Google Cardboard
| Google Cardboard | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Mobile VR |
| Platform | Google Cardboard SDK |
| Creator | |
| 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 |