Cardboard glasses virtual reality immerse a person in completely new sensations. With them you can ride a roller coaster or feel like the main character in your favorite horror movie without leaving the couch. To do this, you just need to figure out how they are designed and how to use them.

To preserve the cardboard case, Google Cardboard is shipped folded only. Therefore, if virtual reality glasses were bought as a gift, then the birthday person will be pleased if his gift is collected in advance. This is done simply and excitingly, reminiscent of a construction set or a puzzle. The main thing is to comply step by step instructions and everything will work out. For complete convenience, we recommend that you lay out the body and additional parts as shown in the diagram below.

Step 1.

Insert the eyepiece with lenses (part 2) into section 1.1. as shown in the picture. In this case, the front side of the eyepiece should be directed towards you.

Step 2.

Carefully fold the body (part 1), alternately bending it along the lines from right to left, i.e. from paragraph 1.4. to 1.5. As a result, the eyepiece will be closed on 4 sides. In this case, it will be possible to align its holes with the protruding parts of the eyepiece.

Step 3.

To fix the resulting structure, we need to secure two sections. To do this, it is necessary to remove the protective layer from the self-adhesive strip 1.6. and fasten sections 1.4 with it. and 1.5. For strength, all protruding parts should be fitted to the corresponding holes. If it seemed to you that the band is 1.6. If it doesn't hold everything as securely as we would like, you can use tape.

Step 4.

Install the partition (part 3) into the holes of the eyepiece and section 1.1. After this, insert the magnetic ring (part 5) into the oval hole located in section 1.5. Place your smartphone on the border between section 1.1. and 1.7. to assess the suitability of its size with the glasses. If the smartphone turns out to be smaller, then for comfortable use of the gadget, install an additional step (detail 4.). Now all that's left is to drag it assembled body with a harness (part 6) to completely secure the structure.

Step 5.

Attach a special elastic band to hold the glasses if you purchased them in one set with Google Cardboard.

Step 6.

A smartphone with an Android or iOS operating system is the “heart” of Google Cardboard. Paste it into section 1.7. Launch the desired application and secure the cover with the Velcro fasteners. Now you can ride a roller coaster;)

Search for applications.

There are more and more interesting applications - games, virtual excursions, video, etc. To find applications compatible with your smartphone, use the following keywords:

• cardboard;
• google cardboard;
• stereo pair

To search for videos on YouTube, use two tags - “stereo pair” or “sbs”.

A few tips.

• Google glasses apps drain your phone's battery significantly. We recommend turning on airplane mode or at least not moving far from the outlet;
• Some apps can put you into a state of active gesticulation. Therefore, try to stand or sit further away from objects that can be accidentally broken;
• using headphones, you can immerse yourself even deeper into the virtual world;
• It’s better to buy glasses along with an elastic holder so that your hands don’t accidentally drop the gadget in some unexpected place. at the moment.

Having your own virtual reality module has been the dream of many since childhood, and progress is already very close to the creation of such devices. In 2014, Google developers presented the world with a stunning invention that uses the capabilities of regular smartphones on the Android platform. Right at the conference, any participant could assemble a virtual reality helmet from cardboard and a few simple parts and appreciate the delights of three-dimensional graphics and atmospheric video with the ability to view a full 360-degree view.

Virtual reality on the cheap

Google Cardboard was not a technological breakthrough; virtual reality helmets have been around for quite some time; moreover, many are familiar with children's devices for viewing three-dimensional images. Nowadays, few people can be surprised by the ability of smartphones to navigate in space; no, the public was surprised by something else. The simplicity and accessibility of the design is what really deserved attention, and besides, the developers have now released many applications that use this device to immerse themselves in virtual reality.

The developers of Google Cardboard opened up all the technical documentation for the device, refusing to trade their invention, and manufacturers instantly picked up the idea. At the moment, there are many different models made of plastic, cardboard and even leather products. For around $20, you can purchase cardboard kits like those that were first presented at the developer conference in June 2014. Also, instructions and diagrams are available to anyone, and it will not be difficult to assemble Cardboard with your own hands.

Materials

The prices for a cardboard box are, of course, quite significant, but before you make Cardboard yourself, you should know where to find or purchase the rest of the materials. We will need:

Electronic component - a powerful smartphone

Let us now analyze all the components point by point, starting with the models suitable smartphones. Anyone can find the ones invented by the developers for Google builds DIY Cardboard drawings. The sizes of phones suitable for such versions of glasses 2.0 are limited to a width of up to 83 mm and a diagonal of up to 6 inches. For other sizes, you will have to think through your own design, selecting the distances to the lenses experimentally, or look for an option from ready-made products in the store. 3D glasses also place additional demands on the device’s screen. Remember, you won't just be looking at your phone screen from very close, but you'll be getting magnification through the lenses. Of course, the better the screen, the less discomfort. At the moment, it is possible to use smartphones based on or higher (from 4 iPhones) or Windows Phone 7.0 and higher, but initially the entire system was designed specifically for Android 4.1. Download any VR application and check your smartphone for compatibility by rotating it and watching the picture.

Housing material

It is not difficult to select cardboard for the base of our glasses; a large pizza box has suitable parameters. You can also purchase cardboard in craft stores or disassemble some ownerless box from household appliances. Cardboard that is too thick will be inconvenient to cut and bend, while thin cardboard will most likely not hold the lenses and smartphone in a rigidly fixed position on the head.

Optics

With lenses, perhaps, it will be the most difficult, but this is the most important material for 3D glasses. Google recommends using Cardboard lenses with focal length 45 mm, respectively, the dimensions of the virtual reality glasses themselves on the site are designed only for lenses with this focus. Thus, the desire to use different lenses, or perhaps a system of two or more lenses per eyepiece, will inevitably lead to a readjustment of the distance to the eyes and the screen, thus changing the entire design. If you feel confident enough, it's worth experimenting, but it's much easier to order lenses.

Fasteners

As an attachment to the head, you can use a fabric elastic band or a Velcro strap. It’s not difficult to find rubber bands for the case, and even easier to replace. After assembling the entire structure, it is only needed to hold its shape. You can simply glue the 3D glasses at all joints after adjusting the lenses with glue or tape. Two Velcro strips measuring 15x20 mm will be needed to secure the closed cover with the smartphone inserted. In the absence of one, there are many options for fixing the cardboard cover; the main thing is to make sure that the smartphone does not fall out while using 3D glasses.

Additional controls

Magnets are needed to make an optional 3D headset control button on the case, and are only suitable for smartphone models with a built-in magnetometer. When creating a helmet for testing, you should not waste effort and money searching for suitable magnets. Such a button can be attached to virtual reality glasses separately after full testing of the device or not installed at all. For long-lasting 3D glasses, you will need a neodymium magnet ring and a magnetic ceramic disc, both measuring no more than 3x20mm. You can also cut holes and operate your smartphone with your fingers.

An NFC sticker is glued to the inside of the glasses, which allows the smartphone to automatically launch the necessary applications. You can probably find it in communication shops or online stores; it is also not mandatory, and you can install it later.

Tools and safety precautions

The simplest tool you will need is:

• Google Cardboard template. The drawings are in the article.
• A sharp knife, a durable stationery knife will do. The cardboard needs to be cut clearly along the lines of the template, especially the grooves and holes, so scissors won’t do the job.
• Scotch tape or glue.
• Hard line.

Google claims that scissors are enough for the job; don’t delude yourself; thin slits and fixing grooves are much more convenient to cut with a blade.

The design is reinforced with stiffening ribs from the inside, so there is not much difference between cutting out a whole pattern from a long piece of cardboard or assembling it from 2-3 parts, connecting them with tape. When cutting with a knife, be careful not to scratch the surface of the table or floor; take a special board for this purpose, for example, a cutting board from the kitchen. Particular care must be taken when cutting out holes for lenses, so that subsequently the lenses lie in the same plane, perpendicular to the view.

Assembling the device

Assemble according to the drawings, strengthen the frame with adhesive tape and carefully monitor the location of the lenses. In a fixed position, the cardboard will firmly press the lenses so that they do not move relative to each other. Next you need to glue Velcro as fasteners along the edges of the top side and on inside covers, and also install magnets in place. At this stage, you can already try on the 3D glasses on your head to determine areas of possible skin chafing. When watching a movie for a long time, for example, these points can be very irritating, so you can additionally pad them with thin strips of foam rubber.

Is the game worth the candle?

The 3D glasses are ready, all you have to do is secure them on your head with an elastic band or strap of your choice, insert a smartphone with a 3D application and enjoy virtual reality. As for the cost of the resulting device, there are many offers of ready-made kits priced under $10. You can save money only if all the parts are on hand or within easy reach. If you order spare parts, taking into account various expenses For shipping and order fulfillment time, it turns out to be somewhat more expensive than buying the entire set. Naturally, if your dog bites the 3D glasses because you sat in virtual reality instead of feeding or walking the animal, you can easily assemble new ones using the instructions above and the remaining parts. In the meantime, you are looking for cardboard to replace the damaged one, to restore the Cardboard with your own hands, you can walk the dog and feed it.

Device capabilities

At the moment, there is already a significant number of applications optimized for Google Cardboard and several films. Paired with headphones, virtual reality glasses can easily replace a good 3D cinema, and games, according to users, despite their primitiveness, can add a strong sense of presence and atmosphere. For craftsmen and lovers of various technical tasks, it can be noted that it is possible Cardboard glasses connect to a computer to use the virtual reality module in games. This is where the truly immersive experience comes in.

Virtual reality technology is very popular now, but it is still quite expensive and not available to everyone. Probably everyone has heard about Oculus Rift and its numerous analogues. In this article you will learn how to make 3D virtual reality glasses yourself for free and very simply. And according to impressions, this homemade product will be almost comparable to expensive analogues. These glasses are called "Google Cardboard". So let's get started.

You will need

• cardboard or paper;
• scissors;
• stationery knife;
• paper glue;
• printer;
• 2 flat-convex lenses;
• Velcro for clothes;
• smartphone.

Instructions for assembling virtual glasses Google reality Cardboard

1 Preparing the template for Google Cardboard

First of all download the archive with a template for future virtual reality glasses(in section "Do it yourself" at the very bottom of the page). Let's unzip it into separate folder. File Scissor-cut template.pdf will contain the pattern we need. You need to print it on a printer at a scale of 1:1. It will fit on 3 A4 sheets.

Google often improves its developments, including Google Cardboard. Because of this, the files in the archive may change over time. Therefore, I am attaching it for printing on a printer.

2 Template cutting for virtual reality glasses

Now carefully glue the pattern onto the cardboard. When the glue dries, you need to cut out all the parts along solid lines.

3 Corps formation 3D glasses

We bend the parts along the lines marked in red in the instructions. We insert flat-convex lenses with a focal length of 4.5 cm into special holes. We connect everything as shown on the pattern. We insert the lenses into the holes for the lenses, with the flat part towards the eyes. It should look like in the photo.

The most important detail is the correct lenses. They must be exactly the same, and the focal length must correspond to the distance from your eyes to the smartphone screen. The choice of lenses determines your comfort and quality of experience when using virtual reality glasses. The downloaded archive contains detailed information about the selection of lenses and focal length, read it.

4 3D application for smartphone

Now you need to download smartphone applications that support 3D technology. If the smartphone is on operating system Android, then applications can be downloaded, for example, from Google Play, searching for keywords"cardboard", " virtual reality" or "vr". Typically, the icons of such applications have a stylized image of our 3D glasses.

5 Improvement of glasses virtual reality

We glue Velcro on the top of the glasses so that the smartphone compartment can be secured when closed. It is also advisable to make rubber straps so that the glasses can be secured to the head. From the photo you can see how it should look in the end.

6 Virtual reality glasses in action

We launch any of the downloaded 3D applications and insert the smartphone into the special place designated for it in the resulting glasses. Close it and secure it with Velcro. Now, looking at our homemade glasses, we can completely immerse ourselves in a virtual three-dimensional world.

Google Cardboard - assembly instructions

When making a cardboard yourself, you can also attach an NFC chip to the glasses to ensure more reliable pairing with your smartphone. Smartphones with a built-in magnetometer have the ability to respond to changes magnetic field. The application, in turn, analyzes data from the smartphone camera, accelerometer, magnetometer and simulates the effect of virtual reality in Cardboard. Google Play has created a whole section of cardboard applications from Google and third-party developers.

Download official Cardboard app For Android smartphones You can scan the QR code below or follow the link to the application page on Google Play.

But in reality, if in reality you want to assemble a cardboard with your own hands, you will be a little disappointed in its availability. For example, the only materials at hand can be cardboard and a pattern drawing, but the main components such as: 2 convex lenses (with a focal length of ~45 mm), 2 magnets (neodymium ring and ceramic disk) and an NFC chip are unlikely to be lie on your nightstand. Therefore, if you don’t want to bother too much, it’s better to buy a ready-made Google Cardboard and try out the available virtual reality.

I'll tell you right away. I don’t understand anything about this yet, and my grandchildren haven’t taught me yet. But the fact that virtual reality glasses can be made from old glasses and a shoe box was immediately captivating. He dragged me to his place for further investigation.

This project will show you how to make a VR viewer like Google Cardboard, but optimized for tablets. Apart from the tablet, the cost is very low. He uses two pairs of reading glasses from the dollar store (Dollar Tree), a plastic shoe box, and a pair of inexpensive prism lenses costing about $7. The result is a very efficient device thanks to high resolution display and a larger field of view of the smartphone.

Step 1: Some Background Information

I created this device in order to engage students in the classroom using VR technology for their education. Since I am an educator in Salinas, California, I am naming this Salinas VR viewer.

Google's Cardboard was inspired by this viewer, but it was made to address several major shortcomings of trying to force the viewer to a larger screen than a smartphone. It would seem that all that is needed is to scale to the view size, but there are several problems with this approach.

One of the main problems is that, like cardboard, such a viewer will only use a simple pair of convex lenses to view the display. However, this may not be effective because large size display means that images cannot be placed (optically) directly in front of each eye. If these have not been corrected, then the person should be able to move each eye towards the direction of the ears. My viewer solves this problem by using an inexpensive prism lens, shifting the image so that it is optically directly in front of the viewer's eyes.

Another problem with using simple round convex lenses is that they are simply too primitive to allow for a VR experience. Such lenses have very limited area to widen the viewing area is that the eyes must be placed very close to the lens and thereby limit any eye movements. This kind of restriction on how we move our eyes is not natural. It's hard to see how much fidelity a VR system can have if it forces a person to hold themselves rigidly, looking straight ahead in an effort to keep the image in focus. People should be allowed to move their eye and still see VR images. Fortunately, some lenses have evolved to be as optimal as possible for people to use, i.e. reading glasses. These glasses allow for a wide field of view (fov), and a very large viewing area. These glasses are also extremely inexpensive.

Step 2: Equipment:

1 scribe [I thought for a long time what this means, probably in Russian - scribe :) ]: made by you.

Made with #90 wire nails, and some plastic folded and stitched. This allows the scribe to mark and cut very beautifully with either a utility knife or sharp scissors.

2 Pairs 3.25 Magnification Wide Frame Reading Glasses: Dollar Tree

Price: 2.00 Dollars. This is quite profitable. Other stores like pharmacies have them hard to find and sell a lot more (+10.00 per pair).

1 pair 1.5 Prism Wedge lens pair: Berezin stereo photography products http://www.berezin.com/3d

Price $7.95 per pair.

1 Plastic Box: Amazon: Whitmor 6362-2691-4 clear vu collection of women's shoe box by Whitmor

Price: $11.99 You need 1 window, but you get a set of 4. You can make at least 6 viewers through 3 boxes, and use another box for other plastic parts other than the body (plastic body)

1 roll of glue dots (high strength):

Price: about 5 dollars. Without this amazing glue, it would be impossible for the viewer. Please note that you are not using it from the video. You use the scribe (see above) to pick up the point and place it where needed.

3 templates: PDF files that need to be printed.

Cut it out and stick it on the plastic, then you can scribe the spare part you need. They are in color, but you can use the color code on the screen and still have them printed in black and white.

Step 3: Cut and connect the reading glasses.

Using a Dremel with a cutting blade (diamond works great), cut off the handles and nose of both pairs of glasses. Then apply glue in dots along the edge of the glass and on the bridge of the nose and stick together. Ready!

Step 4: Scribe, cut, then staple the side supports.

Tape plastic through the template supports, and scribe using a ruler. Then we cut out the supports and fasten them along the marked line, then fold them as shown in the picture. Repeat for the second support.

Step 5: Cut out the prism supports, place in the sliding metal, attach the side supports.

Cut out the prism supports, staple them along the marked line, then slide two of them onto the metal strip, and fold the sides down on both ends so that it fits into the glasses support. Metal strips from sliding onto a file folder.

Step 6: Pour hot glue into the side supports to make them rigid.

Apply glue in dots on the corners of the glass on both sides and place the glass in the side supports. Then fill the side supports with hot glue to make them rigid.

Step 7: making the body. Cut and scribe a plastic shoe box.

Cut into a shoebox using a template. In a shoebox it's long enough to cut out each end to get two sleeves.

Step 8: Cut and bend the metal strip, place it in the casing and seal the sides.

Again using the file folder metal strips, cut them to size using the templates, bend them, and place them inside the bottom of the casing. Fold back the casing and secure the metal strips in place.

Step 9: Put the latches on the top of the case.

You can use any kind of schnapps or even staples to finish the frame. The ones I used are plastic latches that cost about $4 for 60 will fit, but you need special pliers that sell for about $20.00 (Walmart). Metal latches work well and you don't need an expensive tool to use them.

Step 10: Attaching the prism lens to the prism supports.

Remove the metal strip from the glass and apply glue in dots on the prismatic supports. Make sure the prism lens position is from the thin side towards the nose, hold the two prism lenses together and push them onto the supports. Place the metal strip on the glasses there.

Step 11: Make a back support, and staple and glue to the body.