As Apple have been embracing virtual reality (VR) technology of late, it has begun to emerge that Apple are taking more of an interest in the wider VR and augmented reality (AR) industry. It seems that part of this developing strategy involves participation in the WebVR Community Group, which three Apple Engineers have recently joined.
WebVR is an open API hosted by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is aiming to provide support for VR through currently available web browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Developers involved in the project are attempting to integrate support for both mobile VR devices such as Google Cardboard and Google Daydream as well as high-end tethered VR platforms such as the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR.
The WebVR Community Group already contains representatives from Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, and the addition of the three Apple engineers now means that all major modern browsers are now represented, since Apple is responsible for the Safari browser used in iOS and macOS.
The three engineers are Brandel Zachernuk, David Singer and Dean Jackson. According to LinkedIn, Singer works in Apple’s multimedia and standards office, Jackson is a WebGL specification editor and Zachernuk works as a front-end developer for the Marketing and Communications team at Apple. The three engineers are now listed on the WebVR Community Group webpage, alongside fellow engineers from the other main web browsers as well as other interested companies such as Samsung, Intel and Facebook.
As was pointed out by WebVR Community Group co-chair Brandon Jones, membership and participation in the WebVR group does not necessarily mean endorsement of the product, but Apple’s presence could mean that they are looking into WebVR’s potential.
VRFocus will bring you further updates on WebVR and Apple’s work in VR as it becomes available.
via Mint VR