HoloLens To Be Rolled Out To 29 New Countries
Microsoft will expand the availability of HoloLens by launching the headset in 29 new countries across Europe, the company announced at Future Decoded.
The mixed-reality device, which allows wearers to place 3D digital models in the room alongside them, is being used by NASA to recreate Mars, Audi and Saab, among others.
HoloLens is currently available in 10 markets, including the UK, but will now be rolled out further.
The new markets are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
Lorraine Bardeen, general manager of Microsoft HoloLens and Windows experiences, also announced that HoloLens complies with eyewear regulations in North America and Europe. This means workers can wear the device without additional protective eyewear. Microsoft is also developing hardhat accessories for HoloLens.
“At Microsoft we are on a mission to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more,” said Bardeen. “Mixed reality has the potential to help customers and businesses across the globe do things that, until now, have never been possible. Mixed reality experiences will help businesses and their employees complete crucial tasks faster, safer, more efficiently, and create new ways to connect to customers and partners.”
The rollout was announced by Bardeen at Future Decoded, Microsoft’s largest UK enterprise event, which was held at ExCeL in London.
The two-day conference was attended by tens of thousands of business leaders, journalists and analysts, and featured speakers such as Panos Panay, Vice-President for Surface at Microsoft; Cindy Rose, Microsoft UK Chief Executive; Chris Bishop, Lab Director at Microsoft Research Cambridge; former Manchester United footballer Gary Neville and comedian David Walliams.
Duncan is a technology professional with over 20 years experience of working in various IT roles. He has a interest in cyber security, and has a wide range of other skills in radio, electronics and telecommunications.