The latest Google job postings point to the type of developments that the firm intends to pursue. Several job listings suggest that Google is now more interested in VR/AR than ever.
Besides Google’s Daydream View, which can be counted as its first VR hardware product, Google already offers the basic, but efficient Cardboard. Made to be lighter, easy to set up and comfortable, the View promises low latency and a better immersion factor than its cumbersome competitors.
Want a Google Job? Seeking VR and AR Related Positions
Google had planned to launch two VR headsets: The first, Daydream View, is a headset in the form of a classic mobile headset like the Samsung Gear VR. The second was to be a mid-tier headset, more advanced than the Cardboard and more affordable than the HTC Vive and Occulus Rift. While some reports indicated that Google might cancel the latter project, new job listings suggest otherwise.
The announcement of a new headset was the biggest rumor leading up to the 2016 edition of Google I/O conference dedicated to developers. Google was expected to announce a new, autonomous, all-in-one headset. However, it instead unveiled a reference design for a VR headset and motion controller.
These recent Google job postings could be related to a large-scale commercial launch and marketing of AR/VR products. For instance, Google is looking to fill a Hardware Validation Manager position. By inference, the company is looking for individuals to work with manufacturers to facilitate mass production and assist with product sustaining efforts. This could mean that Google is beyond the R&D phase and is already working on the launch of the device.
Google Heading Slowly and Steadily Towards VR
Google is materializing its plan to be a VR world leader, both in software and hardware, step by step. Last September, Google chose to conquer the nascent Indian market through music, by launching its Music Play Store to secure potential VR users from the soon-to-be largest population in the world.
Then, to facilitate access to its Daydream platform, Google has already used its Chrome web browser as a VR democratization vector, via WebVR Support.
VR hardware is perhaps Google’s weakest link. Once more polished and autonomous headsets are made available, and affordable, the content will naturally follow. Developers would work to create large volumes of immersive content to meet the demand of users. Launching an efficient and affordable headset would be the next step for Google to ensure synergy between its different services, especially content (YouTube, Google Earth, and Street View).
In a Q&A, Clay Bavor, Google’s VR section head, said that Google’s priority is to facilitate access to information via the VR experience.
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