New Google headset, camera aim to spread VR beyond gaming

San Francisco

VIRTUAL reality devices are still mostly purchased by a niche market: gamers. Google wants to change that. The Alphabet unit released a new VR headset with Lenovo Group on Tuesday, along with specialised cameras to support the technology.

Google showed off the new headset, dubbed Mirage Solo, at the CES consumer electronics conference in Las Vegas. It has features from high-end VR devices, like displays that don't blur as the wearer moves around, and doesn't need to be tethered to a PC. Those shortcomings have been a major hurdle to broader VR adoption. Google's new cameras are meant to address another handicap. The devices, called VR180, are built to encourage people to capture 360 deg…