Google’s Daydream VR platform has an interesting take on virtual reality and what the future of gaming will look like.
Software engineer Rob Jagnow says virtual reality avatars can be simplified to a cartoonish degree and still “convey a surprising degree of emotion, intent, and a number of social cues.”
It’s an interesting idea, seeing as how regular games for Xbox One, for example, are becoming more and more lifelike.
These days, someone can walk into a room and not realize you’re actually playing FIFA for 10 minutes, and not simply watching a live game of soccer on your television.
While nice graphics are wonderful, Google is focused on perfecting the virtual reality part of Daydream VR first and foremost, which is a good thing for the industry overall.
“Eyes give people a location to look to and speak towards, but they also increase face-to-face communication by making even basic avatars feel more human,” Jagnow adds. “When we combine this with hands and a spatially-located voice, it comes together to create a sense of shared presence.”
