评论
打印
Technology takes center stage today as we explore augmented and mixed reality. Pokemon Go is one example of augmented reality. It takes virtual digital characters and overlays them onto scenes from the real world. The technology company Microsoft is one maker of augmented reality systems and it was recently awarded a contract to make a special version of these systems for the U.S. military. The deal could be worth almost $22 billion over 10 years and it could provide more than 120,000 AR headsets to the Army's close combat force which is trained for the extreme danger of fighting enemies within eyesight, person to person. The Army says the technology would help soldier train to be more aware of their environments, better engage their targets and make the decisions necessary to overcome current and future enemies.
Some Microsoft employees have spoken out against providing these headsets to the military. They've said that doing so crosses a line into developing weapons which they oppose, but the company's CEO says the organization would not withhold technology from institutions that protect the freedoms we enjoy. There are other applications for AR headsets. One is their use in mixed reality when you interact with actual physical items in front of you and the virtual graphics you see through the glasses. Critics say that increased use of these devices can make workers more dependent on technology and less on traditional know how.
