Knit, a creative technology agency specialising in developing brand experiences using emerging technology, has launched “Cardboard Objects” as an extension to the affordable virtual reality (VR) headset, Google Cardboard.
Knit designed “Cardboard Objects” as a prototype that explores using collectable real world objects to trigger relevant app based content.
Jack Chalkley, creative technologist at Knit said: “We were intrigued by the Google Cardboard platform and challenged ourselves to make something that interacts with it in a new way. The low-cost, cardboard construction meant that modifying the device is easy and relatively low-cost.
Currently, the apps for cardboard offer a limited experience that lasts 1-5 minutes. By adding a collectible element, the Cardboard Objects has the potential to extend this use cycle by making multiple objects available for a single app.
- Postcard objects that transport the wearer to the location depicted on the postcard. If this were to be paired with a 360 content generation app such as Google’s Photosphere, sending a postcard could become sending a VR experience.
- Trading cards are collectible objects that are often part of a game. The trading card object suggests that this associated game could be used to form a digital, VR experience.
- Character objects are a concept most popularly adopted by the Skylanders franchise. The character object could be used to allow new digital characters - within the VR environment - to be unlocked by physically acquiring more character objects.
- Key objects that can be used to unlock areas or objects within a VR experience. For example, a car company could use this to unlock a VR experience within its newest car model.
In 2014, Knit launched its VR Experience division to focus on developing content for innovations such as Google Cardboard and Oculus Rift, with the agency also investing in 360 degree filming and editing software. Knit was acquired by experience design specialists Foolproof earlier this year.