Facebook has poached three Microsoft researchers to work on its new Computational Photography applied research.

The trio is expected to work on virtual-reality and augmented-reality based content creation.

The newly formed Computational Photography applied research team is expected to work on tools that will allow Facebook users to share 3-D video and virtual reality based content on their profiles.

Executives hired from Microsoft include Michael Cohen, Rick Szeliski and Matt Uyttendaele who have worked on Microsoft projects such as Hyperlapse, a technology that was designed to stabilise videos, and photo-based feature Blink, reported Bloomberg.

Facebook has been planning to venture into virtual reality for quite some time now, and in an attempt to do so it also bought VR headset maker Oculus for $2bn last year.

The company is gearing up for the commercial release of the Oculus headsets that are expected to go on sale for between $300 and $350.

Facebook also has a team of researchers and scientists who are working on projects involving voice and image recognition technology that are expected to help users to interact with its products.

The company is reportedly working on a virtual assistant inside Messenger that is expected to help users with shopping and scheduling from their smartphone.