Google Cardboard: Search Giant Brings VR to the Masses

Google revealed at it’s annual IO conference that 1 million of it’s Cardboard VR units had been shipped so far. Google cardboard is a simple card device from the search giant that enables users to view virtual reality video’s through their smartphones.

Google revealed Cardboard at last years’ IO without much fanfare, and after announcing that the VR kit had shipped half a million units by December 2014, yesterday revealed the new milestone of 1 million units sold to date.

Google has taken a simpler approach in its VR project but has also managed to give consumers an economic way to experience virtual reality. At a cost of less than 5 US dollars, the Google Cardboard kit is considerably less than the hi-spec results we expect to get from the Oculus Rift and Sony’s Project Morpheus. However questions remain if the cardboard experience will be as pure as the one offered by the more expensive upcoming headsets.

In addition to this announcement, Google revealed that virtual reality videos will be available on YouTube later this year. With a tentative launch set for August, the search giant has been working with camera maker GO-pro to create a series of VR videos.

Google Cardboard can accommodate smartphones with screens up to 6″ which means that most popular smartphone makes and models will be compatible with the cardboard device.

Google has also expanded it’s virtual reality offering to include Google Expeditions, an app that will give users virtual tours of different locations worldwide. The app is currently aimed at enabling Teachers to take their students on virtual tours of destinations they may not have immediate access to using the Google cardboard kit.

Interest in VR has grown thanks in part to high profile products such as Oculus and this time tech companies are betting big on the format being a success. As evidenced by the Expeditions app, Virtual reality tech will not only enhance industries such as gaming, but also important sectors such as education, engineering, and healthcare.

What the popularity of Google cardboard points to is that the ordinary man is willing to adopt the new technology and it’s applications as long as it is affordable. Google has reached over 1 million cardboard units shipped with little marketing, something Facebook and Sony will do well to take note of as they look to put the finishing touches on their own VR headsets.

Obviously they cannot compete on price with a simple cardboard device, but with the Oculus headset coming sometime in 2016 an price over a thousand dollars, it may take a while for mass adoption of virtual reality.