The world has never been so connected in the past as it is today. A stark rise in the number of video conferencing calls shows the demand for connectivity, as it allows users to communicate without any glitch. Still, interaction barriers have been existent. To break away from this problem, holoportation was introduced. For sure, it’s going to be the next big thing for several industries.
Holoportation will also mark the evolution of digital communications, just after the world will settle with the phenomenon of video conferencing, which has seen a steep rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the biggest contributors to Holoportation technology has been Microsoft ever since it launched its flagship products, Mesh and Hololens 2.0.
It’s not just Microsoft, but another tech company, PORTL, also specializes in Holoportation technology. PORTL has fitted the technology in a standard cupboard-sized box with multiple cameras fitted into it. With the help of this box, a hologram can be beamed anywhere in the world, with the condition that Holoportation technology is installed there.
What is ‘Holoportation?’
Holoporation is derived from a combination of two words, ‘hologram’ and ‘teleportation.’
The term ‘holo’ comes from the Greek word ‘holos’, meaning whole or complete. The term ‘portation’ means transporting someone from one place to another. So, Holoportation technology works by transporting people across distances without being physically present at either location.
This is how Microsoft describes Holoportation in its blog:
“Holoportation is a new type of 3D capture technology that allows high-quality 3D models of people to be reconstructed, compressed, and transmitted anywhere in the world in real-time. When combined with mixed reality displays such as HoloLens, this technology allows users to see, hear, and interact with remote participants in 3D as if they are actually present in the same physical space. Communicating and interacting with remote users becomes as natural as face-to-face communication.”
The technology uses multiple 3D cameras to capture footage of the remote user from different angles. The images are then immediately collected to create an accurate real-time 3D model of the user.
With the help of a headset, the other person will be able to see the image as if he/she is standing in the same room as the user. In addition to being utilized for real-time communication, Microsoft’s Holoportation technology allows users to replay prior conversations, making Star Wars-style holograms a reality.
As an immersive and innovative form of technology, Holoportation possesses great potential in transforming the learning environment. For example, consider a scenario where people from all corners of the world can attend a conference happening at a particular place. This facilitates streaming of the event from the comfort of homes, thus diminishing the need for physical presence.
How does the Holoportation work?
3D capture technology and advanced mixed-reality headsets are the key factors when we talk about Holoportation. Hololens headsets from Microsoft is a mixed reality platform built on Microsoft Azure.
In 3D capture technology, a special camera is used to capture images of the people required for a 3D reconstruction of the hologram. It is essential to have at least two cameras in the room, or it may vary according to the size of the room. The number of cameras decides the quality of the hologram projected on the other side.
Talking about the other essential component, the mixed reality headset, it works by reconstructing an image into a 3D hologram. It has been designed carefully using 3D capture cameras, giving a close approximation of a real. Right now, the most popular mixed-reality headset is Microsoft’s Hololens 2.0.
Leila Martine from Microsoft UK expressed, “As businesses and sectors adapt to entirely new ways of working, the potential of mixed reality is more likely to be realized, and this will only accelerate as time goes by.”
It is the right time for the Holoportation technology to show its power as the world is in the middle of a pandemic that has forced organizations to tackle a remote workforce. In such times, the Holoportation technology has proved to be a boon as it has facilitated a smooth and faster communication process.
Annette Jump, senior director analyst for emerging technologies and trends research at Gartner, said, “This expedited move towards home working has given way to a number of challenges that only innovative technologies can meet.”
Holoportation applications
Wireless communication, which emerged through the wireless telegraph, led to the invention of the radio. The invention of computer networks made way for email exchange, and the worldwide web changed the complete mode of communication. Later, smartphones were introduced, which further marked evolution in communication.
All these developments have brought forth a fundamental shift in the way people manage long-distance communication. Holoportation is yet another addition that has streamlined the communication process.
The following applications elaborate on how Holoportation will change human lives –
Telehealth industry
Consultation through digital communication technologies such as audio or video calls or VR gadgets is possible in healthcare and health-related services. But Holoportation has taken it to the next level. It is estimated that the global telemedicine market will reach USD 298.9 billion by 2028. This is indicative of the fact that telehealth is ready to adopt Holoportation technology.
The obvious use cases are doctor appointments, therapy sessions, etc. Online video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Skype have already facilitated these services. However, it lacks the intensity of human interaction, which Holoportation will cover-up.
Holoportation in business
Holoportation in businesses plays a major role. It can be the best way to conduct collaborative meetings even if the participants are sitting in four corners of the world.
Holoportation is likely to become a key mode to communicate as more companies adopt remote cultures.
Companies need to train their employees about a particular tool or any updates in an existing platform regularly. Holoportation, however, can minimize the cost of traveling. Instead, through Holoportation, dynamic, real-time training could be provided without inter-continental travel. Moreover, educating all at once will also lead to the savage of time.
Recently, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, Coinbase, announced that it is soon closing its only physical office in San Francisco to adopt the remote culture.
Holoportation has a long way to go…
The future holds many surprises for the tech industry, and Holoportation is one of them. The holographic 3D-capture technology and its applications for Holoportation and media will change the existence of social beings.
The age-old dilemma of spatial separation is on the verge of being decided. From homes to workplaces to courtrooms, the real-time melding of virtual and physical worlds will bring people closer together than ever before.
Businesses will gain from faster, more real-time communication; loved ones will be able to break free from the suffocating confines of screen-based connection, and police will be able to monitor the streets more safely and correctly.
To learn more visit our latest whitepapers on Holoportation and similar technologies here.
