GOOGLE CARDBOARD
EXPERIENCE VIRTUAL REALITY IN A
SIMPLE, FUN AND AFFORDABLE WAY.
Presented
By
Pankaj Kumar Kushwaha
Computer Science & Engineering
BBDNITM, Lucknow

Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is virtual reality ?
3. History of virtual reality
4. Google cardboard details
5. Tools needed to build cardboard headset
6. How does it works ?
7. Cardboard versions
8. Software for developing cardboard applications
9. Third-party offering and partnerships
10. Related Initiatives
i. JUMP
ii. Expeditions
11. Reception
12. Advantages/Disadvantages
13. Some best google cardboard apps
14. References

Introduction
1. Google Cardboard is a virtual reality (VR) platform
developed by Google for use with a head mount for
a mobile phone.
2. The platform is intended as a low-cost system to encourage
interest and development in VR and VR applications.
3. It was created by David Coz and Damien Henry, Google
engineers at the Google Cultural Institute in Paris.

4. It was introduced at the Google I/O 2014 developers
conference for Android devices which is presented and
scripted by ‘SUNDAR PICHAI’.
5. It is build for android and with a release to iOS at the
following year’s event.
I/O

VIRTUAL REALITY
 What Is Virtual Reality?
 VR is a Computer Generated artificial environment that
allows a user to view and explore.

HISTORY OF VIRTUAL REALITY
 In 1965, Ivan Sutherland expressed his ideas of
creating virtual or imaginary worlds.
 In 1969, he developed the first system to surround
people in three dimensional displays of information.
 The concept of virtual reality was mainly used by
the United States. They used it as flight simulators
to train pilots.
 Since then, virtual reality has developed in many
ways to become an emerging technology of our
time.

Virtual Reality Head Mounted Displays
Samsung Gear VR Headset Oculus Rift VR HMD
Rs. 13,479.00 Rs. 21,941.00
VS
Google CardBoard
Rs. 245.00 to 950.00

GOOGLE CARDBOARD
1. The headset specifications were designed by Google, But
there is no official manufacturer or vendor for this device.
2. The Google Cardboard was part of a Google 20% project
where employees are allowed to work on side projects in
addition to their normal everyday duties.

4. Users can either build their own cardboard viewer from
simple, low cost components using specifications published
by Google, or purchase one manufactured by a third party.
5. This is a simple and inexpensive device. You can download
apps meant for this device and enhance your experience of
using this device.

TOOLS NEEDED TO BUILD HEADSET
Google made the list of parts, and assembly instructions freely available
on their website, allowing people to assemble cardboard themselves from
readily available parts.
1) Cardboard:
A piece of cardboard sheet cut into a precise shape.
Minimum size: 8.75in (22cm) by 22in (56cm), and 0.06in (1.5mm) thickness.

2) Lenses:
Two Asymmetric Bi-Convex optical lenses. Lenses that have a 45mm
focal distance might work. Biconvex lenses work best because they prevent
distortion around the edges.

3) Magnet:
One neodymium ring magnet and one ceramic disk magnet

4. Hook and loop fastener (such as Velcro)
5. A rubber band
6. An optional Near Field Communication (NFC)
tag

After building your final Google Cardboard Headset
will look like this.

HOW DOES IT WORKS?
 First you need to download the Cardboard app from Google Play Store.
It's a large app - 74.63MB

 Google Cardboard works by placing your phone at the optimal distance away
from the lenses.
 A Google Cardboard–compatible app splits the smartphone display image into
two, one for each eye and the result is a stereoscopic ("3D") image with a
wide field of view.

 Then, by using compatible apps, the lenses create a 3D effect when held up
to your eyes.
 You can even move your head around, and the images will respond as if
you're in the same place as what's displayed on your screen.
 With the Google Cardboard app launched and your phone inside the
headset, you'll feel it vibrate. You can then look left and right to scroll
through the menu.

 The little magnet on the side is actually a quite ingenious design
aspect of Google Cardboard. It's a button!
 Since you can't touch your phone's screen while it's inside the
Cardboard, Google has provided this magnet that, when moved,
acts as if you've pressed your screen.
 It uses your phone's magnetometer, which is usually used for
compass functions, to sense this and control it while it's in the
cardboard

VERSIONS
1st Version
 Released at Google I/O 2014
 Could fit phones up to 5.7 inches.
 Used magnets as input buttons.
 Required – compass sensor in the phone.
2nd Version
 Released at Google I/O 2015
 Works with phones up to 6 inches.
 Replaced magnet switch with a conductive layer.
 Better compatibility.
•

SOFTWARE
 Google provides 2 Software development kits for developing
Cardboard applications.
 Both using “OPENGL”
 One for “ANDROID” using java and
 One for the game engine “UNITY” using C#.
 Google announced iOS support for the Unity plugin in May 2015 at the
Google I/O 2015 conference.
 3rd Party apps are available on the Google Play store for Android and
App store for iOS.
 In January 2016, Google announced that the software development kits
would support spacial audio (3D audio effect).

