Enjoy VR (virtual reality) on your smartphone

“VR (virtual reality)” allows you to experience a virtual world “just like the real world.” There are various ways to experience it, but an HMD (head-mounted display) such as GearVR or Oculus Rift is recommended to enjoy 360-degree images. A large screen that, when worn, covers most of a person's field of vision. Since the field of view changes as the head moves, it creates the illusion that you are actually there. It's so realistic and immersive that it really makes you feel like standing on a steep cliff in virtual reality.

Although it falls short of the resolution of an HMD (head-mounted display), you can also experience VR (virtual reality) using a smartphone (smartphone) such as an iPhone or Android. As seen on a PC screen, you can also browse normally on a smartphone screen, but if you want to enjoy 360-degree images, using a tool called a “card board” to play back the smartphone as a simple HMD (head-mounted display), the sense of realism as VR (virtual reality) also enhances the sense of realism as VR (virtual reality). This page explains how to enjoy 360-degree VR (virtual reality) on a smartphone.

Do you watch VR (virtual reality) in a browser or an app

When viewing (or publishing) 360-degree VR (virtual reality) on a smartphone, you have the option of viewing it on a smartphone browser in the same way as a normal web page, or viewing it as a dedicated application, or “both.” When viewing on a smartphone, there is no need for a special environment if you have a smartphone, so there is a possibility that you can approach more users. PANOPLAZA also operates the “360-degree video sharing service PANOPLAZA MOVIE.” 360-degree videos can now also be posted on YouTube. Using these services, anyone can easily publish 360-degree VR (virtual reality) images. On the other hand, when developed as an application, it is possible to implement original UI and additional functions. Also, since marketing and campaigns can be developed in conjunction with various other functions, the degree of freedom in content and planning increases. In either case, “smartphone” and “VR (virtual reality)” can be played back using a card board to enhance the sense of realism.

Experience 360-degree VR (virtual reality) using a card board

A card board is a “smartphone mount” made of cardboard or plastic, and can be easily assembled. Attach your smartphone to the card board and use it. A typical smartphone is equipped with an “acceleration sensor” or “gyro sensor,” so by using a card board, you can create an experience close to playback on an HMD (head-mounted display). Card board is a generic name, but it is a product name provided by Google in the US, which has been working on the 360-degree VR world since early on”Google CardboardIt comes from”. Various products are also distributed in Japan. Here are a few representative ones.

Smartphone VR viewer Hacosco

In addition to single-lens models and dual-lens models, they also offer various types of mounts, from those made of inexpensive cardboard to those made of high-quality plastic.JacoscoThat's it.

VR experience machine Botnew

The toy manufacturer “Megahouse” offers”Botznieu” is a plastic smartphone mount that provides 360-degree VR images together with the app.

paper VR viewer Swing

It's a printing company”Seikosha Printing” develops a VR viewer made of colorful paper”swingIt's”. It is a smartphone mount unique to printing companies, as an original design and a wide variety of colors can be realized.

Advantages of VR (virtual reality) developed with smartphones and card boards

The idea of mounting a small, easy-to-handle smartphone into a simple housing like a card board has expanded the possibilities for VR (virtual) content. The ease of being able to enjoy immersive VR content anytime, anywhere has lowered the threshold for VR (virtual reality) experiences and made it possible to approach many users. The fact that it is a tool used as a set with a smartphone, which is currently popular with “1 in 2 people” in Japan, has also attracted the interest of users. When highly original card boards are distributed at events and campaigns, etc., they quickly disappear. Marketing activities such as distributing “card boards” as novelties in conjunction with plans on apps and the internet are also attracting attention. By making more advanced use of smartphone functions, the range of activities of smartphones and VR (virtual reality) will expand further. At that time, a “card board” that mounts a smartphone may become an indispensable part of experiencing VR with a smartphone.

About the production of 360-degree VR (virtual reality) images to be shown on “PANOPLAZA MOVIE” and “YouTube,”Production of panoramic photos and VR videos (MAKE CONTENT)On the” page, for information on creating 360-degree VR apps to be distributed on iPhones and Android,”VR application production/development (DEVELOP APP)Each is introduced on the” page.