motion controller, Immersive headsets only
Spatial sound, Both but needs headphones with the immersive headsets
The immersive headsets are missing gesture and spatial mapping, they don't have a mic and don't have headphones. When I first saw the pictures of the headsets, I thought they would have spatial mapping and gesture support because the black band between the cameras look like it could be hiding a sensor like an Intel RealSense camera.
The Hololens is Wireless with an mobile cpu. The immersive headsets are connected to a pc like a Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.
The Hololens is see through. The immersive headsets are closed like an HMD.
The immersive headsets use inside-out tracking. That means they use sensors such as cameras, accelerometers and gyros to estimate the position and orientation of the headsets without external cameras. That could cause drift over time but we'll have to try it to see.
On the HoloLens, when you render black with an alpha of zero (transparent), those pixels are kept transparent so you can see your surroundings. The HoloLens also has cameras that can be used to capture photos and videos.
The immersive headsets have two cameras on the front. At this point it's not clear if they are only used for inside-out tracking. It would be nice to be able pass transpared black and have the headset replace that with live camera feed. It would also be nice to be able to capture photos and video.
Windows also released a free update for Windows 10 called Creators update. Bundled with it comes a tool called Mixed Reality Portal. It's used to setup a Windows Reality Device. If you don't have one and are a developer, you can put it in simulator mode and test your apps with a simulated device.
One thing that looks nice is that the headset flips up. That might come in handy for developers with glasses such as myself. When I develop for Oculus Rift, I usually end up removing my glasses to do a quick test and I have to put them back to continue to program afterwards.
I preordered one to give a try to the Microsoft Mixed Reality platform as a developer. The available information is too scarce at this point to know how the products will hold out compared to other available products. I'll have to try it to see. I'll be able to compare it to my Oculus Rift. I'll also try the Mixed Reality Portal in simulator mode while waiting for my headset.
Microsoft is not taking preorders for developpers interested in the HP and Acer Windows Mixed Reality headsets to be released around August. From looking at the specs and pictures, the only differences are in the tightening mechanism and colors.
Products
VR and mixed reality headsets
Device support
stationary frame of reference, Both
Attached frame of reference, Both
Stage frame of reference, Immersive headsets only
Spatial anchors, Both
Spatial mapping, HoloLens only
Gaze, Both
Gesture, HoloLens only
Voice input, Both but needs a mic with the immersive headsets
Motion controller, Immersive headsets only
Spatial sound, Both but needs headphones with the immersive headsets
The immersive headsets are missing gesture and spatial mapping, they don't have a mic and don't have headphones. When I first saw the pictures of the headsets, I thought they would have spatial mapping and gesture support because the black band between the cameras look like it could be hiding a sensor like an Intel RealSense camera.
The Hololens is Wireless with an mobile cpu. The immersive headsets are connected to a pc like a Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.
The Hololens is see through. The immersive headsets are closed like an HMD.
The immersive headsets use inside-out tracking. That means they use sensors such as cameras, accelerometers and gyros to estimate the position and orientation of the headsets without external cameras. That could cause drift over time but we'll have to try it to see.
On the HoloLens, when you render black with an alpha of zero (transparent), those pixels are kept transparent so you can see your surroundings. The HoloLens also has cameras that can be used to capture photos and videos.
The immersive headsets have two cameras on the front. At this point it's not clear if they are only used for inside-out tracking. It would be nice to be able pass transpared black and have the headset replace that with live camera feed. It would also be nice to be able to capture photos and video.
Windows also released a free update for Windows 10 called Creators update. Bundled with it comes a tool called Mixed Reality Portal. It's used to setup a Windows Reality Device. If you don't have one and are a developer, you can put it in simulator mode and test your apps with a simulated device.
One thing that looks nice is that the headset flips up. That might come in handy for developers with glasses such as myself. When I develop for Oculus Rift, I usually end up removing my glasses to do a quick test and I have to put them back to continue to program afterwards.
I preordered one to give a try to the Microsoft Mixed Reality platform as a developer. The available information is too scarce at this point to know how the products will hold out compared to other available products. I'll have to try it to see. I'll be able to compare it to my Oculus Rift. I'll also try the Mixed Reality Portal in simulator mode while waiting for my headset.