Microsoft wint een speciaal HoloLens-contract van $ 21 miljard voor het Amerikaanse leger

Microsoft heeft een contract getekend met het Amerikaanse leger, ter waarde van maximaal 21.88 miljard dollar, voor de levering van 120,000 op maat gemaakte Hololens augmented reality-headsets.

De deal komt na een eerder contract ter waarde van 480 miljoen dollar in 2018 om prototypeversies voor het leger te ontwikkelen. CNBC News reported. The IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmented System) concept used the headset's display to show map and thermal imaging systems, as well as the aim for a weapon.

Die overeenkomst werd bekritiseerd door Microsoft-medewerkers in een open brief, in which staff said they "did not sign up to develop weapons, and we demand a say in how our work is used". These concerns were dismissed by Microsoft boss CEO Satya Nadella, and the contract went ahead.

Today's new deal means Microsoft will work to mass produce the IVAS prototype for widespread US Army usage.

"The IVAS aggregates multiple technologies into an architecture that allows the Soldier to Fight, Rehearse, and Train using a single platform," the US Army wrote in a persbericht.

"The suite of capabilities leverages existing high-resolution night, thermal, and Soldier-borne sensors integrated into a unified Heads Up Display to provide the improved situational awareness, target engagement, and informed decision-making necessary to achieve overmatch against current and future adversaries. The system also leverages augmented reality and machine learning to enable a life-like mixed reality training environment so the CCF can rehearse before engaging any adversaries."

catching Pokémon in gemengde realiteit, dit is niet.