Thursday, June 9, 2016

Google's Glamourous Gadget

So about a month ago, I decided to purchase a Virtual Reality headset to be able to experience for myself what I believe will be a great new revolution in so many different disciplines. From new teaching methods, to super realistic and immersive games, to new professional simulation training, virtual reality is a giant leap towards a future where technology is omnipresent (in a good way hopefully).

That being said, I decided to try out the inexpensive Google Cardboard since there isn't really another headset that you can purchase for 20$. The Oculus Rift is 500$ and the HTC Vive is even more expensive. But I really like the fact that Google tried to make the headset as affordable as possible so that more people can experience with VR. What's also interesting is that developer can create an app that works with the headset since Google released the free Cardboard Development Kit for any developer to use. With this simple "gadget", Google hoped to spark interest in VR and accelerate its development.


Now, that's a huge mission for a box made out of cardboard. But I believe Google Cardboard succeeded where the Google Glass failed. When the glasses came out, all they did was take pictures, surf the web and send messages. For a 1500$ gadget, that's pretty useless if we consider that the people who could afford the glasses already owned powerful smartphones that had a better camera, faster processors, etc. Instead of competing with smartphones, Google Cardboard used them as their main component. You don't need more than a pizza box to appreciate virtual reality from the comfort of your own home using your phone.

Since more and more apps are designed to work with the Google Cardboard, you can already get a taste of what virtual reality looks like. I didn't need a more expensive headset to be completely immersed  in the world created by the numerous developers. Even if it does cause motion sickness when you're, for example, on a roller-coaster and your eyes are detecting movement but your body is static, the experience is great, and it can only get better with time.



I believe Google Cardboard is the first step in discovering virtual reality for people who are really into it. And this is an important step to creating more demand for such an incredible new technology. If more and more people try it out and like it, then more funds will be invested into helping VR headsets become more and more sophisticated. All this to say: smart affordable technology is an amazing way of pushing technology in the right direction.

For a bit more drops of future, check out:

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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousJune 17, 2016 at 6:19 AM

    I've tried the Google Cardboard with my boyfriend, it was fun! But it's true you can get motion sickness pretty easily :P

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