Microsoft and the US Army are trying to find a way to make mixed reality an aid. According to a US Army report accessed by Business Insider, Microsoft's headsets made soldiers feel ill and more vulnerable to harm.
The soldier who tested the tech said the devices would have gotten us killed, according to Insider.
The light that comes from the mixed reality headsets is said to be related to this.
The device's glow from the display was visible from hundreds of meters away, which could give away the position of the wearer, according to an employee who dictated to Insider.
The Pentagon's testing office produced a report detailing a field test of the headsets in May and June, according to the report. US soldiers reported headaches, nausea, and strained eyes, which could affect real life missions. They didn't specify if these experiences were the majority.
Eighty percent of those who experienced "mission-affecting physical impairments" started to feel unwell in under three hours.
A lot of consumers complain about the weight of the hardware limiting movement and a limited field of view when using a head-mounted display. Concerns about these issues can deter potential buyers of gaming and entertainment gadgets, but they can be the difference between life and death for members of the military.
AdvertisementThe HMD failed four out of six "operational demo" evaluations according to an anonymous Microsoft employee.
The goggles need improvements around field of vision, low-light sensors, and display clarity, according to the summary of the US Army's report.
It was not all thumbs down. According to the report summary, the average time between downtime decreased and the latest updates yielded better navigation and coordination of unit movements.
Microsoft's mixed reality technology has been used by the US Army for a long time. Four years before the US Army signed a 10-year contract with Microsoft, it began testing prototypes for the first time. The Army said at the time that the IVAS would be used for close combat and also for training. Improved situational awareness, target engagement, and informed decision-making were anticipated by the army.
Microsoft said it has built and modified the IVAS gear to deliver enhanced soldier.
The emerging technology is still trying to prove its value-add. According to the summary of the Army's testing, acceptance of the headsets remains low among soldiers, who feel the headsets fail to contribute to their ability to complete their mission.
The US Army was advised in the summary of the report to improve the technology.
The military branch is tweaking the IVAS program's schedule to allow time to develop solutions to the issues identified, according to a statement from the Army's assistant secretary for acquisition.
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