We’ve got Pokemon Go, so what’s next?

“The next big thing will start out looking like a toy,” Chris Dixon once wrote.

Every day, there is a plethora of new stories about Pokemon Go gamers quitting their jobs to go Poké-hunting full-time, police issuing new safety warnings, and yet more news about Nintendo’s meteoric revenues and share prices as it continues its global roll-out.

No doubt the gaming world will be looking to replicate this success in the coming months, but augmented reality (AR) has more to offer than chasing digital creatures — M6’s coverage of the 2016 Euro Cup already gave us a hint of what is possible. It could also help with home design, and bring history to life; imagine visiting Rome’s colosseum and watching a gladiator fight on your phone.

But as the technology develops, it will become more personal. At least, that is what Microsoft is building the future to look like. Their newly released HoloLens create holograms using ‘mixed reality’ (virtual and augmented reality) and 3D technology, allowing you to “interact with both digital content and the world around you.”

Today, available apps are limited, largely games, a design studio and Actiongram, “a new medium for storytelling.” But it also has a dedicated Skype app — clearly the first step to the hologram phones we were promised in the classic Star Wars movies!

What do you think the future of AR will look like? Tweet us your thoughts @HubFlux