In a span of a few years, tech corporation Microsoft started going from developing the Xbox series consoles to providing tactical equipment for US soldiers. Such a big leap did not slide smoothly with some of its employees but despite internal disputes and lingering scandals, Microsoft is on its way to delivering $21.9 billion worth of battle-ready HoloLens for US troops.
US Army to sport Advanced Tech Headsets Soon
After a series of setbacks on Microsoft's front, the US Army has finally sent a go-signal for Microsoft Corp to deliver its first batch of Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) goggles, built with its HoloLens precursor's mixed-reality technology including thermal imagery, sensors, night vision, and more.
Bloomberg reports on Sept. 2 that some 5,000 tech-laded headsets have been cleared to be delivered to the troops. This is after high officials of the armed forces previously put the delivery on hold over "concern about the device's performance."
The computer software manufacturer brokered the said military deal back in 2019 and inked it in 2021. As a neophyte defense contractor, Microsoft was invited by the US armed forces to run limited joint testing on the field. Through this series of tests, Microsoft revealed that the said headsets are being tailored to give US troops an upper hand in combat.
These advanced HoloLens goggles are the Swiss knife of tactical headgears. A feature story by Microsoft detailed how the IVAS can be used by troops in planning and executing military operations in any given situation. The goggles are built to elevate the soldier's situational awareness, thus basically making him an enhanced human.
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The settled $22 billion deal from 2021 will enable Microsoft Corp to supply the army with over 120,000 units of the IVAS. In the next few years, the US military might already deploy its augmented reality-equipped soldiers to its operations. However, officials have initially planned to use the device for next-level training.
Despite internal resistance, Microsoft army deal pushes through
At the time when the IVAS deal was in its early stages, Microsoft employees made it known to their bosses, through a call for stricter ethical guidelines, that the deal had "crossed the line." A report from NPR tells us that disgruntled Microsoft workers say that HoloLens augmented reality technology, under the clauses of the contract, "is designed to help people kill."
Aside from demanding Microsoft to end its HoloLens contract with the military and halt all development of weapons technology, workers from Microsoft asked their executives to establish an "acceptable use policy." A separate ethical review board was also sought, which will aid in ensuring that this policy is followed.
On the other hand, a Mashable report from 2019 revealed that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella responded with his strong position that the deal is based on a "principled decision" to "protect the freedoms we enjoy."
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