Far from the public eye, the IDF has been experimenting with the most sought-after technological gadgets on the planet, the Microsoft HoloLens. Some three weeks ago, two units of the HoloLens were delivered to the Matzpen Unit, the military's biggest software house, Israel Hayom learned Monday. Matzpen ("compass") operates within the IDF's telecommunications and information technology unit, which operates under the J6/C4i Directorate. Also under the J6/C4i Directorate are the C4I Corps, a unit of the IDF Teleprocessing Branch; and the Operating Brigade, which deals with operational communications and electronic warfare. The HoloLens is a smartglasses headset that functions as a cordless, self-contained Windows 10 computer. It provides an Augmented Reality (AR) experience and uses various sensors, a high-definition stereoscopic 3D optical head-mounted display, and spatial sound to allow for AR applications, seamlessly blending high-definition holograms with a natural user interface through gaze, voice and hand gestures. Maj. Rotem Bashi, chief programmer at Lotem, told Channel 10 News that "we understand that in the fast world in which we live, with an emphasis on the technology aspect, the only constant is the element of change. If we fight the next war like we fought the previous one, if we use the same technology that was right for that war, then it likely won't be easy for us to win." According to Bashi, the IDF plans to take the augmented and virtual reality platform in two main directions. The first is for training purposes, with the goal of creating a new learning experience. The second direction is to help commanders in the field conceptualize enemy territory through holographic imagery and other layers of information, such as intelligence, location and force size, which should help commanders on the ground make quicker and more accurate decisions.
Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Sony are among the many tech firms that are betting on augmented reality, virtual reality or both. The traditional methods of interacting with a computer -- usually featuring a keyboard or a touch screen -- will eventually seem quaint as these technologies proliferate, many in the industry believe.
