# Intuitive Virtual Touchscreens The Microsoft Research Team Created 'MRTouch' for the HoloLens By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2018-04-27 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mrtouch References: [digitaltrends](https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/microsoft-research-hololens-virtual-touchscreen-mrtouch/) & [robertxiao](https://robertxiao.ca/research/mrtouch) To enhance the kinds of interactions that can be made with the mixed-reality [HoloLens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xar) system, a team of researchers at [Microsoft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-mesh) Research successfully developed the 'MRTouch' as a virtual touchscreen. The MRTouch boasts the ability to perform on an unmodified Microsoft HoloLens headset, adding to its already impressive abilities to allow for inputs with a gesture, voice or by controller. With the MRTouch virtual touchscreen, a person who is wearing the headset now has another way to interact using their fingers and simple gestures like swiping. The virtual touchscreen can be called onto a number of surfaces, including walls and tabletops, creating tons of new ways for content to be intuitively interacted with in a way that might remind one of using a mobile tablet screen. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.9/10 - Popularity: 9% | Activity: 41% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Virtual Touchscreens for Mixed-reality Interfaces:** Disruptive innovation opportunities in AR and VR industries for creating more intuitive and adaptable interfaces for users. - **Gesture-based Interactions for Head-mounted Displays:** Opportunities for innovation in the development of wearable technology that allows for more natural interactions with virtual objects. - **Mixed Reality User Interfaces:** Opportunities for innovation in creating mixed-reality interfaces that leverage virtual touchscreens to provide new ways for users to interact with digital content. ### Who This Affects Most - **Augmented Reality (AR) Industry:** AR industry stakeholders could innovate virtual touchscreens to provide more natural and intuitive interfaces for AR experiences. - **Virtual Reality (VR) Industry:** By incorporating virtual touchscreens, VR developers could improve users' sense of presence and control within digital environments. - **Wearable Technology Industry:** New opportunities arise for wearables manufacturers to create devices that allow for natural interactions with digital objects while maintaining physical mobility. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Tactile Bare-Hands Metaverse Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emerge.md) - [Human-Computer Interaction Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tech-at-meta.md) - [Wearable Tech Interfaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meta-smart-wristband.md) - [Touchless Interaction Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/phantomy-software.md) - [3D Haptic Peripherals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minverse.md) - [Augmented Reality Projection Laptops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spacetop.md) - [Interactive Virtual Meeting Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-mesh.md) - [Gesture-Controlled Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spatial-touch.md) - [Three-Dimensional Mixed-Reality Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/looking-glass-1.md)