Bringing Holograms to Everyday Life

Published April 14, 2016 at 4:17 AM EDT

You've heard of reality. Maybe you've even heard of alternate reality... And virtual reality. Now imagine the image of me you see on your screen -- as a hologram projection. That's called "augmented reality".

And now it's being used to change the way we look at the world, by mixing holograms with real life.

Mary Moloney explains how Microsoft is putting the technology to use.

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS --
(NATS) "This is our most desperate hour. Help me Obi-wan Kenobi, you are my only hope."
THE FUTURE AS DEPICTED IN STAR WARS MAY BE CLOSER THAN EVER.
MICROSOFT'S HOLOLENS WANTS TO EVENTUALLY CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE AND INTERACT WITH THE WORLD.
IT USES AUGMENTED REALITY -- WHICH TAKES HOLOGRAMS AND PROJECTS THEM ONTO YOUR SURROUNDINGS -- BLENDING THE TECHNOLOGY WITH REAL LIFE.
MICROSOFT SHOWCASED IT'S HOLOLENS PRODUCT AT IT'S ANNUAL BUILD CONFERENCE.
ALREADY -- A NUMBER OF COMPANIES ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH HOLOLENS.
AMONG OTHER THINGS NASA USES THE TECHNOLOGY TO VIRTUALLY TAKE PEOPLE TO MARS
(NATS)
LOWES -- HELPS CUSTOMERS PICK OUT PRODUCTS LIKE CABINETS AND SINKS -- AND USES A HOLOGRAM TO PLACE THOSE PRODUCTS INTO THEIR KITCHENS
(NATS)
AND THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY USES IT TO TEACH STUDENTS.
(Pamela B. Davis/Case Western Reserve University): "We've had a small team of three computer programmers turning our ideas into reality."
IDEAS LIKE USING THE THREE-D INTERACTIVE HOLOGRAM TO STUDY THE ANATOMY.
OR TO VIRTUALLY TRANSPORT A PROFESSOR IN ANOTHER LOCATION INTO THE CLASSROOM.
(Hologram Professor): "The three of us can see each other as we're talking, which makes us feel connected. And even though you can only see my head and my hand, you get a sense of my body language."
AS OF NOW -- ONLY DEVELOPERS CAN GET HOLD OF THE 3-THOUSAND DOLLAR PRODUCT.
BUT MICROSOFT HOPES OTHERS CAN CREATE APPS WITHIN HOLOLENS -- AND EVENTUALLY MARKET IT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
FOR CONSUMER WATCH -- I'M MARY MOLONEY.