According to Bloomberg, the US government has decided against purchasing more HoloLens-based AR combat goggles from Microsoft due to some issues with the current version. As a result, the government approved $40 million for Microsoft to develop a new model instead of ordering more of the current model.
The updated combat goggles will address test results from last year when 70 soldiers wore the current version during three 72-hour scenarios simulating combat conditions. According to the findings, the system failed to perform essential functions, causing headaches, eye strain, and nausea in over 80 percent of the soldiers who reported discomfort within three hours of the 72-hour test.
The Army had initially requested $400 million to buy up to 6,900 pairs of the goggles as part of the $1.75 trillion government funding bill. Congress instead approved $40 million to develop the new version. A revised model has already been given by the Army to Microsoft for $125 million, and it plans to invest up to $21.9 billion over the next decade.
Before working with the DoD, Microsoft marketed its AR headset for enterprise manufacturing, training, and other industrial uses. This contract has helped Microsoft significantly increase its profit margins. Although Microsoft has hinted at an eventual consumer version of HoloLens, it hasn’t yet announced any specifics — and its plans are unclear after Microsoft has reportedly struggled to formulate a coherent strategy for its headset.
