Mattel's View-Master Getting a Virtual Reality Update From Google; Product to Be Available in the Fall
The View-Master was a simple toy introduced in 1939 that allowed users to feel like they were inside a 3-D world by simply looking through a plastic device. Now, Google and Mattel want to resurrect the View-Master and make it capable of displaying virtual reality images, according to Gamespot.
Google and Mattel will improve the View-Master together. Google will help with the virtual reality aspect.
The new View-Master will have a slot where an Android smartphone can be inserted. The smartphone will produce the virtual reality images.
Mattel said in a press release the new View-Master will allow people to visit "famous places, landmarks, nature, planets and more in 360 degree 'photospheres.'"
Google this past summer created a no-frills virtual reality experience and called it Cardboard. It was a homemade view finder made of cardboard, rubber bands, lenses, Velcro and other everyday household items. Once a user had built their own Cardboard view finder, they installed an app and could see some virtual reality images.
Google hoped to inspire companies like Mattel with their Cardoard program.
"We developed Google Cardboard as an open platform to inspire companies like Mattel to rethink how to deliver new user experiences through technology," Google Cardboard Product Director Mike Jazayeri said in a press release. "Many of us on the Google Cardboard team grew up playing with View-Master, so we were excited to collaborate with Mattel and to see the viewer evolve and work with Google Cardboard."
The price on the new View-Master will be affordable for all at just $30. Mattel plans to sell the additional reels of images called "experience reels" for $15 each.
The new View-Master will go on sale sometime this fall. Mattel and Google will each have apps that will be designed for the new device, USAToday reported.
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