How to Make Your Own Virtual Reality Glasses Using Cardboard
If you want to enjoy an immersive experience with real-looking scenes and objects from the comfort of your home, you can choose to build your own virtual reality glasses. By doing so, you’ll not only be contributing to protecting the environment since you’ll only need a few everyday items to build them, but above all, you won’t spend a lot of money.
5-Minute Crafts wants to show you how to turn a piece of cardboard into your ticket to a whole new virtual world.
What you’ll need
✔ A printed PDF of the spreadsheet
✔ Corrugated cardboard, thin and strong
✔ 2 magnifying glass lenses
✔ 2 velcro strips
✔ A glue stick
✔ Scissors
✔ A box cutter
✔ An elastic band
✔ A smartphone
Instructions
Step 1. Download and print the PDF templates for the cardboard viewer parts on 3 sheets of letter-size bond paper. This design belongs to Google Cardboard.
Step 2. Cut out the templates with scissors following the outside lines.
Step 3. Glue the sheets on a piece of corrugated cardboard. Remember to glue the light numbers on top of the dark ones. For the cardboard, you can use a shoe or pizza box. You can also buy a sheet of cardboard at a store.
Step 4. Cut the cardboard along the outer and inner black lines using an X-Acto knife or box cutter. Do not cut the red lines.
Step 5. Insert the magnifying glass panes with the curved side facing out into the first sheet where the circular holes are. Fold the cardboard along the red lines to make 3 layers.
Step 6. Place the small piece of the third template behind the 3 layers with the lenses to make the stand.
Step 7. Fold the long piece of cardboard along the red lines and insert the lens holder into the fourth slit from left to right.
Step 8. Wrap the lens shell following the folds. The tabs should go in the appropriate slots. Place glue on the folds to secure the structure.
Step 9. Glue the 2 pieces of velcro to each end of the “back door” of your virtual reality shell.
Step 10. Add the elastic headband to the cardboard frame. Search for virtual reality videos on YouTube channels or download an app to your cell phone and place your smartphone inside to start enjoying the experience.
