In the past few years, there has been a significant change in technology. Users now want various channels to communicate with businesses, as well as with their preferred online stores, games and mobile applications.
With Mixed Reality, users can interact with the physical world in a novel way by merging it with virtual elements generated by Artificial Intelligence. This amalgamation of the natural and technological worlds creates a distinct atmosphere in which the virtual and real realms intertwine.
Mixed reality environments have a multitude of potential applications in fields like product design, education, healthcare, entertainment, military training, robot control and product content management. The range of possibilities is so extensive that exploring the incorporation of mixed reality into your company could prove highly advantageous.
Start Getting Ready for Mixed Reality Development Today
Developing mixed reality necessitates understanding the distinctions between it and augmented reality (AR).
Using computer-generated imagery, an augmented reality experience can be created by overlaying it onto a live view of the real environment. This type of experience is supported on most modern mobile devices. Conversely, mixed reality merges the physical world with digital elements, empowering users to interact with the objects they encounter. This fundamental distinction sets it apart from augmented reality, which does not allow for user interaction.
It’s crucial to understand that mixed reality relies on specialised hardware.
This Marks the Release of Microsoft’s Second-Generation HoloLens.
The Microsoft HoloLens 2 is a highly-coveted device for exploring Mixed Reality (MR) environments. It has a 52-degree diagonal field of view, with a resolution of 20 pixels per degree. Unfortunately, it’s not a feasible choice for the typical consumer since it’s priced at over $3,500. The device was created primarily with business-oriented applications in mind, such as warehouses and factories. It was not designed for consumer use.
Microsoft has invested significant resources into enhancing the ease of use of HoloLens 2 and its adaptability to almost any task. With these mixed reality devices, employees can be trained to execute complex processes without ever touching the physical object. As an illustration, employees undergoing training can construct a highly detailed object entirely within a computer simulation.
What Is Needed to Develop HoloLens Applications?
To commence developing HoloLens applications (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine 4, OpenXR, or WebXR), software developers will require a HoloLens 2 device running Windows 10 or 11, as well as the HoloLens 2 and HoloLens emulators.
In order to start developing apps for Microsoft HoloLens, your engineers will need 3D hologram creation tools like Unity 3D.
Spaces Created for Mixed Reality
Teams must possess expertise in C#, C++, and JavaScript to develop for HoloLens. Additionally, it’s critical to ensure that teams have access to the requisite resources needed for development.
- Almost all headset manufacturers (including Microsoft, who provides an SDK for the HoloLens 2), now offer software development kits (SDKs) to aid programmers in starting with mixed reality.
- Game engines are powerful tools in creating Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) apps since they allow developers to produce visually striking experiences and render 3D graphics instantaneously.
- It is advisable for your teams to employ a version control system to manage the multitude of files they will be dealing with. This guarantees that changes are monitored and continuity is maintained. Git and GitHub are two superb tools for individuals new to version control.
In addition, numerous tools are worth pondering for mixed reality development, including:
- Amazon Sumerian is a collection of web-based tools that do not necessitate coding for creating immersive virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 3D apps.
- Spark AR is a framework for developing AR that can be used with smartphone cameras.
- Lens Studio, Snapchat’s AR environment development tool.
It’s crucial to note that the HoloLens 2 is compatible solely with the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), implying that software for this device can only be created on Windows. Therefore, developers utilising macOS or Linux will need to acclimate to the Windows environment.
Additionally, Steam, Oculus, Vuforia, MAXST, Wikitude, ARToolKit, ARCore, and ARKit are all platforms that employ mixed reality settings.
Conclusion
For companies seeking a contemporary solution for training, design, or asset creation, mixed reality and the Microsoft HoloLens 2 offer an excellent opportunity to enhance safety, reliability, repeatability, and even onboarding for some roles. Despite the high learning curve, especially when constructing 3D models, the advantages of employing this technology go beyond the initial development stages.
Here’s some good news: if your in-house software developers are unable to achieve the desired outcomes, you can delegate your mixed reality development requirements to a professional firm like Works.
