Microsoft has revealed plans to develop several augmented reality projectors over the next few years. The technology company has held a long-standing interest in augmented reality and its capabilities for entertainment and is now looking to take the technology to the next level. The projectors the company is developing will produce the most advanced, 3D holographic images that will be able to interact with the environment around them. Microsoft likens the project to similar projections seen in the popular Star Wars franchise, though insists that their projectors will be higher quality.
The company has a keen interest on how the projectors can be used in the gaming industry. Augmented reality is seeing more attention from game developers who are looking to design more immersive games. The projectors could bring a new dimension to the world of gaming by bringing virtual characters to life or bringing the player into a virtual environment by populating their surroundings with digital images.
The first projectors are estimated to hit the commercial market sometime next year. How the projectors will fare with consumers is difficult to predict. While many have shown interest in augmented reality, few companies have been able to successfully introduce engaging products to the market. Currently, augmented reality is still seen as a sort of novelty technology, which has stunted the adoption of the technology significantly.
