After you assemble your cardboard you need to install applications on your smartphone that will take use of the cardboard.
You may start with the original Google cardboard application
There are various applications that are being developed at the time of this writing. Some worth mentioning are:
–Side by side video player
This player is essentially creating a 3D feeling by diplaying two slightly different views on a parallel plane, one for each eye which eventually becomes one picture. If you have a lazy eye (amblyopia) which is very deep ie low visual aquity you may not be able to perceive this.
–Dive launcher which is a good example of an application that does not need a click magnet to operate but uses head movement and clicks by staring at the object and has full 3D virtual reality immersion.
–Supervision which is an application developed recently by the University of Alicante. This is a very useful application as it uses the smartphones camera to magnify objects for people that have impaired vision. This application could be classified under the term augmented reality.The great thing about this app it that it can be used with or without the cardboard and provides functionality for distance vision as long as your camera is strong enough.
If used without the cardboard a mobile stand to keep the image steady would be useful for some individuals.
General Advice
When using the Cardboard you should take note of the following:
-When Google developed it, they never intended to use it with a headband. So even though we have added one for free you may find that it is not very comfortable.
-Generally it is good practice not to use it for a long time for various reasons.
Nausea
Firstly, developers are still trying to fine tune the experience. I am quoting from Google developers website
“Virtual reality introduces a new set of physiological considerations for design. Like flight simulators used by pilots in training, virtual reality has the potential to present mismatches between physical and visual motion cues. This mismatch can produce nausea known as “simulator sickness,” when your eyes think you’re moving, but your body does not.
Understanding the physiological effects of virtual reality design, and following these guidelines, is critical to making your app a success and ensuring that users avoid simulator sickness.”
Children and young adults
Secondly, studies have shown that excessive near work may be a trigger for the increase of myopia. So until further notice I would suggest that for ages up to 18-21 the exposure is very limited to none. Regarding ages beyond the age of 21, myopia is a risk factor but because development has completed, myopia levels will be very low if it does develop and health risk factors are not an issue. The same applies for excessive near office work.
We advise that all children before the age of seven (0 – 7) have no exposure to it whatsoever.
There could be cases where limited exposure to games may be beneficial but this has to be done under appropriate supervision from your Opthalmologist or Optometrist depending on your country of residence.
Double Vision
-Regarding double vision there is always a chance that it may happen when using the device. If you find yourself having double vision when using the device and application for the first time
stop immediately and calibrate the device. Do not keep using if everything remains double.
It may just need adjustment to your pupillary distance (PD). In the case of google cardboard app, Google has just rolled out a service to let users adjust the PD of the application by scanning a QR-code to it before using it for the first time or if you have perceived double vision.
https://www.google.com/get/cardboard/viewerprofilegenerator/
The PD that needs to be generated has to take into consideration that this is a near task so it should be less that the one quoted in your prescription and is for distance. After some tests I have found that you need to reduce the PD by about 4mm, but it also depends on other factors as well. For example if you have myopia but are not wearing your glasses when using the cardboard that the value may be different.
Scannable QR-code generated by us for those who have distance PD of 60mm (ie 56mm for near)
Scannable QR-code generated by us for those who have distance PD of 62mm (ie 58mm for near)
If you have double vision and have trouble calculating the PD for this distance send us an email and we will generate a QR-code for you.
Strabismus and amblyopia
If you have either of those or both you may find that you cannot perceive the 3D effect just like in the real world.
Presbyopia
If you are wearing glasses for near, please use them while using your Cardboard device. Varifocal glasses would be difficult to use in this case because you are looking from the part of the lens that is made for distance.
Myopia , hypermetropia & astigmatism
If you have either of those and you find that when you are not wearing your glasses vision is blurred you should put your glasses or contact lenses on.
Pacemakers
The product contains a magnet so there could be a risk of interacting with a users pacemaker.
NFC tag
We have included in the price a programmable NFC chip so you can launch the application you want.
A good NFC app is Tag writer but there are others as well.
Click Magnet support
If you want to use the click magnet provided with the cardboard you need to install the Gyrodroid app to find out if your phone hardware has the sensors required. The Nexus 5 is fully supported by the cardboard.
If you have a magnetic field sensor chances are it will be supported but it also depends if it is on the bottom or the top of the phone. You would also need a gyroscope sensor for full 3D immersion. You will also need a gyroscope sensor for full VR immersion.
There are also alternative means to have a clicker, such as a bluetooth handsfree or a playstation controller attached via usb or bluetooth.
For any pre or post sale questions please send us an email by using the contact us form and will try to reply to you withn 1 business day.
