Microsoft has unveiled HoloLens, augmented reality goggles allowing wearers to create holograms by using hand gestures and voice commands. The gadget was announced at the tech giant’s official presentation of its upcoming device-agnostic operating system Windows 10.

The software vendor said with Windows 10, which it claimed is the world’s first holographic computing platform, Windows apps can work as three-dimensional holograms enabling HoloLens wearers “to communicate, create and explore in a manner that is far more personal and human,” as Microsoft put it.

The way in which the HoloLens works is that the wearer makes hand-gestures in front of the goggles, and holograms will then appear over real-life objects. Wearers can also communicate with apps through voice commands.

“Microsoft HoloLens allows you to view holograms in high definition and hear them in surround sound, even if they are behind you,” the company said in a statement. “And with advanced sensors, Microsoft HoloLens can see what you are looking at and understand what you are communicating with your hands and voice.

“By putting you at the center of the Windows 10 computing experience, Microsoft HoloLens allows you to create, access information, enjoy entertainment, and communicate in new and exciting ways.”

The goggles have been under development for five years, although apparently its very first prototype was what became the Kinect motion sensor device (launched in 2010). Kinect became an Xbox accessory, and it seems likely HoloLens will also be first adopted by the gaming and entertainment world.

There has long been talk of reinventing the UI of computers and other devices. With the touch screen things have already moved along some way, but tech geeks are still undoubtedly thinking hard how to go even further to the kind of ‘reality’ seen in sci-fi films.

Microsoft’s corporate HoloLens video below.