Google Cardboard

Google Cardboard
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	Mobile VR
Platform	Google Cardboard SDK
Creator	Google
Developer	David Coz, Damien Henry (Google)
Manufacturer	Various (DIY or third-party)
Announcement Date	June 25, 2014 (Google I/O)
Release Date	June 25, 2014
Price	Free (DIY) to $15-$25 (pre-made)
Website	https://arvr.google.com/cardboard/ (archived)
Versions	Cardboard v1 (2014), Cardboard v2 (2015)
Requires	Compatible smartphone (Android or iOS)
Predecessor	None
Successor	Google Daydream View
System
Operating System	Works with Android, iOS
Chipset	Powered by smartphone
CPU	Powered by smartphone
GPU	Powered by smartphone
Storage
Storage	Powered by smartphone
Memory	Powered by smartphone
SD Card Slot	Via smartphone
Display
Display	Smartphone display
Subpixel Layout	Smartphone dependent
Peak Brightness	Smartphone dependent
Resolution	Smartphone dependent
Pixel Density	Smartphone dependent
Refresh Rate	Smartphone dependent (typically 60Hz)
Persistence	Smartphone dependent
Image
Field of View	~80-90°
Horizontal FoV	~80-90°
Vertical FoV	~80-90°
Average Pixel Density	Smartphone dependent
Peak Pixel Density	Smartphone dependent
Foveated Rendering	No
Optics
Optics	40mm biconvex lenses (standard)
Ocularity	Binocular
IPD Range	Fixed (typical ~64mm)
Adjustable Diopter	No
Passthrough	No
Tracking
Tracking	3DoF (smartphone sensors)
Tracking Frequency	Smartphone dependent
Base Stations	None required
Eye Tracking	No
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	No
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	Yes
Positional Tracking	No
Update Rate	60Hz (typical)
Tracking Volume	Stationary
Play Space	Stationary
Latency	Smartphone dependent
Audio
Audio	Via smartphone
Microphone	Via smartphone
3.5mm Audio Jack	Via smartphone
Camera	Phone camera accessible (some apps)
Connectivity
Connectivity	None (passive viewer)
Ports	None
Wired Video	No
Wireless Video	No
WiFi	Via smartphone
Bluetooth	Via smartphone
Power	None required (passive)
Battery Capacity	N/A
Battery Life	N/A
Charge Time	N/A
Device
Dimensions	~150mm × 80mm × 100mm (typical)
Weight	~80-100g (cardboard), varies by material
Material	Cardboard (original), various (third-party)
Headstrap	Elastic band or headstrap (varies)
Haptics	No
Color	Brown (cardboard), varies
Sensors	None (uses phone sensors)
Input	Magnet trigger (v1), conductive lever (v2), screen tap
Compliance	N/A (DIY)

Google Cardboard is a discontinued virtual reality platform developed by Google, consisting of a fold-out cardboard or plastic viewer into which a smartphone is inserted. First unveiled at the Google I/O developer conference on June 25, 2014, Cardboard was designed as a low-cost, accessible entry point to virtual reality—users could build their own viewer from cardboard, lenses, and simple components using Google's published specifications, or purchase inexpensive pre-made viewers. Created by Google engineers David Coz and Damien Henry during their "20% Innovation Time Off," Cardboard demonstrated that meaningful VR experiences could be achieved with minimal investment, leading to over 15 million viewer units shipped by November 2019. Google stopped selling Cardboard viewers in March 2021, though the open-source design remains available.

History and Development

Origins at Google

Created during innovation time:

• David Coz and Damien Henry, French engineers
• Google Cultural Institute in Paris
• 20% "Innovation Time Off" project
• Exploring accessible VR concepts

Google I/O 2014 Reveal

Surprise announcement:

• June 25, 2014 keynote
• 6,000 kits distributed to attendees
• Immediate hands-on experience
• Unexpected VR announcement

Design Philosophy

Accessibility-first approach:

• Use existing smartphone
• Minimal additional cost
• DIY construction possible
• Open specifications

Cardboard v1 (2014)

Original design:

• 12-step assembly
• Magnetic ring trigger
• Up to 5.5" phone support
• Simple construction

Cardboard v2 (2015)

Improved design at Google I/O 2015:

• 3-step assembly (simplified)
• Up to 6" phone support
• Conductive lever button (universal)
• Better compatibility

Design Philosophy

Democratizing VR

Core mission:

• VR for everyone
• Remove cost barriers
• Simple enough for anyone
• Educational potential

Open Platform

Open specifications:

• Plans freely available
• Manufacturers welcomed
• Third-party variations encouraged
• SDK for developers

DIY Ethos

Build your own:

• Basic materials list published
• Home construction possible
• Craft project for education
• Maker community appeal

Construction

Materials (DIY)

Basic components:

• E-flute corrugated cardboard (1.7mm)
• Two 40mm biconvex lenses
• Magnets (v1) or conductive foam (v2)
• Velcro strips
• Rubber band
• NFC tag (optional)

Three-Part Design

Cardboard body:

• Chassis: Main body with lens cutouts
• T-shirt: Front panel with phone opening
• Button: Input mechanism

Lens Specifications

Optical requirements:

• 40mm focal length
• Biconvex shape
• 25mm diameter (typical)
• 2-5cm focal distance

