FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HoloKit X: Affordable Mixed Reality Headset For Phones

Holo Interactive, in collaboration with Second White, introduces HoloKit X, a sleek and durable iPhone accessory that brings stereoscopic augmented reality at an affordable price point. Priced at just $129, this mixed reality headset aims to lower the barrier for the public to experience mixed reality for the first time, making multiplayer mixed reality more accessible.

HoloKit X leverages all iPhone's augmented reality capabilities, combining the hardware on iPhone, such as the bionic chips and the lidar sensor, with the ARkit software, the spatial audio system, and the Airdrop technology to provide a seamless multiplayer augmented reality experience.

The device's value and impact lie in promoting face-to-face multiplayer augmented reality experiences that emphasize reconnecting with each other in person, setting it apart from other mixed reality products and demonstrating its commitment to bridging people in real life, face to face.

Technical implementation: HoloKit uses a periscope structure to transform an iPhone into an MR headset, presenting a 60-degree FOV and leveraging all iPhone's MR capabilities including the lidar sensor, the PHASE system, and the ARKit. The device's ergonomic design ensures comfortable wearing for movement and glasses-friendly usage. It is crafted with durable materials and seamless manufacturing, ensuring its longevity and visual appeal.

Dimension of HoloKit X without the headband: Height: 100 mm, Width: 133 mm, Depth: 140 mm; Weight: 215 grams. The device was developed over 3 years in New York, US, Seoul, Korea, and Shenzhen, China, and has been utilized for research at renowned institutions such as MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and NYU ITP.

HoloKit X makes it simple to access an immersive MR experience. All you have to do is download the HoloKit app from the app store, open it, place your iPhone into the HoloKit X device, and you're ready to go. The app's design and layout align well with the familiar conventions of the iOS platform. To join the multiplayer game session, simply open the HoloKit app on both phones and let one phone scan the QR code on the other phone in the app, no Wi-Fi or Cellular connection is needed.

During the development, realization, and research of the HoloKit X project, there were key challenges in game design and co-located mixed reality technical implementation. These challenges were addressed through the insights provided in the papers "MOFA: Exploring Asymmetric Mixed Reality Design Strategy for Co-located Multiplayer Between Handheld and Head-mounted Augmented Reality" and "InstantCopresence: A Spatial Anchor Sharing Methodology for Co-located Multiplayer Headheld and Headworn AR."

Botao Amber Hu, the founder of Holo Interactive, is a researcher, designer, and creative technologist. With expertise in XR, AI, artificial life, cryptography, robotics, ludology, and media theory, he has collaborated with renowned companies such as Apple, Twitter, DJI, Google, Microsoft, Pinterest, and thatgamecompany. His works have been featured at top conferences such as SIGGRAPH, WWW, CHI, SXSW, and TEDx, and have received accolades including the CHI Best Interactivity Award, the Red Dot Design Award, the iF Design Award, the Webby Awards, and the Core77 Design Award.

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