Earlier this year, Microsoft began shipping its HoloLens to developers, before making the augmented reality headset available to business customers in the US and Canada this month.
And while the headset remains eye-wateringly expensive (HoloLens is currently going for $3,000), the latest news from HoloLens headquarters will likely make fans even more keen to get their hands on the device.
A new partnership between Microsoft and film company Legendary aims to bring film and game characters to life using the HoloLens.
Users will be able to interact with their favourite characters through the headset, with demos on the Windows blog site demonstrating how characters from the Warcraft film have been rendered in Augmented Reality.
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“Microsoft HoloLens lets us bring characters from the worlds we create into the real world,” said Emily Castel, Chief Marketing Officer at Legendary.
“Our fans get to interact and have fun with our characters in a completely new way, giving them a unique experience they can share with their friends through video and social media. This is exciting for us, and for the creators we work with.”
In the blog post, CVP Next Gen Experiences for the Windows and Devices Group, Kido Tsunoda, explains how the company uses “a holographic video capture studio” to record actors “using dozens of synchronized RGB and infrared cameras on a calibrated green-screen stage”.
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“We are able to capture the motion, shape, and appearance of the performer, producing something like video but viewable from any angle, at any moment of recording.”
There’s no word on when the HoloLens will be made available to other markets, so for now, unless you’re a US or Canadian businessman with $3,000 to spare, it’s unlikely you’ll be hanging out with the cast of the Warcraft film any time soon.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.