Microsoft could build a life-sized Cortana for HoloLens

One of the more interesting aspects of Microsoft’s HoloLens augmented reality initiative is the way Microsoft is allowing the public to direct some of its early-stage app development for the platform. This public input is being recruited through the Share Your Idea website, launched earlier this month.

One of the top three ideas on the site (based on votes) is called Cortana in Person. Cortana is, of course, the Microsoft personal digital assistant that plays a starring role in Windows 10. She’s a competitor of Siri that, as gamers will know, was derived from the Cortana artificial intelligence character in the Halo series of games.

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“Hologram of Cortana from Halo who you can talk to and interact with,” forum user lookitskris wrote in his description of the idea for Cortana in Person. “Works in the same way as Cortana on desktop/phone. Get answers to questions etc. Maybe ask a question on HoloLens and answers come through on phone? Possibilities are endless.”

“Dude, that would be so awesome. A real-life Cortana,” commenter H4rmonicAn4rchy wrote. “Who wouldn’t want that?!”

Because Microsoft will actually build the top three ideas from the site, there is a chance that Microsoft will bring the idea to life for HoloLens, whose $3,000 development kits will be shipping in the first quarter of 2016.

Given that the HoloLens headset will be running Windows 10, just like Windows-based PCs, and eventually phones, it’s not hard to imagine Microsoft getting behind the idea of bringing Cortana to HoloLens. Then it becomes simply a matter of what form she would take.