Google Cardboard A/VR Goggles: FirstLook

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When Google released their cardboard standard for VR goggles, they made the immersive experience possible for anyone who has a smartphone and a viewer. With most of the “heavy lifting” done by the smartphone, the viewer is basically a way to hold everything in the “right” place. Still, it is an important part of the A/VR experience.

The Google specs spurred the creation of a lot of Cardboard-compliant viewers, with the least expensive ones made from actual cardboard. While those who want to try their hand at making one by grabbing the pattern off the Web, we find the return didn’t seem to justify the effort, especially since the optics will still need to be acquired.

Cost is another argument against rolling your own. At last count, close to a dozen companies have announced that they have or will be shipping VR goggles based on the Google specs. Today, we are going to take a closer look at two of them:

• DODOcase P2 Pop-Up Viewer – $15
• Merge VR Goggles – $100

The DODOCase P2 is an inexpensive VR viewer made using pre-scored cardboard. However, don’t let the $15 price fool you. It is big enough to handle even the larger smartphones on the market (iPhone 6+, Nexus 6, Note 4, etc) and will definitely give you a taste of what the VR excitement is all about.

The DODOCase P2 viewer has the following features:

• 37mm Bi-Convex lenses
• Opening underneath for touch screen access
• Side shields for better immersion
• Fits over glasses
• Packs flat for transport

The P2 comes packed flat, but with the lenses already in place, all the creases pre-scored, and ready to be put together. Assembling the P2 was simple enough: fold up the nose piece, insert it into the frame, and the P2 is ready for the smartphone. On the bottom right of the P2 is a little opening where a finger may be inserted to tap on the screen, a low-tech alternative to an external controller for any A/VR interactions 🙂

Those who want a more immersive VR experience will want to upgrade from the P2 to the Merge viewer. Like the P2, the Merge viewer conforms to the Google VR specs. However, unlike the P2, the Merge viewer will allow the user to strap the goggle on leaving both hands free to work the input controls.

The Merge VR has the following features:

• Flexible foam body with anti-fog ventilation
• Adjustable lenses and straps
• Dual Input Button
• Audio port
• Camera Port for AR applications

The big advantage that a viewer like the Merge has over something like the P2 is ability to adjust for a custom fit. The lens adjusters let the user “dial in” the focus and the velcro straps holding the viewer accommodates any size head. The foam frame is sturdy enough to hold the smartphone steady, yet still soft and and comfortable when strapped onto the face.

Another feature of the Merge viewer is the removable panel. Removing the panel allows the smartphone’s camera to “see,” thus enabling the viewer to support both VR and AR apps.

The biggest smartphone we have in house is the iPhone 6+. Both viewers were able to accommodate it without any problems. The phone is held in place in the P2 viewer by a flap secured by a piece of velcro. The hold is snug and we have no fear that it would suddenly slide out. However, should the velcro give way, the phone will definitely go tumbling out.

With the Merge viewer, the phone is inserted into a pocket at the front. The fit is snug and there is no way it can fall out unexpectedly. In fact, we had to push from a slot at the bottom to get the phone out. Of course, with a snug fit comes another problem…ventilation. The Merge solved the issue with strategically place openings. The airflow prevents fogging as well as allows for heat exchange.

Now that we have looked over the A/VR goggles, the next step is to load up some content and see what the brain makes of this newfangled A/VR thing. What kind of content? Well, there are four major groups:

• Stereograms : photos shown side-by-side to create a still 3D effect
• VR photos : 360º photos shown side-by-side to create a still immersive 3D effect
• 3D videos : videos shown side-by-side to create a moving 3D effect
• VR videos : 360º videos shown side-by-side to create a moving immersive 3D effect

Although the groupings are fairly self-explanatory, we’ll go into a bit more detail about each of them in our next post. Suffice to say, things have come a ways from the ViewMaster.

Amazon links to items mentioned:

• DODOCase VR Goggles
• MergeVR Goggles