Assembly

Simple construction:

• v1: 12 folding steps
• v2: 3 simple steps
• No tools required
• Kid-friendly assembly

Optical System

Simple Lenses

Basic optics:

• 40mm biconvex lenses
• ~80-90° field of view
• Fixed focal length
• Fixed IPD (~64mm)

Limitations

Simple design trade-offs:

• No IPD adjustment
• Fixed focus
• Some distortion
• Basic optical quality

Input Methods

Cardboard v1 Input

Magnetic trigger:

• Ceramic and neodymium magnets
• Slide magnet to activate
• Detected by phone magnetometer
• Not compatible with all phones

Cardboard v2 Input

Conductive lever:

• Conductive tape/foam
• Presses touchscreen directly
• Universal compatibility
• Simple mechanism

Additional Input

Other options:

• Screen tap (reach inside)
• Bluetooth controller
• Head movement/gaze
• Voice commands

Software Platform

Cardboard SDK

Development platform:

• Android SDK
• iOS SDK
• Unity plugin
• Unreal Engine plugin

Cardboard Apps

Wide ecosystem:

• Google Play Store
• Apple App Store
• Thousands of experiences
• Educational content

Notable Applications

Popular experiences:

• Google Earth VR
• YouTube VR (360° videos)
• Google Street View
• Google Expeditions (education)
• Cardboard Camera (capture)

VR Mode

Split-screen rendering:

• Stereoscopic 3D
• Barrel distortion correction
• Gyroscope-based tracking
• Standard smartphone sensors

Third-Party Viewers

Certified Works with Google Cardboard

Official certification:

• Quality standards
• Compatibility testing
• "Works with Google Cardboard" badge
• Consumer assurance

Popular Manufacturers

Commercial viewers:

• Mattel View-Master VR
• Homido
• Knox
• Unofficial Cardboard
• Hundreds of variants

Material Variations

Beyond cardboard:

• Plastic viewers
• Foam constructions
• Premium materials
• Durable designs

Use Cases

Education

Primary application:

• Google Expeditions (virtual field trips)
• Science visualization
• History experiences
• Classroom VR

360° Video

Media consumption:

• YouTube 360° videos
• News experiences
• Travel content
• Concert recordings

Demonstrations

VR introduction:

• First VR experience for many
• Conference demonstrations
• Marketing activations
• Trade show giveaways

Gaming

Casual experiences:

• Simple VR games
• Puzzle experiences
• Exploration games
• Limited by 3DoF and input

Commercial Distribution

Google Distribution

Official availability:

• Google I/O giveaways
• Google Store sales
• Educational programs
• Promotional distribution

Third-Party Sales

Wide availability:

• Amazon
• Retail stores
• Educational suppliers
• Bulk orders available

Promotional Use

Marketing tool:

• Custom branded viewers
• Movie promotions
• Product launches
• Event giveaways

Impact and Legacy

VR Accessibility

Democratized VR access:

• Millions first VR experience
• Lowest cost entry point
• Global reach
• Educational impact

Market Validation

Proved VR interest:

• Over 15 million units (by 2019)
• Massive app ecosystem
• Developer interest generated
• Market demand demonstrated

Industry Influence

Inspired developments:

• Mobile VR category created
• Samsung Gear VR influenced
• Google Daydream successor
• Standalone VR concepts

Educational Legacy

Classroom impact:

• Google Expeditions reached millions
• Virtual field trips
• Science education
• Continued educational VR interest

Google Expeditions

Educational Platform

Classroom VR:

• Teacher-led VR experiences
• Virtual field trips
• 900+ expeditions available
• Global deployment

Impact

Educational reach:

• Millions of students
• Thousands of schools
• Multiple countries
• Memorable learning

Transition

Platform evolution:

• Expeditions features moved to Google Arts & Culture
• Cardboard support continued via browser
• Legacy content preserved

Discontinuation

March 2021

Google Store removal:

• Official Cardboard viewers discontinued
• SDK open-sourced
• Design specifications remain available
• End of official support

Reasons

Market evolution:

• Standalone VR matured (Quest)
• Mobile VR declined
• 3DoF obsolete for serious VR
• Mission accomplished (VR awareness)

Open-Source Legacy

Continued availability:

• Cardboard SDK open-sourced (2019)
• Specifications still public
• Third-party viewers available
• DIY always possible

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	Cardboard v1	Cardboard v2
Release	June 2014	May 2015
Max Phone Size	5.5"	6.0"
Assembly Steps	12	3
Input	Magnetic trigger	Conductive lever
Lenses	40mm biconvex	40mm biconvex
FOV	~80°	~90°
Tracking	3DoF (phone)	3DoF (phone)
Weight	~80g	~100g
Price	~$15 (kit)	~$15-25 (kit)

Comparison with Mobile VR

Feature	Google Cardboard	Samsung Gear VR	Google Daydream
Price	~$15	$99	$79
Phone Support	Most smartphones	Samsung Galaxy only	Daydream-ready only
Tracking	Phone IMU	Custom IMU	Custom IMU
Input	Trigger/gaze	Touchpad + controller	Controller
Build Quality	Basic	Premium	Premium

See Also

• Google
• Google Daydream
• Samsung Gear VR
• Mobile VR
• Virtual Reality
• Google Expeditions