Microsoft's HoloLens augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headset is teaming up with Lowe's to let customers visualize kitchen designs in the showrooms of the home improvement stores. The new preview service provides homeowners with holograms to see how cabinets, countertops, tiles, and appliances would look in a new or renovated kitchen.
Microsoft's new feature will be available in Seattle area Lowe's stores this month, according to Engadget. The key benefit of the AR/VR feature is that it allows Lowe's customers to see how a new kitchen would look before placing any orders.
The OS giant explains the HoloLens showroom will include a kitchen that is almost empty. That will give customers the ability to view and choose from various features including tables, islands, and refrigerators that appear in full scale.
The Bill Gates co-founded company explains that the mixed reality headset will provide high visual fidelity to see key design features. That includes how flat or shiny a stove or dishwasher might look in the room.
Lowe's customers will also have the ability to share the design plans on the web. That will give home improvement fans a chance to see the work in progress as they design a brand new kitchen.
Lowe's pilot program will be launched in various stores in the Seattle metropolitan area, which is close to Microsoft headquarters. There are already plans to expand the home improvement program to Raleigh, North Carolina where Lowe's is based.
Microsoft also has plans to expand the Lowe's program to include other home remodeling areas. This would replace the old-school process of using tape or cardboard outlines to view where new furniture will be installed in living rooms, according to Tech Crunch.
The $3,000 HoloLens developer edition will go on sale on March 30 in the United States and Canada, which is also the first day of Microsoft's yearly Build developer conference.
Microsoft's development edition will include the HoloLens headset, overhead straps, clicker, carrying case, and charger. The AR/VR device will run from a PC and include 64GB of Flash memory and 2GB of RAM. Microsoft estimates the gadget will have 2 to 3 hours of battery life, and up to 2 weeks of standby time.
Here's a HoloLens demo: