Google has announced a new program for manufactures and developers – ‘Works with Google Cardboard’ which basically allows any Cardboard viewer to work with any Cardboard app.
For the manufacturers interested in making their own Virtual Reality viewer from any material of choice; the program allows for easy configuration of any viewer for Cardboard apps automatically. All that is needed to be done is to define parameters such as focal length, input type, and inter-lens distance; and also a QR code would be placed on the viewer.
Once the viewer is scanned using the QR code on the Google Cardboard app then all Cardboard VR experience would automatically be available on it. The company has also released updated the Google Cardboard’s SDK for Android which would see additional features such as improved head tracking and drift correction. The aim of the update is to make apps for Cardboard easier to design and built.
New categories has been added to Google Playstore to aid easy searching for high quality apps among other hundreds of Cardboard apps on store. The new categories added are Music and Video, Experiences and Games.
Google has also acquired with Thrive Audio and Tilt Brush; the former will bring immersive audio experience to VR and the latter offers basically 3D painting. The company didn’t elaborate on what is expected but both companies would be involved in building apps for the Google cardboard.
Source: Google Developers Blog
