New Delhi: When it comes to virtual reality, Microsoft is thinking beyond gaming and immersive shopping experience. The software giant is sending its VR headset- the HoloLens- to the space.
As part of the Project Sidekick, HoloLens will be sent to the International Space Station, CRS-7, on June 28. This will be the third attempt at landing the Falcon 9 main stage on a barge in the middle of the ocean.
The highlight of the resupply mission is, undoubtedly, the Microsoft HoloLens , which will be delivered to the astronauts aboard the ISS.
A report on Ars Technica notes that Project Sidekick will allow NASA to provide virtual aid to astronauts aboard the ISS when they need it. It is also aimed at reducing crew training requirements and increasing the efficiency at which astronauts can work in space.
The HoloLens will allow astronauts to switch between two modes of operation- Remote Expert Mode and Procedure Mode. The former lets mission control see what the astronaut sees and draw annotations on the holographic display, while the second mode provides animated holographic illustrations on top of the object that the astronaut is interacting with.
Virtual Reality is still in its early stages and sending the HoloLens for its first space mission might seem ambitious, but it opens up the doors for a host of new innovations to follow. Other tech giants like Google and Facebook are also toying with the world of VR and it isn’t difficult to see them sending their own headsets to space in future.
Comments
0 comment