Google Cardboard’s Camera App Lets You Take VR Photos
What else could you possibly do on a Cardboard VR headset, aside from watching VR videos and playing games in a virtual setting?
Google’s new Cardboard Camera app allows you to use your smartphone to create a VR photograph, similar to what a panorama mode does on a normal smartphone usage. As an added twist, the Cardboard Camera app also captures a bit of the ambient sound from wherever it is you’re taking your photo, increasing the immersion for a person who then goes to view your work via Google Cardboard.
Google describes the Cardboard Camera app as a tool for capturing VR photos, able to capture ambient sounds ase they happen in the scene, and to provide the ability for the viewer to navigate around that certain scene in 360-degree freedom. Google adds that VR photos captured using Cardboard Camera are 3D to give depth and added immersion in an otherwise conventional photo.
With all the abilities of the Cardboard Camera app to capture VR photos, Google hasn’t built a feature that would let its users to share their VR photos to anyone. Instead, the user has to use the Cardboard Camera app firsthand to shoot a VR photo, and lend his Cardboard VR headset to anyone he wishes to share his VR photo. This could be quite counter-intuitive, in the era of fast and easy sharing of content to almost anyone, near or far.
Additionally, you’re not exactly creating a “sphere” of virtual reality when your take your photo. You’ll be able to pan around 360 degrees for your shot, but you won’t be taking any footage of anything that’s above or below you – these parts will appear blank if you try to look down or up while using your Cardboard VR headset. However, Google’s Cardboard Camera does accurately simulate distance and depth within the pictures you take, an added bonus.
For more information on Google Cardboard Camera, please visit the following websites:
https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/step-inside-your-photos-with-cardboard.html
http://ap.pcmag.com/news/8568/take-vr-pictures-with-googles-cardboard-camera-app
http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/03/google-launches-cardboard-camera-a-free-app-to-create-3d-virtual-reality-photos/
