Last year Google launched its low-cost Cardboard virtual reality headset and at this year’s I/O it launched a slightly updated version which even comes with support for the iPhone. At the event the company also confirmed that there are more than one million Cardboard units out there, trumping any other costly VR headset currently being sold in the market. It announced a new implementation of Cardboard at I/O 2015 called Expeditions which brings the technology to schools allowing teachers to harness virtual reality to provide a unique field trip-like experience within classrooms.
Teachers can sign up to use Expeditions, they will be able to show the same content on multiple Cardboard VR headsets so all of the students in the classroom see exactly the same thing. At the event content support from The Planetary Society, American Museum of Natural History and the Chateau de Versailles with more being added down the line.
Google is now looking to get more schools involved in this initiative, reports The New York Times, adding that the company is providing schools with Expeditions kits free of charge to further this effort.
The kits contain Cardboard VR headsets and ASUS smartphones for students, teachers get an app that controls the virtual reality content on all Cardboard virtual reality headsets while students are able to pause content to ask questions as and when required.
Google isn’t completely ruling out the possibility of charging for these kits at some point down the life if the price can be made suitable enough for schools to adopt Expeditions.
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