Pixabay
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/us-armys-hololens-request-was-denied-by-the-congress
https://www.roadtovr.com/congress-halts-microsoft-defense-augmented-reality/
Congress’ Denial of VR Headset Purchase for Army could lead to Innovation
Congress has denied a $400 million order of Microsoft’s HoloLens headsets due to physically disorienting usage symptoms. Users of the virtual reality (VR) goggles created under a contract that could have been worth $22 billion experienced negative physical symptoms that caused Congress to reconsider the large purchase. Despite the setback, $40 million has been allocated to headset purchases and product development for next-generation virtual reality/augmented reality technology for the army.
Despite the cancelation of the large order of HoloLens virtual reality goggles, there is a silver lining. The military is still interested in utilizing VR goggles in training and the field.
The military has approved the production and development of new VR goggles for $40. The goal of the program is to create goggles that reduce the negative physical effects of goggle usage. This development process has been ongoing since 2021, and issues have delayed the deployment of an augmented reality/virtual reality goggle/platform called the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS). The total value of the IVAS contract in 2021 could have exceeded $22 billion.
The $40 million approved to innovate the VR/AR goggles and systems with Army wants to use is a positive signal. Despite losing out on the $400 million order that Microsoft had hoped for from the Army, it looks likely that development efforts that have been ongoing since 2021 will continue. The physical consequences of prolonged usage of VR/AR systems can be overcome with the proper balancing of the system and technological innovation. Many of the technologies we use today were developed for military usage, so this investment will yield fruit for future innovations.
Posted on my Blurt account at truth2.curator and my Steemit account at truth2