Microsoft HoloLens 1
| Microsoft HoloLens (1st Generation) | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Mixed Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone AR |
| Platform | Windows 10 Holographic |
| Creator | Microsoft |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Manufacturer | Microsoft |
| Announcement Date | January 21, 2015 |
| Release Date | March 30, 2016 (Development Edition) |
| Price | $3,000 (Development Edition), $5,000 (Commercial Suite) |
| Website | https://www.microsoft.com/hololens (legacy) |
| Versions | Development Edition, Commercial Suite |
| Requires | None (self-contained) |
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | Microsoft HoloLens 2 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Holographic |
| Chipset | Intel Atom x5-Z8100 + Microsoft HPU 1.0 |
| CPU | Intel Atom x5-Z8100 (1.04 GHz, 4 cores) |
| GPU | N/A |
| HPU | Microsoft Holographic Processing Unit 1.0 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 64GB (~54GB available) |
| Memory | 2GB RAM |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | Waveguide optics (holographic) |
| Subpixel Layout | N/A |
| Peak Brightness | Not specified |
| Resolution | 1268 × 720 per eye (HD) |
| Pixel Density | ~15 PPD |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Persistence | N/A |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 30° diagonal (~35° by some measurements) |
| Horizontal FoV | ~30° |
| Vertical FoV | ~17° |
| Average Pixel Density | ~15 PPD |
| Peak Pixel Density | ~15 PPD |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | See-through holographic waveguide |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Fixed (software adjustment) |
| Adjustable Diopter | No (glasses compatible) |
| Passthrough | Native see-through (AR) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out (SLAM) |
| Tracking Frequency | N/A |
| Base Stations | None required |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (gesture recognition) |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Update Rate | 60Hz |
| Tracking Volume | Room-scale |
| Play Space | Mobile AR |
| Latency | <25ms |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Integrated spatial speakers |
| Microphone | Yes (4 microphones) |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Yes |
| Camera | 2MP HD photo/video camera |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1 LE |
| Ports | Micro-USB, 3.5mm audio |
| Wired Video | No |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.1 LE |
| Power | Internal battery |
| Battery Capacity | 16,500mWh |
| Battery Life | 2-3 hours (active use) |
| Charge Time | ~2 hours |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | ~270mm × 200mm × 120mm |
| Weight | 579g |
| Material | Plastic, metal |
| Headstrap | Adjustable headband with forehead pad |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | 4× environment cameras, depth sensor, ambient light sensor, IMU |
| Input | Gesture recognition, voice commands, Clicker, gaze |
| Compliance | FCC, CE |
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The Microsoft HoloLens (1st Generation) is a self-contained mixed reality head-mounted display developed by Microsoft, announced on January 21, 2015, at a Windows 10 event, and released as the Development Edition on March 30, 2016, for $3,000. HoloLens was the first completely self-contained holographic computer—requiring no wires, phone, or PC—capable of projecting interactive 3D holograms onto the real world through see-through waveguide displays. Powered by an Intel Atom processor and Microsoft's custom Holographic Processing Unit (HPU), HoloLens could understand the user's environment through spatial mapping, recognize gestures and voice commands, and anchor digital content to physical locations. Though limited by its narrow 30° diagonal field of view, HoloLens pioneered the concept of spatial computing for enterprise applications in manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and education.
History and Development
Microsoft Research Origins
Long development history:
- Research since early 2010s
- Kinect technology heritage
- Project Baraboo/Project Fortaleza
- Alex Kipman leadership
Windows 10 Event Reveal
January 21, 2015:
- Surprise announcement
- "Windows Holographic" platform
- Live demonstrations
- "One more thing" moment
Development Edition Launch
March 30, 2016:
- $3,000 price point
- US and Canada initially
- Developer targeting
- Pre-orders opened February 29
Global Expansion
October 2016:
- Australia, Ireland, France
- Germany, New Zealand, UK
- Wider developer access
- International availability
Commercial Suite
Enterprise offering:
- $5,000 package
- Business features
- Device management
- Enterprise support
Design Philosophy
Self-Contained
Completely wireless:
- No tethers to PC
- No phone required
- All processing onboard
- True mobile computing
Mixed Reality
Holographic computing concept:
- Digital overlays on real world
- Spatial understanding
- Persistent content
- Natural interaction
Enterprise Focus
Business applications:
- Not gaming device
- Professional tools
- Visualization
- Training and collaboration
Display Technology
Holographic Waveguide
