Microsoft HoloLens 2 and Microsoft Teams

At MWC (previously Mobile World Congress), Microsoft announced the HoloLens 2. The new edition focused on Immersion, Comfort and “Time-to-value”, i.e. better first party apps and customer/partner apps development/support.

HoloLens 2 will be available this year at a price of $3,500. Bundles including Dynamics 365 Remote Assist start at $125/month.

Azure Kinect Developer Kit

Microsoft also announced The Azure Kinect DK is a developer kit. It combines multiple AI sensors in a single device. At its core is the time-of-flight depth sensor developed for HoloLens 2, a high-def RGB camera and a 7-microphone circular array that will enable development of advanced computer vision and speech solutions with Azure. Initially available in the U.S. and China, the Azure Kinect DK is available for pre-order today at $399.

Microsoft Teams and HoloLens – how do they work together?

It’s interesting that the example apps are being branded under “Dynamics 365”, e.g.

• Dynamics 365 Remote Assist – GA since 1st October, for field service and training scenarios, Microsoft Remote Assist increases collaboration with heads-up, hands-free video calling, image sharing and mixed reality annotations.

They are actually using Microsoft Teams for the video calling element today. Here is what is supported

Make and receive calls

• Start a video call with experts and co-workers on Microsoft Teams video
• Receive video calls using Microsoft Teams.
• Pin your video card or have it follow you around as you move during a call

Collaborate and annotate

• Place arrows, draw and insert images into your space during video calls
• Change the colour of your arrows and ink
• View arrows, drawings and images from remote experts using Microsoft Teams desktop
• Erase or undo annotations at any time

In Microsoft Teams on a PC desktop

• Make and receive calls from someone using Remote Assist on a HoloLens
• Create annotations from your desktop into the Remote Assist user’s world
• Share your screen and present information to the HoloLens user in a mixed reality environment

It’s odd to me this is going under the “Dynamics” brand when really it is about bringing people together to collaborate with AR. I hope we see more use cases bringing Microsoft Teams into the solutions.

Are you using Hololens and or Remote Assist today, I would love to talk to you about your experience.

 

Reference:

Microsoft at MWC Barcelona: Introducing Microsoft HoloLens 2

Introducing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist

Set up and use Microsoft Teams with Remote Assist to collaborate on a call