Microsoft's New Technology Lets You 'Teleport' By Hologram

Sci-fi fanatics shouldn't expect to see actual teleportation technology emerge any time soon, but researchers at Microsoft have come up with what may be the next best thing. As reported by Engadget, the company recently released a Holoportation demo that shows how HoloLens users can remotely interact with people through 3D holograms.

The HoloLens, which was introduced by Microsoft last year, is an augmented reality visor that could be used to enhance the viewing experience of everything from sports to Minecraft. Microsoft's latest demo of the technology shows how it could also potentially change the way we communicate in the future.

Using 3D cameras, a subject standing in one room is recorded from multiple angles. The resulting model then appears to be projected into the same room as the person wearing the HoloLens headset. This tech can be used to interact with people in real time, or portions of it can be recorded and played back later. The holograms can also be shrunk down small enough to fit on a table, providing the perfect opportunity to practice your Princess Leia impression.

The new feature is still in the prototype stages, but it's easy to see how it could compete with services like FaceTime or Skype in the future. You can check out a demonstration of the technology in the video above.

[h/t Engadget]

Header/banner images courtesy of Microsoft via YouTube.