What this book covers

Chapter 1, Digital Reality - Under the Hood, begins your mixed-reality journey by explaining different types of digital realities, their differences, and usage scenarios. Also, it will explain the different market players and how they are different from each other based on their products. This chapter will also introduce you to the immersive HoloLens device and show you how to take a step further with the device.

Chapter 2, HoloLens – the Most Natural Way to Interact, introduces HoloLens as a hardware device. You will get an insight into the different components that make up HoloLens and the technology behind the device, which makes the components work together. This chapter also gives an overview of holograms and ways to interact with holograms with different interaction models. You will also become familiar with HoloLens Application Model and take a step toward developing holographic applications by understanding the team structures and roles required.

Chapter 3, Explore HoloLens as Hologram - Scenario Identification and Sketching, dives into the development process of developing your first holographic application. You will learn about identifying the scenario and the interaction models required within that scenario, such as how the user will interact with gaze, gesture, and other interaction models. You will also learn how to identify 3D Assets and take a quick overview of creating new 3D Assets. 

Chapter 4, Explore HoloLens as Hologram - Developing Application and Deploying on Device, further enhances the scene developed in the preceding chapter and adds new life to it by developing different interaction models using scripting, building interaction model scripts, and testing them in Unity3D and holographic emulators. Finally, you deploy the application on a device and test your first holographic application, and visualize hologram interactions with the real world.

Chapter 5, Remote Monitoring of Smart Building(s) Using HoloLens Scenario Identification and Sketching, teaches you how to identify and design real-world integrated scenarios. You will integrate Azure IoT solutions with holographic application and visualize the data feed coming in near real time from the cloud through holograms. You will learn about integration scenario options, architecture, and the interaction models required within this scenario.

Chapter 6, Remote Monitoring of Smart Building(s) Using HoloLens - Developing Application and Deploying on Device, takes you through integration scenario identified in the preceding chapter, shows you how to implement and develop the holographic application, and explain how to integrate it with IoT system hosted on Azure. You will learn how to pull the data from the IoT system and render 3D assets on the holographic application based on the data. In this chapter, you will build interaction model scripts, test them in Unity and emulators, and finally deploy them on a device and test your first integrated application.

Chapter 7, Build End-to-End Retail Solution - Scenario Identification and Sketching, will teach you how to identify and design end-to-end retail solutions. You will sketch a solution to design your home appliances with virtual holograms. Then, you will place an order directly from the holographic application.

Chapter 8, Build End-to-End Retail Scenario - Developing Application and Deploying on Device, will take the retail scenario identified in the preceding chapter and implement and develop its holographic application. It will integrate it with backend services hosted on Azure. You will learn how to pull the data from the backend system, render 3D Assets on the fly, and place an order within holographic application. Here, you will build interaction model scripts, test them in Unity and emulators, and finally deploy them on a device and test your end-to-end retail application.

Chapter 9, Possibilities, outlines the new possibilities and scenarios with mixed reality and HoloLens.

Chapter 10, Microsoft HoloLens in Enterprise, looks at managing enterprise devices, such as adding them onto enterprise domains, managing updates, application distribution, and other device management features, such as managing devices through Microsoft Intune.