Microsoft HoloLens Developer Model Coming In 2016: Nadella

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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has announced in a video interview that HoloLens, the company’s virtual reality headset, will be available to developers next year. The tech firm is expected to release “V1,” which will be “more around developers and enterprises.”

Consumer version of Microsoft HoloLens still years away

Until now, there was no information about the cost, or even how one can get the HoloLens. Clearing this up somewhat, Nadella told the BBC that HoloLens, in its “five year journey,” initially will be available to developers, followed by business customers, and lastly to consumers.

“We are looking forward to getting a V1 out which is more around developers and enterprises. It’s in the Windows 10 timeframe which means that it is within the next year,” Nadella told BBC.

HoloLens brings high-definition holograms into the real world, where they can be connected with physical places, spaces and things, claims the tech firm. These holograms will convert digital content such as a graph or image into real physical objects. Though Microsoft has not provided any fixed time frame for the release of the futuristic gadget, Nadella’s comments do hint that the consumer version is still a few years away.

Will gaming be the primary focus?

HoloLens lured in reporters when it was revealed in January. The demo of the device permitted headset users to see and manipulate almost-real holographic images. In subsequent demos, HoloLens has been used in every area like video games, architecture and video conferencing.

Though gaming is one of the most obvious uses of HoloLens, while speaking to the BBC, Nadella made no mention of it. However, at the E3 convention this year, Microsoft itself demonstrated augmented reality gaming. Nadella’s not making a mention of gaming in no way suggests that the tech firm doesn’t have gaming in mind for the HoloLens, though it may suggest that gaming will not be the primary focus or at least the initial focus.

With HoloLens, Microsoft will adopt a dual-use or multi-focus approach. In an interview last month, Nadella told ZDNet that the company has expertise in connecting “consumer to enterprise,” and they will follow this same strategy for the HoloLens. “When I look at the interest, it’s amazing how many are in hospitals, healthcare, retail. That’s where I’m seeing the interest and we’ll definitely go after it,” Nadella told the website.

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