I made my Google Cardboard

I made my own Cardboard VR headset following the template found on the Google Cardboard website. 

For those not familiar, these 'Google Cardboard' headsets are virtual reality headset where the primary material is, you guessed it, cardboard. The rigid type that comes as a parcel box not the thing type like cereal boxes.

There are a number of companies selling pre-made ones, but I thought it would be cool if I made my own, out of bits around me. 

So I started pretty much from scratch. Printed out the diagram (download template), stuck it to the cardboard with sellotape. It's recommended to use glue, but I didn't have any at the time (DIY ethics). Then proceeded to cut out the template with scissors. Two hours later all the pieces were cut out. Then, I folded the cardboard piece and made the headset frame.

My cardboard headset

I don't expect to win any awards for it, but it is mine.The white fire retarded tape is just to reinforce the unit.

Now remember the cardboard is the primary material the other essential materials (in order of importance!) are:

1. A pair of lenses - this helps with the focus, otherwise everything is just blurred and just looks like two separate images, not the immersion one it is supposed to be. It is recommended you use bi-convex lenses however at present I have some out of a happy meal toy binoculars (granted not all apps work well on this).
2. Magnets - This sends an input to app on your smartphone by separating and recreating a magnet charge with your phone picks up and is basically the equivalent to tapping the screen, which without kind of hinders the experience.
3. Velcro strips - To hold the headset case together once you've put your phone in to stop in slipping out and you guess it, cracking (I prefer to just hold it in place!)
4. NFC tag - This serves as an automatic start up to the cardboard app once in close proximity.
5. Rubber band - Yes, I said a rubber band. Used solely to hold the headset together in conjunction with the Velcro strip.

In terms of actual applications it is quite vast after all, scene of Tron, Lawnmower Man, Surrogates even Caprica may all come instantly to mind, but if you've seen any of these they have always used virtual reality to serve as the driver to human destruction. How about twisting it on its head and it being adopted in keyhole surgery, deep sea discovery, space exploration. Even better, attach a 360-camera to helmet and include communities in expeditions, humanitarian aid missions. Truly the opportunities are endless.

Look out for the icon.