Google Cardboard

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Google Cardboard
Googlecardboard 1.jpg
Category VR device (smartphone holder)
Developer Google Inc.
Announced 25 June 2014 [1]
Released Developers:
Consumers: June 2014 [1]
Price 5 USD starting price (October 2015)[2]
Operating system smartphone dependent
Sensors

N/A

Weight 54 g
Controls

button

Data available good
Risk factor low
Not standalone
https://www.google.com/get/cardboard/

Google Cardboard is a virtual reality device made of foldable cardboard and a pair of lenses designed to house a variety of smartphones.[3] The smartphone then plays the role of a processing and displaying unit. Google Cardboard is thus not a standalone device, and as other similar virtual reality devices, which it inspired,[4] needs a smartphone to display the media content. The current version introduced at Google I/O 2015[5] supports Android or iOS-based smartphones up to the diagonal size of 150 mm (6 inches).[6] It was created by Google engineers David Coz and Damien Henry in Paris in the weeks preceding Google I/O 2014.[7]

Cardboard is not sold by Google, Inc. itself. Instead, Google open-sourced the schematics and the list of parts, and potential customers can now choose from a selection of devices offered by more than 9 manufacturers. Although, this number does not include the smartphone holders inspired by Google Cardboard, such as Beenoculus, Cmoar or more advanced ones such as Gear VR. Users can also build the device themselves, using the freely available schematics and manuals accessible on the Google Cardboard website.

Google also provides two software development kits that developers can use to create virtual reality content or adapt their already existing applications to it.[8]

Main characteristics

The Cardboard platform consists of following parts: foldable cardboard torso, two lenses, loop and hook fasteners, rubber band and optionally magnets (older version of Cardboard) and an adhesive NFC tag. These are assembled together according to the schematics included into a shape of enclosed virtual reality headset. Some variants also include a head strap for hands free use. After the assembly, a smartphone is inserted into the front compartment behind the lenses. User can then use one of the Cardboard compatible applications to split the display into stereoscopic image and display virtual reality content.

Purpose

Google Cardboard is a virtual reality smartphone holder that offers affordable entry point into virtual reality content that also is customizable and works with a big range of smartphone devices.

Company & People

David Coz - Software Engineer at Google, co-initiator of Google Cardboard

Damien Henry - Technical Program Manager at Google, co-initiator of Google Cardboard

Andrew Nartker - Product Manager at Google

Important Dates

Ethical Issues

Empathy machine

Health Risks

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

Enhancement as well as therapy. - Google Cardboard is mainly marketed as an entertainment device. It serves as a gateway to virtual reality media. But it can also be used for virtual reality therapy. Smartphone holders like Google Cardboard are indeed favoured among creators of these applications. See Virtual_Reality_Devices#Other_applications for more about this topic.

Public & Media Impact and Presentation

https://www.wareable.com/vr/wareable-why-google-cardboard-not-oculus-rift-will-drive-the-future-of-vr-976

http://www.dodocase.com/products/virtual-reality-hat-mounted-display

http://www.knoxlabs.com/collections/all/products/knox-aluminum

https://www.unofficialcardboard.com/collections/all/products/2-0-plus?variant=6523073025

http://www.wareable.com/vr/view-master-goes-vr-mattels-headset-teams-up-with-google-cardboard-827

https://plus.google.com/+GoogleCardboard/posts/MnGvFhGe1PQ

http://www.wareable.com/vr/google-cardboard-updated-and-vr-expeditions-go-live-1190

http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/13/7217397/volvo-is-using-google-cardboard-to-get-people-inside-its-new-suv

http://www.cnet.com/news/lg-to-give-away-new-vr-for-g3-headsets/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-cardboard-works-on-the-iphone-too/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/technology/google-intensifies-focus-on-its-cardboard-virtual-reality-device.html?_r=0

http://www.wired.com/2015/05/try-google-cardboard/#slide-2

http://www.wired.com/2015/05/google-cardboard-virtual-reality/

http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/staff-editorials/13490/google-cardboard-review-plus/

http://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-has-oculus-google-has-cardboard/

Public Policy

Related Technologies, Project or Scientific Research

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 LUCKERSON, Victor. Google Just Released Its Most Low-Tech Product Ever. TIME [online]. 2014, 25 June. Available online at: http://time.com/2923531/google-cardboard-app/ (Retrieved 21 October 2015))
  2. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st_price-asc-rank?keywords=google+cardboard&sort=price-asc-rank
  3. Get Your Cardboard. 2015. Google [online]. Available online at: https://www.google.com/intl/en_ALL/get/cardboard/get-cardboard/ (Retrieved 21 October 2015))
  4. HAYWARD, Andrew. Why Google Cardboard – not Oculus – is crucial to the future of VR: Your Android phone and a pizza box is the start of a billion dollar industry. Wareable [online]. 2015, 19 October. Available online at: https://www.wareable.com/vr/wareable-why-google-cardboard-not-oculus-rift-will-drive-the-future-of-vr-976 (Retrieved 21 October 2015))
  5. Google I/O 2015: About. Google [online]. 2015. Available online at: https://events.google.com/io2015/about (Retrieved 21 October 2015))
  6. ROBERTSON, Adi a Josh DZIEZA. The 12 most important announcements from Google I/O 2015: A new Android, smarter apps, and virtual reality. The Verge [online]. 2015, 28 May. Available online at: http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/28/8676769/google-io-2015-highlights-announcements-recap (Retrieved 21 October 2015))
  7. BRADY, Paul. Google Cardboard Delivers Virtual Reality in a Cardboard Box. Condé Nast Traveler [online]. 2014, 21 October. Available online at: http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-10-21/google-cardboard-delivers-vr-in-cardboard-box (Retrieved 21 October 2015))
  8. Cardboard. 2015. Google Developers [online]. Available online at: https://developers.google.com/cardboard/ (Retrieved 21 October 2015))