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Valve is one of those companies you just can’t help but admire. They are consumer first (almost to a fault), and course they also haven’t sold themselves to EA and Activision. Anytime they set out to do something ambitious, they gather a lot of media attention. Rumors of a Steam hardware console have been circling for several weeks now, but it turns out their hardware ambitions are much more bizarre. Valve developer Michael Abrash admitted the company is looking to hire hardware designers to help advance a prototype in the field of “wearable computing”.
The timing of the admission is somewhat coincidental considering how recently Google took the wraps off of Project Glass. Google’s project aims to bring heads up displays to the masses, while Valve goals? Nobody knows. My Guess? I’m thinking it’s a hat that wires directly into the brain, and stimulates the nerves responsible for micro-transaction impulse control.
In the same blog post Abrash describes how he first came to work at Valve, and his background which involves a stint a Microsoft, Intel, and even ID where he coauthored Quake. During his time at Intel, Abrash worked on the now defunct Intel graphics project known as Larrabee. He also includes details on how to contact him if you’re interested in the hardware position, and encourages anyone who’s got the skills and motivation to shoot him an email.
Anyone else have a guess as to what Valve means by Wearable Computing? Let us know in the comments below.
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flyup
April 16, 2012 at 11:28am
Perhaps they are re-purposing all our PCB's stacked up in some poor country's ghetto... Heatsink earrings and atx belt buckles?
I would look good in a scsi cable loin cloth.
p47riot
April 16, 2012 at 1:39pm
Even though I have no idea what you look like, I did not need that mental image!! LOL
bling581
April 16, 2012 at 9:43am
"Anyone else have a guess as to what Valve means by Wearable Computing?"
Well, I saw an online article about jeans you can buy that have an actual keyboard sewn onto the thigh portion.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2104468/New-jeans-built-keyboard-mouse-speakers.html
Could be something similar but who knows what else you could think up.
hammeredtoast
April 15, 2012 at 9:39pm
I presume a watch. I seriously do. Valve doesn't strike me as ambitious enough to create an augmented reality eye-thing like Google can and is.
Peanut Fox
April 15, 2012 at 7:09pm
Dear Valve,
Why is Steam's IM font 2mm high with no options to change it? It has been many years, and there have been several forum complaints about this very issue. It's 2012 and on a 24" screen there is no reason I should have to use a hack to get font to appear larger than what I get on my cell phone. Keep up the great deals and don't make a Steam Box unless the base specs increase every 18 months. PC graphics are hamstrung enough as it is.
Yours,
Peanut Fox
cam022408
April 15, 2012 at 6:19pm
While I applaud Valve for their games and the concept of the Steam platform, their customer service needs to improve one whole heck of a lot. When simple emails take almost a week to respond to there is something wrong, especially when the answer more often then not is "Buy a new copy" or "We can no longer offer you any support" and then they ignore you. As a paying customer this feels completely ridiculous and I am surprised that there aren't more angry people out there.
AntonioGarrison
April 15, 2012 at 4:41pm
Head-Up Display. Also, I adore Valve. They're a great company and I've enjoyed.their products for years. Hopefully this will be awesome.
