Google developing its own VR hardware?

[Becky]

Looks like Google are looking to recruit some new specialists to work on a VR project, and by the sounds of the listings it would seem that some new hardware could be in the pipeline:

Some of the listed job postings involve Google Cardboard, the cheap VR device that the company is using to get its foot in the door of the burgeoning VR field. But cozying up with the Cardboard job postings is a hidden surprise.

“Hardware Engineer, VR Camera Systems” doesn’t sound like something we’d ever pair with the Cardboard, simply because the Cardboard was designed as an almost disposable crib enabling smartphones to interface with VR apps.

The posting for VR Hardware Engineer also vaguely describes some of the things the employee will work on: developing “opto-electro-mechanical system concepts in conjunction with various Architecture leads before reducing them to schematics.”

But there’s more. Another Google job posting asks for a “Software Engineer, Virtual Reality,” whose job description talks about “building novel camera systems to capture stereo panoramic video.”

Based on these announcements alone we can tell Google is looking to allow non-Google employees to create amazing VR experiences with the help of a VR camera; it’s possible the end product will likely be mobile.

http://thenextdigit.com/27879/google-developing-hardware/

Certainly sounds like it could be interesting! As much as I'd love to have an Oculus Rift, the price is pretty high at the moment. More competition would certainly help bring the price of VR hardware down, which would be nice!