Google wants to be a serious player in virtual reality, using YouTube to be the platform.
Late last week, the company hired Scott Broock, formerly of the virtual reality startup Jaunt, as its Global VR Evangelist for YouTube.
Needless to say, Broock is more than excited to assume the helm of his new position, taking to his Twitter account to express his joy.
Thrilled to plug in with the team @YouTube as Global #VR Evangelist, hitting fast forward on the future of immersive content. VR everywhere.
— Scott Broock (@ScottBroock) January 22, 2016
Have you ever quite heard of a tech title, well ... so godly?
Re/code went searching for answers as to what a "Global VR Evangelist" does, going straight to the source in Google, but the company declined to comment on the specifics of the role.
Re/code suggests that Broock will lead YouTube like he did with Jaunt, brokering partnerships between the startup and content-generating companies in film, music and television for virtual reality. The site additionally reports that it was Broock who got Paul McCartney to sing "Live and Let Die" for Jaunt's 360-degree virtual reality cameras. That is a pretty impressive line to put on a resume.
That being said, the hiring of Broock only adds to Google's initial — and apparently, growing — presence in the VR space, adding to the company simply touting the Cardboard VR headset, which has been used widespread, perhaps as customers await the arrival of more sophisticated VR headsets.
Broock helping to spearhead YouTube's VR efforts make sense, considering the world's largest video streaming outlet already boasts 360-degree VR videos that can be viewed with the use of a headset. Plus, Apple has reportedly hired a VR expert as well.
So, the race to VR supremacy is on.
