Microsoft Mesh: AR/VR Meetings Platform Debuts

Microsoft Unveils Mesh: A Unified AR/VR Meeting Platform

During a dedicated augmented and virtual reality event hosted within its Altspace virtual reality community, Microsoft revealed a new product designed to unify its HoloLens AR platform and Windows Mixed Reality VR platform for collaborative meetings.

Named Microsoft Mesh, this application provides users with a shared AR/VR environment for interaction with both other participants and 3D content. It manages the complex technical aspects of delivering spatial multi-player experiences via the web.

Developer Focus and Azure Integration

Similar to other Microsoft AR/VR offerings, the primary appeal of Mesh appears to lie not solely in the software itself, but in its ability to empower developers. It allows them to leverage Azure’s specialized capabilities to build upon the platform’s functionalities.

Microsoft announced that AltspaceVR will now be fully integrated with Mesh, expanding its reach and potential.

High-Profile Demonstrations

The company’s presentation featured ambitious demonstrations of potential applications, including appearances by James Cameron, a co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, and representatives from Pokémon Go developer Niantic.

HoloLens has consistently excelled in scenarios where multiple viewers can share a common digital experience within a physical space. Within Mesh, users are represented by stylized avatars, a common design choice in AR/VR applications.

Microsoft envisions a future where users can be represented by photo-realistic 3D models within the app, but acknowledges this will require advancements in camera hardware technology.

Current Capabilities and Future Vision

A concept video showcased the potential of Mesh, illustrating features that currently surpass the capabilities of the existing software.

While Mesh doesn’t introduce entirely novel features to the spatial computing landscape, its distinguishing characteristic is its broad accessibility. This was previously a key strength of the AltspaceVR platform.

The platform is accessible via HoloLens 2, a wide range of VR headsets, smartphones, tablets, and PCs, offering a glimpse into the future of collaborative computing for desktop users as well.

The software is currently available in preview on HoloLens 2, alongside its integration with AltspaceVR.

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