Microsoft Shows Off HoloLens Progress at Build Developer's Conference

Microsoft(SAN FRANCISCO) — Microsoft is positioning its HoloLens to become the darling of the immersive technology world.

Appealing to developers at its annual Build conference on Wednesday, Microsoft showed off the progress it’s made while highlighting the potential for the eyewear, which captured imaginations when it was first unveiled in January.

While a release date and price haven’t been set, Microsoft made it clear the glasses would not rely on a PC connection, phones or any external wires, allowing the user to walk around unencumbered in a mixed-reality space.

The devices will be on hand during the Build conference, which lasts through the end of the week. From the demonstration on Wednesday, it’s clear that plenty of impressive progress has been made. Here are five functions that stood out:

Change the Way We Learn

HoloLens helps bring a textbook experience to life and the possibilities are endless, according to Microsoft. Among the examples Wednesday were architects collaborating on a virtual project in front of them and medical students exploring the body in three dimensions.

Weather App

Imagine sitting in your living room and wearing your HoloLens. A weather app for Maui showing off a virtual beach sits on a coffee table to your right, displaying the temperature in the Hawaiian paradise.

Entertainment Follows You

If you want to watch a movie, pin the virtual player to the wall. When it’s time to get the popcorn out of the microwave, the wearer can instruct the entertainment to follow them so they don’t miss a moment of the action.

Hang Apps on the Wall

Windows Holographic lets users hang apps on a virtual wall, including a browser, a video and even Skype. While it wasn’t demonstrated on Wednesday, one of the huge draws of HoloLens that has been touted is the ability for users to make holographic calls, placing the person in front of them in 3-D form.

Virtual Puppy

It would be remiss not to mention that Wednesday’s presentation of HoloLens also included a virtual puppy. It doesn’t bark in the middle of the night or chew up your new couch, but it sure is cute.