See-through display system:
- Resolution: 1268 × 720 per eye
- Type: Waveguide optics
- Holograms: ~2.3M light points
- See-through: Full transparency
Field of View
Major limitation:
- ~30° diagonal
- ~35° horizontal (some measurements)
- Small viewing window
- Holograms clip at edges
Light Engines
Projection system:
- Custom light engines
- Full-color holograms
- 60Hz refresh
- Adequate brightness
Hologram Quality
Visual characteristics:
- Semi-transparent
- Full color
- Spatial depth
- Environmental integration
Processing Architecture
Intel Atom CPU
Main processor:
- Intel Atom x5-Z8100
- 1.04 GHz, 4 cores
- 64-bit capable
- Low power consumption
Holographic Processing Unit
Custom silicon:
- HPU 1.0: Microsoft-designed
- Real-time sensor processing
- Spatial mapping
- Gesture recognition
- Environmental understanding
Memory
Limited specification:
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 64GB (~54GB available)
- Adequate for applications
- Enterprise-focused
Tracking and Sensors
Spatial Mapping
Environment understanding:
- Four environment cameras
- Depth sensor
- Real-time 3D mapping
- Surface detection
SLAM Technology
Positioning:
- Simultaneous localization and mapping
- 6DoF tracking
- Room-scale movement
- No external sensors
Sensor Array
Comprehensive sensing:
- 4× environment cameras
- 1× depth sensor
- Ambient light sensor
- IMU
- 4× microphones
Input Methods
Gesture Recognition
Hand tracking:
- Air tap (select)
- Bloom (home)
- Hold and drag
- Limited gestures
Voice Commands
Cortana integration:
- "Hey Cortana" wake word
- Voice navigation
- Dictation
- Command recognition
Gaze Input
Eye direction:
- Head-aimed cursor
- Gaze to select
- Combined with gestures
- Primary targeting method
Clicker
Optional accessory:
- Bluetooth device
- Click input
- Scroll ring
- Alternative to gestures
Audio System
Spatial Speakers
Integrated audio:
- Built-in speakers
- Spatial sound positioning
- Hear real world too
- Environmental awareness
Microphones
Voice capture:
- Four microphones
- Array processing
- Voice commands
- Communication
3.5mm Jack
Headphone option:
- Private listening
- Higher quality
- Immersive audio
Battery
Internal Battery
Mobile power:
- Capacity: 16,500mWh
- Active use: 2-3 hours
- Standby: 2 weeks
- Charging: Micro-USB
Physical Design
Self-Contained
All components integrated:
- Compute, display, sensors
- Battery included
- No external units
- Single device
Weight
Substantial but wearable:
- 579g (1.28 lbs)
- Front-heavy
- Extended wear challenging
- Headband distribution
Headband Design
Comfort system:
- Adjustable headband
- Forehead pad
- Rear dial tightening
- Glasses compatible
Visor
Display housing:
- Tinted visor
- Sensor array
- Light blocking
- Premium appearance
Software Platform
Windows Holographic
Operating system:
- Windows 10 based
- Universal Windows Platform
- Holographic APIs
- Familiar development
Development Tools
Creating for HoloLens:
- Unity support
- Visual Studio
- Emulator available
- Documentation
Applications
Enterprise apps:
- 3D design review
- Training simulations
- Remote assistance
- Visualization tools
Enterprise Applications
Manufacturing
Industrial use:
- Assembly guidance
- Quality inspection
- Design visualization
- Training
Healthcare
Medical applications:
- Surgical planning
- Medical imaging
- Education
- Patient care
Architecture/Construction
Design and building:
- 3D model overlay
- Site visualization
- Planning review
- Client presentation
Education
Learning applications:
- Interactive lessons
- 3D visualization
- Medical training
- Science education
Windows Mixed Reality
Platform Evolution
Ecosystem development:
- HoloLens as flagship
- Third-party VR headsets later
- Common platform
- Developer ecosystem
Mixed Reality Capture
Content creation:
- Record holographic view
- Share experiences
- Documentation
- Marketing
Comparison with HoloLens 2
| Feature | HoloLens 1 | HoloLens 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Release | March 2016 | November 2019 |
| Price | $3,000 | $3,500 |
| FOV | ~30° diagonal | ~52° diagonal |
| Resolution/eye | 1268×720 | 2K per eye |
| HPU | HPU 1.0 | HPU 2.0 |
| Hand Tracking | Basic gestures | Full articulated |
| Eye Tracking | No | Yes |
| Weight | 579g | 566g |
| Flip-up Visor | No | Yes |
Legacy
Pioneering Device
Industry impact:
- First self-contained AR
- Spatial computing concept
- Enterprise AR validation
- Technology demonstration
Development Impact
Ecosystem building:
- Developer interest
- Application exploration
- Industry partnerships
- Use case discovery
Limitations Acknowledged
Known constraints:
- Small field of view
- Gesture fatigue
- Heavy for extended use
- Price barrier
Technical Specifications Summary
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | Waveguide, 1268 × 720 per eye |
| FOV | ~30° diagonal |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Processor | Intel Atom x5-Z8100 + HPU 1.0 |
| Memory | 2GB RAM, 64GB storage |
| Tracking | 6DoF SLAM (inside-out) |
| Input | Gesture, voice, gaze, Clicker |
| Audio | Spatial speakers + 3.5mm |
| Battery | 2-3 hours active |
| Weight | 579g |
| Price | $3,000 (Dev) / $5,000 (Commercial) |
| Status | Discontinued (succeeded by HoloLens 2) |