AN ANALOGUE INTERFACE IS CLUMSY, UNLIKE HOLOLENS
Imagine you’re in space, flying blind as you enter another planet’s, let’s say Mars’, atmosphere. Your instruments are working, but you’re guiding the landing craft off of digital displays of velocity, angle, and a slightly lagged estimation of altitude. “You can do it,” you think, because you have before, but you also know how easy it can be to feel nervous at such an analogue and indirect method of landing. Guidance from mission control is nil, seeing as their messages lag twenty minutes behind your reality.
This sort of misfortunate obstacle to planning human ventures deeper into space may no longer be as daunting, thanks to a nifty piece of technology designed by NASA and Microsoft. Known as the “Sidekick,” this holographic lens, or Hololens, it was designed to enhance an astronaut’s interface of the mission parameters with the vast non-directive emptiness of space.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Hololens offers the astronauts two indispensable services. Firstly, land-locked guidance can be offered to astronauts from mission control à la Microsoft’s Skype service. Secondly, the way in which an astronaut actually perceives space, whether in orbit or traveling between planets, will be helped by Hololens’ ability to layer redundant information onto its lens. Space can seem pretty apathetic and nihilistic. A redundant visual interface intended to remind astronauts that they still have a purpose out there will not just help productivity, but surely offer psychological reassurance to any strong relapses of agoraphobia anxiety.
WHAT ARE ITS STATED PURPOSES?
Astronauts will be able to communicate with experts below and comrades in cahoots above with real-time connection. Moreover, anyone linked with an astronaut using Hololens will be able to see what is happening, without having to await an astronaut’s sometimes groggy and circumspect response.
A really cool feature is the possibility for assisting experts to draw or “write” notes over the redundant interface overlaying the astronauts’ perception of outer space, making multitasking jobs more of a walk through the park.
HOW DID ASTRONAUTS MANAGE UP UNTIL NOW?
In the old days, astronauts had to rely on heavy voice instruction and hand-written notes and itineraries during their time up there. Now Hololens, in addition to remediating this hassle, is also going to reduce the amount of time and effort needed to train crews before going into space.
HOW CAN HOLOGRAMS TRAIN AN ASTRONAUT?
Hololens can offer step-wise instructions and illustrations by using higher-orders of redundant holograms to create animated interfaces. After such training, a potential crew would already be well versed in the methods to be used once they achieve orbit.
HOW THIS HELPS US GO FARTHER THAN WE HAVE BEFORE
Many at NASA are excited about Hololens because it will be a powerful counter for arguments raised to put down missions into deep space, namely because of the difficulties arising for a crew when they are distanced, and, consequently, increasingly cut off from any Earth-bound support. Hololens does not need updates from Earth to interface its wearer with the surrounding environment. The Martian landing narrated above may go much more smoothly if the pilot’s autonomy was complemented by Hololens technology.