THIRD-PARTY OFFERING AND PARTNERSHIPS
1. In November 2014, Volvo released Volvo-branded Cardboard
goggles and an Android app, Volvo Reality, to let the user
explore the XC90.
2. In February 2015, toy manufacturer Mattel, in cooperation with
Google, announced a VR version of the stereoscopic
viewer View-Master.
3. Google also collaborated with LG Electronics to release a
Cardboard-based headset for the LG G3 known as VR for G3.
Released in February 2015, it was distributed as a free
accessory with new G3 models sold in certain countries, and
was perceived to be a competitor to the Samsung Gear
VR accessory.[

4. On November 8, 2015, The New York Times included a Google
Cardboard viewer with all home newspaper deliveries. Readers
can download the NYT VR app, which displays journalism-
focused immersive VR environments.
5. In December 2015, Google offered free Star Wars-themed
Cardboard viewers through the Google Store and Verizon as a
part of promotional tie-in for the film Star Wars: The Force
Awakens.
•

RELATED INITIATIVES
I. JUMP
1. Jump is an ecosystem for virtual reality film-making
developed by Google. It was announced at Google I/O on
May 28, 2015.
2. For Jump the company developed specifications, it is a
circular camera array made from 16 cameras.
3. GoPro partnered with Google to build an array using their
own cameras.
•

Process:
1. Once footage has been shot, the VR video is compiled
from the individual cameras through "the assembler",
Jump's back-end software. The assembler
uses computational photography and "computer vision"
to recreate the scene .
2. Finalized video shot through Jump can then be viewed
through a stereoscopic VR mode of YouTube with a
Cardboard viewer.

Expedition is a journey especially by a group of people for a
specific purpose (such as to explore a distant place or to do
research).
•
II. EXPEDITIONS
[VIRTUAL REALITY TRIPS]

How Does It Works ?
1. Expeditions is a program for providing VR experiences to
school classrooms through Google Cardboard viewers,
allowing educators to take their students on virtual field trips. It
was announced at Google I/O 2015.
2. Each classroom kit would include 30 synchronized Cardboard
viewers and smartphones, along with a tablet for the teacher to
act as tour guide.[
3. Teachers interested in bringing the program to their school can
register online. CNET called Cardboard "the first Virtual Reality
platform targeted at children."

RECEPTION
1. On January 27, 2016, Google announced that in the platform's first 19
months, over 5 million Cardboard viewers had shipped, over 1,000
compatible applications had been published, and over 25 million
application installs had been made.
2. According to the company, users viewed over 350,000 hours of
YouTube videos in VR during that time and 500,000 students took a
VR field trip through the Expeditions program.
3. The success of Cardboard convinced Google to develop more
advanced virtual reality hardware and appoint a new chief of virtual
reality. The company is reportedly creating a plastic viewer that
includes electronics but still requires a smartphone, as well as a
standalone viewer that requires no extra console, computer, or
smartphone.

 Advantages –
1. It Makes Learning Easier.
2. No need to go Actual Location.
3. Provide a real virtual interaction.
4. Low Cost of Google Cardboard is one of the major
reason for growth in the virtual reality cardboard
market.
5. Large number of local and global vendors in the market
producing the device so, it is easily accessible.
6. Easy to set up and use.

 Disadvantage –
1. Few developer’s are available.
2. Very few software available.
3. Lack of content and low resolution apps – the product
can not be used as a daily-use product. The free
apps offer an immersive experience but are not utility
apps.
4. Simulation sickness – which is the result of a
disparity between a perceived experience and what
one actually experiences – is a big challenge for the
Google Cardboard.
5. Hardware limitations – requires sensors like
magnetometer, gyroscope, NFC feature and high-
quality resolution which are not present in many
smartphones.

BEST GOOGLE CARDBOARD APPS

 The cardboard app comes with 7 experiences:
 Earth: Fly where your fancy takes you on Google Earth.
 Tour Guide: Visit Versailles with a local guide.
 YouTube: Watch popular YouTube videos on a massive screen.
 Exhibit: Examine cultural artifacts from every angle.
 Photo Sphere: Look around the photo spheres you’ve captured.
 Street Vue: Drive through Paris on a summer day.
 Windy Day: Follow the story (and the hat) in this interactive
animated short from Spotlight Stories.

Roller Coaster VR for Google Cardboard – This app
gives you a roller coaster ride through beautiful jungle
scenery and some water travel.
Android

Tilt Brush Gallery - View creations made with Tilt
Brush, a painting application made for virtual reality.
Load pre-made sketches and watch them draw in as
they were originally created.
Android

Lanterns for Google Cardboard – This beautiful app
gives you a night view of the Lantern Festival
celebration.
Android

New York Times VR Stories – Access richly-immersive
stories from across the globe.
Android/iOS

The North Face: Climb – Experience the thrill of rock
climbing and base jumping with two premiere athletes.
Android

War of Words VR – This app takes you back to the battlefields of
the Somme in 1916. You’re treated to a reading of Siegfried
Sassoon’s controversial poem “The Kiss”, all the while surrounded
by an incredible depiction of the horror – at one point you can even
follow a bullet in slow motion as it strikes down a soldier.
Android/iOS

REFERENCES
 https://www.google.com/get/cardboard
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Cardboard

THANK YOU

Any questions?