Microsoft now sells Metaverse and helps build everything from robots to ketchup

You may not be ready to dive into the meta-universe for fun, but it might work out sooner than you think.

Microsoft announced Tuesday that Kawasaki is a new customer for the tech giant called the "industrial metauniverse," an intelligent way of saying factory workers will be using HoloLens to help with manufacturing, repair, and supply chain management.

Launched in 2016, HoloLens allows users to experience the augmented reality that overlays digital images in real-world environments. For Microsoft's industry metauniverse, this means combining many of the company's technologies, such as B. Cloud computing, to help workers and factory managers develop products faster and more efficiently.

The idea is to create what Microsoft calls a "digital twin" of workspaces that can speed up processes such as repairs and launching new product lines. For example, instead of summoning a mechanic who comes to the factory to repair a broken part, HoloLens can be used to talk to workers on-site and guide them through the repair process with visual cues in augmented reality. It also allows managers to use digital twins to scale up new products when needed, something Microsoft is offering to address supply chain issues.

Kawasaki joins Heinz, which announced it would leverage Microsoft's industry meta-universe at Ketchup and Boeing as manufacturing partners.

While it may sound like a gimmick, it's something Microsoft customers want because of the noise that builds up around the Metaverse concept. Jessica Hawke, corporate vice president of mixed reality at Microsoft, said in an interview with news last week that the industry metaverse gives an idea of ​​what technology can achieve today before fully diving into the future.