CardBoard by SEP is a virtual reality platform that allows users to experience VR using only their smartphone and a cardboard headset. It provides an affordable and accessible way to view 360-degree photos and videos in an immersive environment.
CardBoard by SEP is a virtual reality platform developed by Google that utilizes a foldable cardboard headset and a smartphone to deliver immersive VR experiences. It was introduced in 2014 as a low-cost and accessible way for people to enjoy virtual reality.
To use CardBoard, users simply insert their smartphone into the front of the cardboard viewer. Special lenses in the headset allow the user's phone screen to appear as one big 3D display. The CardBoard VR app, available on both Android and iOS devices, then allows users to view 360-degree photos and videos. As they move their head, the image moves with it, creating the illusion that they are inside a virtual environment.
A variety of third-party CardBoard apps also exist, offering VR games, tourism experiences, and other content. The lightweight design and affordability of the CardBoard headset (which can be self-assembled from low-cost materials) makes it an appealing entry point for VR, especially for educational use.
While it does not offer positional tracking or some of the more advanced features available on higher-end VR headsets, CardBoard by SEP succeeded in introducing millions of people to virtual reality through an innovative and accessible platform.