Event postponed to Autumn 2017
There has been much emphasis on virtual reality (VR) headsets being the gift of choice this Christmas and sales of Oculus Rift, Vire and other VR headsets seem to bear this out. VR headsets allow the wearer to enter a virtual environment as part of a game or learning experience and be immersed in that environment. Augmented Reality (AR) goes further and creates a virtual object, usually on a tablet or smart phone screen from transmitted or stored data and a key which triggers the visualisation. This has been mainly used in marketing and advertising and permits consumers to see and customise a purchase before buying.
Released in the UK on 30th November, Microsoft have entered the market with their HoloLens headset using mixed reality (MR). MR allows the wearer of a headset to still see the real world but have holograms superimposed in their line of sight. Holograms that they can interact with, speak to and manipulate. Almost touch! Imagine a game where the monsters appear in your room and which if you dont get them can cause virtual damage to your walls, doors etc. Imagine a Skype call where the caller appears in front of you and that you can walk around in 3D. Imagine seeing the working of a complex machine superimposed on the real thing or the anatomy of a patient overlaid on the real person. Imagine designing a product, vehicle, building or anything where the design software can interact in real time with a 3D hologram next to you or around the globe making changes which you or your client can inspect and comment on. All of this is possible and in full colour!
Come along to the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre to experience the future, first hand and with one of the first headsets in the region. The event will offer an opportunity for visitors to hear about the potential uses of the HoloLens in Product Design, Engineering, Architecture and Heritage, Hazardous Environments, Healthcare, Training and Computer Gaming and see and try the system. Visitors will also have an opportunity to discuss ideas for possible uses of MR, AR and VR for their businesses with our design and visualisation team.