Google’s Cardboard DIY kit turns your smartphone into a virtual reality headset

Facebook spent billions to acquire Oculus VR and the technology behind Oculus Rift its virtual reality headset, but Google is taking a decidedly low-tech approach to achieving the same. This year’s I/O attendees got to pick either of the newly-launched Android Wear watches and were also given a mysterious kit simply called Cardboard.

As we expected, it’s anything but a simple piece of cardboard, like TechCrunch points out. It’s a DIY virtual reality headset kit that comes with all the MacGyveresque tools you will need to convert your regular smartphone into a virtual-reality display.


 
Using the instructions provided, you have to build the Cardboard into that familiar HUD shape, and also make sure all the other ‘high-tech’ tools such as the rubber band and a velcro flap are in the right place. There are two plastic lenses built into the face of the Cardboard, which add all the magic and wrap your phone’s display in the visible area.There’s also a piece of magnet that has to be attached to a small notch on the Cardboard’s exterior, and you’re set.

Since you are so up close to the image, it’s something like looking at an ultra wide, naturally curved display. The device, if we can call it that, works only when the Cardboard app on the phone is fired up. Navigation within the app is simply about moving your head to ‘look around corners’ etc. The magnet attached on the outside acts as a big selector and lets you pick elements within the UI.

At the moment, the selection of viewable content is limited to 7 categories. Users can watch a selection of YouTube videos using Cardboard, but many of the other applications are tied to Google Maps and Street View.

Tour Guide has you explore the Palace of Versailles in France, while ‘Street Vue’ lets you wander around in a VR version of street view in Paris. Earth Flyover lets you aerially explore a city in Google Earth, while there’s a Photo Sphere Viewer as well. Windy Day lets users explore a cartoony environment, from the point of view of a flying hat. ‘Exhibit’ allows you to examine more closely popular objets d’art.

Of course, this is just the work of Googlers during their ’20 percent’ time, so don’t expect a retail variant. However, if you want one, Dodocase is selling the kit online at the moment, with or without the NFC tag. It comes to around $20 without shipping, so it’s not that expensive.

Cardboard gif credit: TechCrunch