Microsoft and Facebook have moved ahead in the virtual reality race, while Google is still lingering behind. Now, it seems Google has taken notice and is gearing up for competing with others in the virtual reality space. Until now, there was no dedicated division for this technology in Google. But now, CEO Sundar Pichai has appointed a deputy to run it.
SVP Diane Greene will now be responsible for handling the consumer web applications section with this executive shift. So, who will be handling virtual reality section of Google? Let us have a look at this post to know more:
Complete Focus on Virtual Reality
Clay Bavor, who is the VP for product management of Google used to oversee Google’s applications like Docs, Drive and Gmail. Google Cardboard, the economical virtual reality device was launched in 2014 and he was also responsible for overseeing it. Now, Greene will look over the applications and Bavor will be completely focused on the virtual reality products.
Bavor’s move to full-time VR shows that Google is seriously considering catching up in this arena and fighting with the likes of Facebook, Microsoft and others in this space to be in the leader’s list just like its other departments.
It is not yet known how many people work on Cardboard or other Google VR products which we might not be aware of.
Success of Google Cardboard Led to This Decision
It is being believed that the success of Google Cardboard has led the company to think about concentrating on virtual reality. The device proved to be a hit among the readers of New York Times in 2015, after a deal between Google and the newspaper. More than a million devices were delivered for free to the subscribers of NY Times and they were able to experience a VR documentary, The Displaced in 360 degree.
Mark Thompson, the CEO of Times said that the company plans to continue with their production of VR content, post the success of the delivery of VR content using Cardboard.
He said in an interview with Beet.tv “VR is already margin positive for us. We’re making money out of VR. We expect to make money from VR again in 2016. We had great early success with commercial partnerships – GE and Mini were the launch partners.”
Google has also invested in Magic Leap, a company focused on augmented reality technology, recently. So, it won’t be too hard to think that in the long run, VR efforts by this company might cross its current AR efforts.