The #1 Takeaway From Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 Announcement
On Sunday February 24th at the Mobile World Congress press event in Barcelona, Microsoft HoloLens creator Alex Kipman announced the next generation of head-mounted Mixed Reality computing hardware.
Since first shipped in March of 2016, the 1st edition HoloLens has remained the global leader for mixed reality hardware for enterprise.
Anticipation for the HoloLens 2 announcement has been mounting for months and the big reveal did not disappoint. The most notable improvements include a greater field of view that’s more than doubled in size, a more comfortable and ergonomic design with redistributed weight for longer wear, and “touchable” holograms that can be resized by simply grabbing the content with your hands and moving it. A full list of improvements can be found here.
The Kognitiv Spark team gathered on Sunday to watch the announcement. As a Microsoft partner with a shared vision for the future of mixed reality for work, Kognitiv Spark was recognized as a launch partner with our logo included on the international stage.
“The fact that we’ve been part of a global announcement for the second edition of one of the most impactful pieces of technology this generation has seen speaks volumes to not only the amazing leadership being provided by Microsoft in augmented and mixed reality, but to our own vision as a team and a reflection of the impact that we are having on the operations of our customers.” says co-founder and COO Duncan McSporran. “It’s great to be on this journey with everyone that’s put us where we are.”
We can’t wait to take advantage of the new features and are already in the planning stages of how to best leverage them through our flagship product, RemoteSpark. Clients can rest assured that RemoteSpark will be compatible with both HoloLens 1 and HoloLens 2.
“The HoloLens 2 announcement is a leap forward in technology and capacity, and reflects the input we’ve been able to give to Microsoft as a managed partner,” says McSporran. “But what’s really important is that they’ve not only identified what we think is good or what Microsoft thinks is good, but really what our clients, customers, and end users think needs to be in the next generation of equipment.”
With so much going on in the Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality space it can be confusing for companies wondering when is the right time to invest in new technology. Some may be inclined to wait until the HoloLens 2 is available on the market before pursuing an enterprise solution.
“The reality is, this is about process. This is about how we use technology to improve a process in a way that ten years ago people would have said was science fiction,” says McSporran. “And if organizations wait for the next version to hit the shelves then they are simply putting themselves behind the evolution of their systems. This isn’t about buying a piece of hardware, this is about buying a system that amplifies the capabilities of the human workforce.”
Early adopters reap benefits first and continue to remain farther ahead than their competitors who may decide to adopt later but must still overcome the same initial training and change management initiatives.
“For enterprise partners looking for the best way to spend their time before the HoloLens 2 is available, my recommendation is to start building the framework and business case using the first generation. The progression is going to move much more effectively if you start now, and not wait for the HoloLens 2 or the next shiny piece of equipment to be on the shelf,” said McSporran.
Every organization is going to have unique challenges when adopting any type of new technology. The way in which we put the human at the center of it is key.
In our experience onboarding clients over the last 2 years, we’ve learned that the greatest challenge a company can face is the change in process. It’s critical that organizations figure out right away what works, what does not, and how to best overcome implementation challenges. This will ensure that they are fully ready to take advantage of HoloLens 2 when it becomes available.
Many of the typical change management challenges can take time time to overcome, and the sooner an organization starts, the closer they’ll be to being adoption-ready when the HoloLens 2 is available. Now is an ideal time to validate the use cases with the most potential and document implementation challenges.
“What I would like people to take away from that announcement is that the technology is ready for scaled deployments,” says Yan Simard, Kognitiv Spark’s CEO. “Now is the right time to get going on developing your proof of concepts and getting ready for the public availability of HoloLens 2.”