#HoloLens – How to create a HUD (3D text always visible without #HoloToolkit)

Hi !

Some time ago I wrote a post on how to create a 3D text and that is always visible for the user on an app for Hololens. For this example, I used a series of scripts from HolToolkit and a custom one to achieve movement and follow-up of the 3D text.

Every day I learn something new. And in the past days, I discover there are better ways to solve this scenario. And without using scripting.

This example is for Hololens I will begin with the usual steps for an app of Hololens in Unity3D

• Import HoloToolkit package
• Delete default assets: Main camera & Directional light
• Save Scene
• Adjust UWP projects settings to be Hololens capable
  • Project Settings / Player
  • Project Settings / Quality
  • File / Build Settings
• Import HoloToolkit
• Add Assets
  • Main Camera
  • Spatial Mapping
  • Cursor With Feedback
• Add an element of the type “UI / Text”
  • Rename the item called “Canvas” as “HoloHUD”
  • Rename the element named “Text” as “HoloHUDText”
  • Select the item HoloHUD and “Inspector” in the panel change the following values
    • Canvas / Render Moder = Space Screen – Camera
    • Canvas Scaler / Reference Pixels = 10
  • At this time we need to assign a camera as a reference to HoloHUD. Select the “Main Camera” element from the Hierarchy pane and drag it to the Canvas property / Render Camera
  • Change the following values
    • Canvas / Plane Distance = 5
  • At this time our project can be similar to the following image:

• Now it is time to change the values of the HoloHUDText element
  • First position, changing values; POS X, Pos and & Pos Z
  • The text to display; Text / Text
  • And color, recommended white: Text / Color

• Create Empty and Rename > Managers
  • Add Components
    • Gaze Managers
    • Gaze Stabilizer
    • Gesture Managers
    • Hands Manager
    • Text Manager (script below)

How we have a fully functional Hololens HUD in the Unity3D app. I’ve also created a Prefab for this, and I’ve shared this in HoloAssets // GitHub (link), and you can check the complete source code here (link)

Greetings @ Toronto

El Bruno

References

• GitHub, HoloToolkit
• GitHub, HoloToolkit Unity
• El Bruno, How to Import the HoloToolkit Unity
• El Bruno, How to place a Hologram using AirTap and HoloToolkit
• El Bruno, Creating a menu with options with HoloToolkit
• El Bruno, Using voice commands to display a menu with HoloToolkit
• El Bruno, How to create a 3D text always visible using HoloToolkit
• Wikipedia, HUD Head-Up Display