View source for Google Cardboard

{{Testovaci|
name_of_device=Google Cardboard|
image_file_name=Googlecardboard_1.jpg|
category=VR device (smartphone holder)|
developer=Google Inc.|
announced=25 June 2014|
announced_commentary=<ref name="time14">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))</ref>|
developer_release=|
consumers_release=June 2014|
consumers_release_commentary=<ref name="time14" />|
price=5|
price_commentary=starting price (October 2015)<ref>http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st_price-asc-rank?keywords=google+cardboard&sort=price-asc-rank</ref>|
operating_system=smartphone dependent|
sensors=none|
weight=54|
controls1=button|
controls2=|
data_available=good|
risk_factor=low|
standalone_not_standalone=Not standalone|
link_to_website=https://www.google.com/get/cardboard/|
}}

Google Cardboard is a [[Category:Head_Mounted_Displays|head-mounted]] [[Virtual_Reality_Devices|virtual reality]] device made of foldable cardboard and a pair of lenses designed to house a variety of smartphones.<ref>Get Your Cardboard. 2015. Google [online]. Available online at: https://www.google.com/intl/en_ALL/get/cardboard/get-cardboard/ (Retrieved 21 October 2015))</ref> 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,<ref>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))</ref> needs a smartphone to display the media content. The current version introduced at Google I/O 2015<ref>Google I/O 2015: About. Google [online]. 2015. Available online at: https://events.google.com/io2015/about (Retrieved 21 October 2015))</ref> supports Android or iOS-based smartphones up to the diagonal size of 150 mm (6 inches).<ref>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))</ref> It was created by Google engineers David Coz and Damien Henry in Paris in the weeks preceding Google I/O 2014.<ref>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))</ref>

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 [[Samsung Gear VR|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.<ref>Cardboard. 2015. Google Developers [online]. Available online at: https://developers.google.com/cardboard/ (Retrieved 21 October 2015))</ref>

== 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 ==
<!-- A list of important dates in the development and history of the technology. Use the information provided in the second half of the Main characteristics section and make it into a short, unnumbered list. -->

== Ethical Issues ==


''Empathy machine''

== Health Risks ==
<!-- Any related health issues, be it already discovered and covered in literature, or just speculative ones, should be described and properly cited in this section. -->

== 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 ==
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== Related Technologies, Project or Scientific Research ==
<!-- If there is any scientific research conducted or being conducted that is closely connected to this technology, it should be properly cited here. -->

== References ==

[[Category:External Hardware or Software]]
[[Category:Electronic and Other Devices]]
[[Category:Wearables]]
[[Category:Head Mounted Devices]]
[[Category:Head Mounted Displays]]
[[Category:Virtual Reality Devices]]