Current and upcoming releases of virtual reality headsets such as the Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR and HTC Vive will require the use of smartphones or a computer to work. But the upgrade to Google's own Cardboard VR device, which also needs third party devices to work, promises to change this with a standalone VR helmet.
The tech giant is reportedly developing a VR headset that will have lenses, screen, processor and storage outfitted in the device itself, according to The Wall Street Journal. This new product is separate from the previously rumored plastic smartphone-based VR shell that Google is also developing. This means that Google is building two versions, Ars Technica noted.
At this stage, very little is known about the all-in-one VR device such as hardware specifications. This is important because Google is rarely involved in manufacturing its own hardware. Those who have reservations about the standalone VR device for this particular reason could turn to a recent report that reveal Google's ambition for Android. It purportedly includes the manufacture of its own processors as evidenced in the list of requests it sent to third-party manufacturers for several SoC (system-on-a-chip) designs, The Information reported.
Many observers believe that Google's new VR headset is a game changer and could render current VR technologies obsolete. Smartphones are simply not built for 3D content, which is why some VR headsets today need powerful computers to work seamlessly. Designing a VR headset with a dedicated internals specifically for 3D processing should mean that VR experiences would not only have better quality, but also sustain long periods of use without sacrificing portability.
