BRENT: Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will be using Microsoft’s HoloLens headsets as part of a new project called Sidekick.
HoloLens allows users to see and interact with holograms in their environment, but earlier demonstrations by Microsoft also show it being used as a way to help people.
“Sidekick uses Microsoft HoloLens to provide virtual aid to astronauts working off the Earth, for the Earth,” NASA said, adding that two HoloLens headsets would be launched to the station on June 28.
Sidekick will have two main modes of operation.
“The first is ‘Remote Expert Mode’, which uses Skype, part of Microsoft, to allow a ground operator to see what a crew member sees, provide real-time guidance, and draw annotations into the crew member’s environment to coach him or her through a task. Until now, crew members have relied on written and voice instructions when performing complex repair tasks or experiments,” NASA said.
“The second mode is ‘Procedure Mode’, which augments standalone procedures with animated holographic illustrations displayed on top of the objects with which the crew is interacting,” the space agency explained.
“This capability could lessen the amount of training that future crews will require and could be an invaluable resource for missions deep into our solar system, where communication delays complicate difficult operations.”
It’s not the first time HoloLens technology will be used by NASA either, with Microsoft and the space agency announcing an OnSight project earlier this year.
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