The most exciting thing in tech right now, is virtual reality. You can put on a VR headset and tour the world, explore faraway places you would never have the time (or the finances) to visit in real life. Better still, you can use a VR headset to explore fantasy worlds and experience video games like never before.

VR is going to be big, as evidenced by all the companies that are investing in building their own VR devices. Facebook has the fairly expensive Oculus Rift, Samsung has the Gear VR which must be paired with a Galaxy mobile, and Google has a simple cardboard viewer that’s aptly named Google Cardboard.

I can understand Google Cardboard’s appeal. It doesn’t cost hundreds of dollars like the Oculus Rift. It doesn’t require an expensive Samsung Galaxy device like the Gear VR. It’s a simple viewer that’s made out of cardboard and works with the smartphone you already have. You can buy one for about 20 bucks and you can even build your own. It’s a great way experience mobile virtual reality.



It was 19 months ago that Google introduced Google Cardboard. And it’s been a big success. Here are some figures to put things in perspective.

• 5 million Cardboard viewers have been shipped.
• 25 million Cardboard apps have been installed so far, with 10 million in the past few months (October – December).
• Out of the 1000+ Cardboard apps that are available on Google Play, the most popular one is Caaaaardboard!
• 350,000 hours of video have been watched on YouTube, now that the Android YouTube app provides support for VR videos.
• 750,000 photos have been taken with Cardboard Camera, the Android app launched in December that lets you take VR photos.
• 500,000 students have taken VR field trips to more than 150 places around the world via the new Expeditions Pioneer Program.

And now, a more visually appealing way of presenting all the stats listed above.



Via Google Official Blog.