wraggster
September 4th, 2012, 23:57
Developer, frustrated with a lack of innovation in the hardware space, posts job listing for industrial designer.http://media.edge-online.com/files/imagecache/article/articles/news/valve-steam-box.png
Valve has posted a job advert on its website for an industrial designer (http://www.valvesoftware.com/jobs/job_postings.html), the listing revealing that the developer intends to enter the hardware creation space.
"We're frustrated by the lack of innovation in the computer hardware space though, so we're jumping in," reads the role description.
"Even basic input, the keyboard and mouse, haven't really changed in any meaningful way over the years. There's a real void in the marketplace, and opportunities to create compelling user experiences are being overlooked."
While the role will likely further fuel speculation on the Steam Console (http://www.edge-online.com/features/steam-console-big-picture), the mention of input devices makes Valve's "wearable computing" research (http://www.edge-online.com/news/valve-working-%E2%80%9Cwearable-computing%E2%80%9D) a more likely candidate for any kind of product to emerge from in the near future.
Of course, it could equally be neither avenue. The listing reiterates Valve's position on innovation and iteration, so the company may simply be toying with more general ideas and looking for someone to come on board in order to set a direction.
"At Valve, our design process really gets going once products are in customers’ hands," the listing continues. Our best work is the result of an ongoing dialog with customers.
"Through years of shipping software as a service through Steam, our digital distribution platform, this has become fundamental to the way we create great products.
"With an engaged community of millions of users, what will you ship? What will you try, and what will you learn through doing so?"
http://www.edge-online.com/news/valve-jumping-hardware-space
Valve has posted a job advert on its website for an industrial designer (http://www.valvesoftware.com/jobs/job_postings.html), the listing revealing that the developer intends to enter the hardware creation space.
"We're frustrated by the lack of innovation in the computer hardware space though, so we're jumping in," reads the role description.
"Even basic input, the keyboard and mouse, haven't really changed in any meaningful way over the years. There's a real void in the marketplace, and opportunities to create compelling user experiences are being overlooked."
While the role will likely further fuel speculation on the Steam Console (http://www.edge-online.com/features/steam-console-big-picture), the mention of input devices makes Valve's "wearable computing" research (http://www.edge-online.com/news/valve-working-%E2%80%9Cwearable-computing%E2%80%9D) a more likely candidate for any kind of product to emerge from in the near future.
Of course, it could equally be neither avenue. The listing reiterates Valve's position on innovation and iteration, so the company may simply be toying with more general ideas and looking for someone to come on board in order to set a direction.
"At Valve, our design process really gets going once products are in customers’ hands," the listing continues. Our best work is the result of an ongoing dialog with customers.
"Through years of shipping software as a service through Steam, our digital distribution platform, this has become fundamental to the way we create great products.
"With an engaged community of millions of users, what will you ship? What will you try, and what will you learn through doing so?"
http://www.edge-online.com/news/valve-jumping-hardware-space