Microsoft is compiling examples of HoloLens use in professional environments on a dedicated showcase page of its website. These examples are prepared in collaboration with thought leaders such as Trimble and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory discussing the added value of having Augmented Reality-assisted systems.

The most recently issued video, also published on YouTube, features experts at Case Western Reserve University describing how medical school students and interns can benefit from using HoloLens when learning human anatomy. Although focusing on medical concepts, the same benefits can be suggested in any learning environment which can benefit from 3D graphics over the use of flat illustrations.

Following the release of the video, many observers published posts focusing on the narrow field of view of HoloLens as depicted in the video. While the limitations of the proposed system’s field of view are clear, media and bloggers fail to credit Microsoft for showing actual output and setting customer expectations at the appropriate level rather than simulating effects that cannot be achieved with current technology. More initiatives like this should be encouraged as they will fuel wider adoption of Augmented Reality in the workplace.

For years most people have described Augmented Reality through its visual manifestation: visually perceived augmentations on the physical world objects about which they relate. While other forms of augmentation such as auditory AR for the sight impaired user are possible and offered in unusual cases, tactile or haptic AR has been described rarely and demonstrated even less frequently. Even Metaio’s “Touch AR” technology introduced in 2014 is not haptic AR (it uses IR sensors to detect the heat left on a surface following the touch of a finger).

In this article on Popular Science web site, the revolutionary work of the Digital Nature Group in University of Tsukuba led by Assistant Prof. Yoichi Ochiai describes the use of “lasers, mirrors and cameras to create three-dimensional, interactive holograms comprised of tiny points of light called voxels.”

This technology could be highly valuable in scenarios where users are required to interact with touch but cannot “really” touch the target of interest due to protective clothing or other requirements for safety reasons.

The frequency with which new events focusing on Augmented Reality are announced is rising steadily. Some continue to focus on the consumer market while others clearly target enterprise audiences. In this announcement of the Enterprise Wearable Technology Summit, the event producer BrainXchange makes it clear that it will only feature the use cases and technologies suitable for use in enterprise and industrial settings. The preliminary agenda includes industry leaders such as Ubimax and many customers of Google Glass. The event will feature presentations as well as interactive discussions and workshops led by experienced users who will share their lessons learned and future plans.

It’s not difficult to see the inspiration of the popular movie, Minority Report, in the new project BAE Systems and academics at Birmingham University unveiled to the media and described in this MailOnline feature length article and this article on Engineering & Technology magazine blog. The prototype for the system, which resembles Microsoft Hololens in many respects, is said to be operating and use cases under evaluation. It may be possible for enterprise and industrial users to benefit from such technology at the same time or even prior to the military users because, in contrast with soldiers in the field, in enterprise AR many of the user’s environmental conditions, as well as their location and tools, can be tightly controlled. 

Sorting and getting products to the right place without detours or delays is an increasingly competitive business. According to an article in Fierce Wireless, the US Postal Service has announced in a report that it is exploring the possibility of using Augmented Reality in a variety of use cases including but no limited to assisting carriers with their deliveries. Cost and time savings are among the goals of the project.

Engineers in the the Electrical Engineering Department at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a prototype of their K-Glass reference design, reports Phys.org. Using proprietary technology integrated into the frame,  the K-Glass 2 detects users’ eye movements to point the cursor to recognize computer icons or objects in the Internet, and uses winks and blinks for commands. The researchers call this interface the “i-Mouse.” Although the concept has been around in research for over a decade, the gaze-image sensor (GIS) and object recognition processor (ORP) are now built into second generation silicon designs. Compared to earlier ORP systems, the new chip uses 3.4 times less power, permitting nearly 24 hours of optical see-through Augmented Reality on a single charge.

NASA’s announcement that it is working on Augmented Reality for ground applications caught a lot of media attention. This interview on Bloomberg TV is with ODG’s Pete Jameson discusses use cases. In this article on VentureBeat, the author describes a new relationship between NASA and Osterhout Design Group. The partnership will focus on development of Augmented Reality services to be delivered on ODG’s smart glasses for supporting field service activities. Over time there could be use cases for astronauts on the International Space Station and Orion spacecraft. The partners anticipate that astronauts will have higher performance with AR-assisted manuals as well as remote assistance from personnel on the Earth when the tasks are undocumented or unusual.

Keeping track of the industry movers and shakers can be challenging in a growing industry. Kopin Corporation, maker of optics and components for mobile and wearable displays, recently announced that Bill Maffucci has joined as Vice President of Business Development with focus on the defense market. Kopin has been providing solutions to use in military and first responder systems for over a decade.

The OGC announces that its members have ratified and made public the ARML 2.0 specification version 1.0 for Augmented Reality.

The military forces have long been able to use pre-commercial Augmented Reality components as part of their advanced technology for soldiers. The technology has now penetrated the activities of the US Navy. The CNO Rapid Innovation Cell reports on the Navy Times web site that the results of its first year of testing of Google Glass demonstrates widespread applicability to increase productivity of sailors at sea.