Microsoft Corp. Thursday announced a new collaboration with Intel Corp. to harness the strengths of both companies in an effort to further the way people interact with computers across a wide variety of applications.

Called Project Evo, the new Wintel partnership will see the two famous tech giants working together to improve how personal computers think, see and hear with initiatives that include improved security and authentication, gaming innovations, augmented reality and Cortana development.

With augmented reality, Microsoft and Intel will extend the mixed-reality partnership announced in August to include collaboration on providing specifications to power mixed-reality headsets from the likes of Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo. Microsoft wants to see Windows 10 own both the augmented and virtual reality spaces (mixed reality) so a collaboration on this front makes a lot of sense.

Developer kits for head-mounted display’s will be made available at the Game Developer Conference in February. By the end of 2017, it’s expected hardware makers will be building PCs that can take advantage of the new HMDs.

In security, Project Evo will see the two further marry software and hardware to deliver the latest security capabilities to protect devices from malware and hacking threats, including Windows Hello offering advances in biometric authentication, while Microsoft and Intel will work together on building new intelligence to help keep users safe.

Potential Amazon Alexa and Google Home competitor Cortana is also receiving attention, with future Windows 10 devices to support far-field communications, allowing users to ask Cortana a question or issue a command from across the room.

Gaming also gets a look-in, with Microsoft and Intel collaborating on e-sports, game broadcasting, support for 4K, High Dynamic Range, Wide Color Gamut, spatial audio and Xbox controllers with native Bluetooth.

“With Project Evo, Microsoft and Intel will deliver all-new ways for devices to light up with the latest in advanced security, artificial intelligence and Cortana, mixed reality, and gaming,” Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices group, said in a blog post.”Through this collaboration, devices of the future will leverage Microsoft and Intel innovations.”

Image courtesy of Microsoft