PC manufacturer Asus has confirmed that it plans to launch an augmented reality (AR) headset device in 2016, while CEO Jerry Shen explained that the company believes the tech will become important in people's day-to-day lives. It seems that the product will be a low-cost version of Microsoft's HoloLens, although the Taiwan-based company did not release details about the unit's structure, functions, or price during its recent earnings webcast.
Asus has become world-famous for its laptops and graphics cards. However, it has decided to enter a market that analysts believe could produce $150 billion in revenue by 2020, according to VentureBeat.
Microsoft has announced that its HoloLens AR headset will become a new product line category. While virtual reality (VR) is a fully-immersive experience that puts people in imaginary or real world environments, AR headsets add simulated items to the real world.
The operating system giant will launch the HoloLens Development Edition early next year. It will have a steep price tag of $3,000, according to Engadget.
Microsoft has only showcased the AR headset in highly-curated demos that have included video games with spider robots. Earlier this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) the Xbox team also demonstrated how the HoloLens AR headset could change Minecraft's gameplay. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Asus have noticed.
Last month Asus chairman Jonney Shih revealed that his company was in talks with Microsoft about manufacturing third-party HoloLens units. However, neither company has reported about the negotiations' results.
Asus is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, and was founded in 1989. Its products include desktops, laptops, monitors, servers, networking equipment, tablet computers, and mobile phones.
Here is a HoloLens demo for Minecraft: