Constructing Google Cardboard

Making Google Cardboard is fun and inexpensive, unless you want to add labour costs!

Make your own Google Cardboard

Follow these easy instructions to learn how to make your own Google Cardboard (from scratch) for viewing 3D virtual reality apps on your smartphone.

I decided to construct my own pair of Google Cardboard for viewing 3D VR apps on an iPhone. It's actually designed for an Android, but it still works just fine using an iPhone. I've included a list of apps below.

Materials

• Google Cardboard template (download from Get Cardboard)
• Folding instructions (see video below)
• Cardboard
• 2 x biconvex lenses (or plano-convex) - 30 mm diameter and 45 mm focal distance (I purchased these on eBay)
• Glue
• Paper blade cutter (THIS TOOL SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS SUPERVISED BY AN ADULT)
• 2 strips of Velcro (20 mm x 30 mm)

Steps

1. Assemble the template and paste it to the cardboard.
2. Cut out the cardboard and assemble.
3. Secure your smartphone (e.g. using a strip of Velcro).
4. Load up your favourite 3D VR app (see list below).
5. Happy viewing!

iPhone 3D VR apps

I found most of the apps by searching the app store with "VR". The ones listed are all free. I haven't tried all of these yet, so a quick review might follow soon. 

All of the apps are age rated 4+ unless otherwise shown. See this page for details about App Ratings.

• Dive City Rollercoaster
• Moorente (Rated 12+)
• Stereoscopic Tunnel Effect 
• The Height
• FOV2GO Tales of the Minus Lab 
• Dive Zombie (Rated 12+)
• Lamper VR
• Zombie Shooter VR (Rated 9+)
• Mad Race VR
• Sharks VR (Rated 12+)
• Crazy Swing VR 

An interesting one I'd like to explore more is called Homido 360 VR Player (which is Rated 17+), because it let's you also record your own stereoscopic video.

You can also go on virtual travel tours using London VR and UAE VR.

YouTube 3D videos

There are also plenty of YouTube videos made for 3D viewing (you need videos that use side-by-side or stereoscopic display). 

To search 3D videos, when in YouTube choose 3D from the filter options.