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Is Apple setting its sights on virtual reality development?

A job listing for an app engineer specializing in VR (Virtual Reality) systems has recently popped up on Apple’s website, suggesting its interest in developing products in this field – whether they’re apps for existing devices, or their own brand new hardware.

The description reads as follows:

“We are looking for a software engineer to develop UI and applications to create next generation software experiences. The individual must be able to take participate in collaborative and iterative UI design through the implementation phases & complete performant user experience code for product delivery. This engineer will create high performance apps that integrate with Virtual Reality systems for prototyping and user testing.”

From that, it seems most likely that Apple would develop apps for existing hardware to combine with software for iOS or Mac. There are a wide variety of exciting possibilities here: from remote-controlled HomeKit-enabled cameras allowing you to look inside your home, to iOS gaming innovations that make full use of the display.

This isn’t the first time that Apple has explored VR. Six years ago, Apple took out a patent on an “automatically adjusting media display in a personal display system.” VR has come a long way since then, and there’s a lot of competition. The Oculus Rift, headsets by Samsung and Valve and even the Oculus ‘thrift’ (unofficial name) have inspired numerous up-and-coming games titles to include support for the new display type.

On top of that, an IndieGoGo campaign for the Pinć VR headset was launched this week, with the aim of making your iPhone more immersive. At the time of writing it was 9% funded of a $100,000 goal with plenty of time left. It pairs up with two ‘pinch’ sensors that attach to your hands, allowing you to grab objects and manipulate the interface without even touching the screen.