Google’s virtual reality tech was, until now, stuck to a cheap exoskeleton which could house a smartphone that would provide you with a somewhat “real” virtual experience.
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Based on these announcements alone we can tell Google is looking to allow non-Google employees to create unbelievable VR experiences with the help of a VR camera; it’s possible the end product will likely be mobile.
The listings were initially spotted by Road to VR, and the jobs available include a Hardware Engineering Technical Lead Manager and a PCB Layout Engineer. Bavor’s stint as the new VR division head is expected to improve the company’s consumer VR devices.
Define architecture, specification, design and test boards for innovative consumer electronic (CE) devices.
One listing for a Hardware Engineering Technical Lead Manager said the consumer hardware team is working on “revolutionising how people interact with their hardware, and looking for engineers to make that a reality”. And surprisingly (or not) the company has now listed 17 full-time job openings specific to virtual reality. I think we will first see the wonder and growth of this in gaming, as it was started many years ago before the technology was in place to make it happen on such a large scale.
Just the other day, YouTube hired Jaunt VR’s Scott Broock as its ‘Global VR Evangelist’, and earlier this month, Google’s Vice President of product management, Clay Bavor, was reportedly put in charge of the company’s newly-created VR division. It’s important to note that all of Google’s recent steps fall in alignment to the company’s massive investment to Magic Leap. This time around, it looks like Google could be playing catch-up with VR solutions from Oculus (Facebook), Samsung, HTC and Sony.
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As you can observe from the above points, Google has plans for designing, developing and testing custom hardware products in the line of VR which strongly suggests that we might just be in for a headset treat from the web giant.
