Google Cardboard, the Mountain View company's headset that brings virtual reality straight to the consumer at an affordable price, is set to get some major additions to the product as early as this summer.
Today at Google I/O 2015, Google showed us what all they have in store for us with Cardboard. From bringing the everyday photographer and adventurer the ability to shoot their own virtual reality movies from raw video with JUMP to teachers taking their students on virtual field trips with Expeditions, Google demonstrated just how serious they are about virtual reality.
First, Google discussed that over 1 million units of Cardboard have been shipped globally. One of the major things Google has learned from consumers and is seeking to change this year is the form factor and assembly. The 2015 model of Cardboard will support up to 6-inch devices and instead of there being 12 steps to assemble, Google has trimmed this down to just 3 steps.
Secondly, Google has made it clear that the Cardboard SDK will be available for everyone, iOS and Android alike. Google is clearly stating that no one should be left out of the ability to see our world and all of its sights (nearly) firsthand.
That being said, who better to demonstrate the majesty of our planet to than our children. Google Expeditions is a new program that will allow teachers to cast from a smart device to students' Cardboard headsets. Want to take your students on a tour of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich? Check. A tour of the solar system with the Planetary Society, probably hosted by their CEO and renowned educator of kids Bill Nye? Check.
Finally, are you the type of adventurer that wants to create your own virtual reality video? Starting this summer, Google will be releasing the camera geometry needed for you to set up your own rig. This technology, dubbed JUMP, will allow you to utilize 16 cameras to create your own virtual reality memories from raw video feed. If setting something like this up sounds intimidating, don't fret, Google announced that GoPro will be on board with selling JUMP-ready rigs for your purchasing pleasure.
And just where will you be able to upload and view all of these JUMP videos? Google's #1 video sharing platform YouTube will be your venue!
I have been pretty reluctant to get my feet wet with VR as of yet, but after all of this, I am definitely going to be buying a cardboard ticket to the show!
Source: Google I/O
