Today's episode is not just a technical lesson—it's about sharing an amazing experience with Google's cardboard VR glasses. These glasses allow you to transition from the real world into an immersive virtual one with ease. Simply put, any smartphone—whether Android or iPhone—can be turned into a 3D viewing device using these glasses. You’ll be able to watch 3D videos, visit virtual museums as if you were actually inside them, and even forget that you're still in the real world! The experience of browsing YouTube or Google Earth using these glasses is truly one-of-a-kind—it must be experienced to be understood.
When we hear about Virtual Reality (VR), we often imagine complex devices and advanced technologies, but the reality has changed. Things have become much simpler, especially with headsets like Oculus VR and Sony's Project Morpheus. With Google, it’s even simpler! A piece of cardboard and a simple app on your phone can turn any Android device into a VR machine with Google Cardboard.
The story began with the work philosophy of Google engineers, who are encouraged to spend 20% of their work time on personal projects and hobbies. From this freedom came innovations like Gmail—and more recently, the Google Cardboard VR device, which you can actually build at home using basic materials like cardboard, two small lenses, a magnet, tape, and a rubber band. You can find all the instructions and materials needed on the official Google Cardboard website.
Once assembled, you’ll need the supporting apps. Google released the official Cardboard app for Android, which supports VR versions of services like Earth, YouTube, Street View, and Photo Sphere. You can even control the phone while wearing the headset using a small magnet, which changes the magnetic field and triggers the phone’s sensors to respond.
Google also released a developer kit (SDK) for Android to help developers create VR-supported apps and games, opening up endless possibilities for new immersive experiences.
Honestly, I think I’ll either build or buy one of these headsets myself—the experience is just that exciting. I highly recommend watching the 45-minute Google I/O 2014 presentation, where attendees received free Cardboard headsets.
If you're interested, you can follow the step-by-step instructions and build one easily yourself!
