Virtual Reality - Google Cardboard

An Immersive Education Summit is an event that takes place annually in different places of the world. It is an informative conference type event that features many speakers and subjects within Immersion. The topics consist of ways technology is paired with daily living and can help influence many aspects of ones' life. This includes but is not limited to 3D Printing, Holograms, Virtual Reality and Cybernetics. For more information on Immersion 2015 held in Paris this year visit

http://summit.ImmersiveEducation.org.

Google Cardboard is quite literally made of cardboard. It allows one to explore a virtual reality without spending an excessive amount of money. Once you get the cardboard you fold it and put your phone inside. There are special lenses in front of the phone screen that are a certain distance away. There the fun is just beginning.  

I the think coolest part is that it takes no special instruction or expensive technology. It is easy to use for those that are not particularly tech savvy but would also like to enjoy a 3D Virtual Reality! The lenses in the cardboard create a 3D effect. This must be used with specific apps that are compatible with Google Cardboard. 

To passerbyers the user of the Google Cardboard headset may appear to just be holding cardboard to his/her face. The person using the device can do so from anywhere! It's a very mobile device that one can enjoy from his or her couch or on a break at the office! It is a great way to escape reality for a bit. This can affect the way people explore virtual worlds because it is not as much of an extreme hassle to try and do so. 

Android and Unity are both developers of the cardboard. There are also other manufacturers that are spin offs. What is so great about this is that often the cost of the cardboard is under $20 dollars. This is helpful for those who would like to experience a virtual reality but cannot afford to dish out so much money. 

Both it's simplicity and low price are desirable parts of the Google Cardboard. The user is not overwhelmed by the design. Though HoloLens and other 3D Immersive environments are also really cool this Google Cardboard is definitely geared toward a certain type of person. This is more something I could see being used by a child or an adult for short periods of time for fun rather than for work. 

Here is a video about Google Cardboard and how it works!