Microsoft HoloLens
| Microsoft HoloLens | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Mixed Reality |
| Type | AR Glasses |
| Subtype | Enterprise AR |
| Platform | Windows Holographic |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Manufacturer | Microsoft |
| Announcement Date | January 21, 2015 |
| Release Date | March 30, 2016 |
| Price | $3,000 USD (Development Edition) |
| Website | https://www.microsoft.com/hololens |
| Successor | Microsoft HoloLens 2 |
| System | |
| Chipset | Intel Atom x5-Z8100 |
| HPU | Microsoft Holographic Processing Unit 1.0 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Memory | 2 GB |
| Display | |
| Display | See-through holographic lenses |
| Resolution | 1280x720 per eye (HD) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 35° diagonal (30° H x 17.5° V) |
| Optics | |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (inside-out) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (gestures) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Integrated spatial speakers |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1 LE |
| Device | |
| Weight | ~579g |
The Microsoft HoloLens (commonly HoloLens 1 or HoloLens Development Edition) is the first mixed reality head-mounted display developed by Microsoft, announced on January 21, 2015 and released on March 30, 2016 at $3,000 for the Development Edition. The HoloLens was the first self-contained, holographic computer with no wires, phones, or connection to a PC required, featuring Microsoft's revolutionary Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) capable of over one trillion operations per second. With see-through holographic lenses, gesture recognition, and spatial mapping, the original HoloLens pioneered the mixed reality category and established the foundation for enterprise AR applications.
History and Development
Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens on January 21, 2015 at a Windows 10 event, surprising the tech industry with a fully self-contained mixed reality headset. The Development Edition shipped on March 30, 2016 to developers in the United States and Canada for $3,000. A Commercial Suite was later offered for $5,000, providing enterprise features. The original HoloLens was succeeded by the significantly improved Microsoft HoloLens 2 in 2019.[1]
Design and Hardware
Display
See-through holographic system:
- Transparent holographic lenses
- 1280x720 resolution per eye (HD)
- Over 2.5k light points per radian
- 60 Hz refresh rate
- Waveguide-based optics
- Additive display (holograms on real world)
Field of View
- ~35° diagonal FOV
- 30° horizontal
- 17.5° vertical
- Primary criticism of original HoloLens
- Limited hologram viewing area
Processing
Custom computing architecture:
Intel Atom Processor
- Intel Atom x5-Z8100 (Cherry Trail)
- 1.04 GHz frequency
- 64-bit quad-core
Holographic Processing Unit (HPU)
- Microsoft HPU 1.0—revolutionary custom chip
- 24 cores
- >1 trillion operations per second
- 200x faster than software processing
- Processes "terabytes of information"
- Dedicated to spatial computing
Memory
- 2 GB RAM
- 64 GB storage
Sensors
Comprehensive spatial awareness:
- 1 depth camera
- 4 environment understanding cameras
- 1 HD video camera (2.4 MP)
- Mixed reality capture
- Ambient light sensor
- 4 microphones
- IMU (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer)
Tracking
Self-contained inside-out tracking:
- 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DoF)
- No external sensors required
- Spatial mapping of environment
- Real-time mesh generation
- Anchor placement
Input Methods
Controller-free interaction:
Gestures
- Air tap (select)
- Bloom (go to Start)
- Gaze targeting
- Hand gesture recognition
Voice
- Cortana integration
- Voice commands
- Dictation
Build
Self-contained design:
- ~579g weight
- All computing integrated
- No external wires
- No phone required
- No PC connection needed
- Adjustable headband
- Flip-up visor
Audio
- Integrated spatial speakers
- 3D sound positioning
- No headphones required
- Audio follows hologram position
Battery
- Built-in rechargeable battery
- 2-3 hours active use
- 2 weeks standby
- Operates while charging
- USB charging
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 802.11ac (5 GHz)
- Bluetooth 4.1 LE
- Micro USB
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | See-through holographic |
| Resolution | 1280x720 per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Field of View | ~35° diagonal |
| Processor | Intel Atom x5-Z8100 |
| HPU | 24 cores, >1 trillion ops/sec |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Tracking | 6DoF (inside-out) |
| Battery | 2-3 hours |
| Weight | ~579g |
| Price | $3,000 (Dev), $5,000 (Commercial) |
Reception
Praise:
- First self-contained mixed reality headset
- No wires, PC, or phone required
- HPU revolutionary custom chip
- Spatial mapping impressive
- Gesture recognition innovative
- Voice commands with Cortana
- Pioneered mixed reality category
- Windows 10 integration
- Enterprise applications promising
- Foundational for AR industry
Criticism:
- 35° FOV severely limited
- $3,000-$5,000 price prohibitive
- 579g heavy for extended wear
- 2-3 hour battery life
- Developer/enterprise focus only
- Limited consumer applications
- Gesture tracking imprecise
- Processing power limited[2]
Legacy
The original HoloLens pioneered the mixed reality category and established:
- Self-contained AR headset concept
- HPU as dedicated spatial computing chip
- Inside-out tracking for AR
- Spatial mapping and anchors
- Hand gesture-based interaction
- Foundation for HoloLens 2 improvements
See Also
References
- ↑ "Microsoft HoloLens". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_HoloLens.
- ↑ "These are the full hardware specifications of the Microsoft HoloLens". Windows Central. https://www.windowscentral.com/hololens-hardware-specs.
- ↑ "Microsoft HoloLens Specifications". SizeScreens. https://www.sizescreens.com/microsoft-hololens-specifications/.