Microsoft’s own augmented reality headset, the HoloLens, is about to get its own version of Windows 10 as the company has announced that it is hard at work creating Windows Holographic.
As the name implies, Windows Holographic is Microsoft’s take on a mixed-reality version of Windows. This version of Windows builds on the common Windows platform such as the NT kernel, the Windows Store, the Edge browser, and the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) APIs. On top of that, Microsoft is adding a range of components made for mixed-reality computing such as a custom shell, human-interaction systems that integrate voice, gaze and hand gesutures, and spatial mapping.
The best part of Windows Holographic is compatibility. Microsoft has stated that Windows Holographic isn’t limited to just the HoloLens as the company intends to roll this OS out to virtual reality platforms such as the Vive and the Oculus Rift. As to when you can expect Windows Holographic to be available though, Microsoft did not mention anything about availabiity. Our “highly educated” guess would be that Windows Holographic would be available when the commercial version of HoloLens gets released, but seeing as the HoloLens does not have an official launch date either, it’s probably safe to say that it won’t be happening this year.
Source: Ars Technica