Google is reportedly developing a standalone VR device that can be used without a PC

Google is developing an all-in-one virtual reality device that doesn't rely on smartphones, computers or game consoles, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. It would be the first such product on the market.

Google also plans to release an upgraded version of its $20 Cardboard headset later this year that uses a smartphone as a screen, the people said. The new plastic device will have computer chips and sensors integrated into it.

The move is a sign of Google's growing interest in virtual reality, a market where it will compete directly with Facebook Inc's Oculus unit, which will start shipping the $599 Rift headset next month. The headset requires a PC to use.

HTC and Sony also plan to start selling virtual reality devices this year, but these devices also need to be used with a PC or game console. Samsung launched the $100 Gear VR in November last year, but the Gear VR also needs to be paired with a Samsung Galaxy phone.

"One clear trend in this space is platform competition," said Ben Schachter, an analyst at Macquarie Capital. "Some of Google's brightest minds are getting involved in VR."

"From the beginning, our intention has been to make VR accessible to everyone," Clay Bavor, who last month was named Google's first head of virtual reality, said at Wednesday's conference. "We'll have more to say about this later this year."

Since the end of 2014, Google and its partners have sold more than 5 million Cardboards to help users learn about virtual reality technology. Industry insiders believe that Cardboard is just an experiment. The recent move shows that Google has regarded virtual reality as a profitable business, both in hardware and software.

Silicon Valley and Hollywood companies are investing heavily in virtual reality recently. These companies hope that virtual reality can be used in games, entertainment, education and other fields. Some people in the technology industry believe that virtual reality will become another major computing platform after PCs and smartphones.

But it looks like virtual reality will be years away from widespread adoption, in part because the high-end headsets coming this year require high-end PCs, while cheaper devices that work with smartphones often cause motion sickness in users.

Google's plan to launch an all-in-one VR device seems to be a compromise. Google hopes to provide a high-quality VR experience that does not rely on expensive PCs or game consoles. However, it is still unclear whether users are willing to buy another entertainment device.

A person familiar with the matter said that Google's device will integrate a screen, a high-performance processor and a camera. Google plans to use chips from startup Movidius and use the images captured by the camera to track the user's head movement. Other high-end devices such as Oculus Rift rely on supporting PCs to complete calculations and use external cameras to track the user's head movement.

Movidius said it is working with several companies on virtual reality and augmented reality technology, but declined to provide further information.

It is also unclear when Google will launch the all-in-one virtual reality device. One source said it could be released this year, but another source believes the device is still in the early stages of development and Google may ultimately decide not to release it.

According to sources, Google may launch an upgraded version of Cardboard at the developer conference in May this year. In order to ensure that the device is compatible with more Android phones, Google is developing a new version of the Android system to work with virtual reality devices. For example, even if the user does not operate the phone for a long time, the phone screen will not turn off.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.