Google Cardboard Lets Smartphone Users Experience Virtual Reality

By Todd R. Weiss

Once you download the plans, you can trace them onto cardboard and carefully cut and score the pieces using a sharp hobby knife and other simple tools. Here is what the finished product will look like after the layout, cutting and scoring processes are finished.

Once the parts are created, you can fold and assemble the parts until they form the boxy-looking Cardboard VR viewer. Several other parts are also needed, including some Velcro, a rubber band, two small magnets and some aftermarket lenses, which can be purchased online.

Once built, the device needs the Cardboard app to work with your compatible smartphone. The Cardboard app helps you launch your favorite VR experiences, discover new apps and set up a VR viewer.

The Cardboard app works with most modern Android phones, including the Google Nexus 4 and 5, the Motorola Moto X, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5, and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Some phones are partially compatible. Devices must be running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) or higher.

Some of the things you can do with the Cardboard app and your device include exploring the sights and destinations of Google Earth (as seen in this image of spectacular terrain), or take a virtual tour in a city such as Versailles with a local guide.

One vendor, UnofficialCardboard.com, sells partially and fully assembled kits for $14.95 to $26.90 so users don’t have to build Cardboard from scratch. The kits include special corrugated cardboard that is laser-cut to Google’s specifications.

Each Unofficial Cardboard kit includes special cardboard and the symmetric biconvex optical lenses, magnets, rubber bands and other parts that are required for construction.

The user’s smartphone fits into a slot in the side of the device so that the eyepieces and other parts line up properly with the phone and its components.

The back side of the Cardboard device, with a smartphone installed, looks a bit like a classic Viewmaster 3D Viewer, which allows users to view stereo images on special cardboard and film photo reels. Here’s what it looks like from the wearer’s perspective.

Cardboard versions are available from Unofficial Cardboard in two sizes, for regular-sized smartphones with displays up to 5.2 inches and for larger models with screens up to 5.7 inches.

Another vendor, Knox Labs, sells a special $85 hand-built version that’s made from anodized aluminum, shown here. Knox also sells actual cardboard versions at prices from $14.95 to $27.

If you want your Cardboard viewer built from soft, flexible foam, then you can buy one from I Am Cardboard, which sells viewers in foam or cardboard at prices from $19.99 to $36.99. This is the company’s black EVA foam version, which sells for $34.99.

Cardboard kits from vendor DODOcase range from $21.95 to $24.95 and assemble in less than 10 minutes. Like the other brands of Cardboard devices, they are also compatible with specific Android and iPhone 5 and 6 smartphone models.