"Who is it?" Never forget names again

The IT company based in Feldmeilen, Zurich Cubera Solutions AG has developed an application with the help of HoloLens that should banish the unpleasant problem of forgetting names from everyday life.

If you type "remember names" into the Google search bar, you instantly get over 13,200,000 results. Countless pages promise tips on the problem, which has already made many a meeting look awkward. A new technology now promises a remedy and helps users to recall the name of the person they are meeting.

"Who is it?"

Nobody knows what was going through Michael Fretz's mind at the Frontend Conference at the beginning of September. What we can say for sure, however, is that he didn't have to worry about names or positions. During the design and technology conference in Zurich, the big stocktake was for the newly developed application "Who is it?", an app for Microsoft's HoloLens. Thanks to the integrated cameras in the housing, the glasses automatically recognise all known faces in real time and then show the wearer the photo, name and profession of the person being viewed (see cover image). To add new contacts, all you need is a reference picture, the name and a description of the person's position. The team around Michael Fretz, a founding member of Cubera Solutions AG, was very satisfied after the first tests.

New potential

Anyone who thinks that the possibilities are limited to facial recognition and simple graphic displays is mistaken. Data glasses open up a multitude of new opportunities for companies and home users alike. Especially in areas such as architecture, product design or remote maintenance, the versatile application possibilities quickly become apparent. Dominik Brunn, founding member and Head of Development at Cubera, is positive about current developments: "Even if large-scale commercial use is only likely in around five years' time, it is already important to have and test a suitable concept now. The technology will bring extensive changes that we need to be prepared for." Microsoft itself showed first impressions of one of its projects, which it called "Holoportation", back in March last year. This involves the virtual beaming of people from recordings or as a live stream (NZZ reported). Most recently, they succeeded in realising such a transmission in a moving car.
to be carried out.

Future projects

Further projects are planned in connection with "Who is it?": Firstly, a port of "Who is it?" for the Meta 2 from Metavision is to follow. Similar to the HoloLens, the Meta2 is also a pair of augmented reality glasses that allow three-dimensional holograms. And secondly, the porting to mobile devices is to take place: The aim is to make all current Android and iOS devices just as smart as the Microsoft HoloLens with "Who is it?". The port should be available in a few weeks.

Source: Media release