The View-Master Is Back See Its New Design And Features

The popular View-Master toy, beloved of children from the 1960s onwards, has obtained a modern makeover.

Toy manufacturer Mattel has labored with Google on the brand new toy, which is able to rely on a smartphone to ship its optical trickery.


The virtual reality gadget makes use of Google’s Cardboard to ship immersive scenes equivalent to Alcatraz prison in San Francisco, known as ‘360 degree photospheres’.


View-Master gets a make-over! Toy producer Mattel has labored with Google to the brand new toy, which will rely on a smartphone to deliver its optical trickery. An illustration of the brand new system is proven


The plastic physique of the device has been given a sleek and fewer angular look than earlier fashions, but still includes a slot for film reels.


To release the phone’s virtual actuality features, an Android smartphone operating Mattel’s app is needed.


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The smartphone needs to be inserted into the system along with a reel,meaning that dad and mom should surrender their handsets whereas youngsters play.

The gadget makes use of augmented reality and animations to make the scenes really feel immersive.

Mattel says that its View-Master is an reasonably priced platform enabling children to take ‘engaging discipline trips’ so they can discover famous landmarks, pure scenes and planets, for example, in ‘photospheres’.


By pairing an ‘experience reel’ with a smartphone, kids ‘will immediately experience an imaginative and interactive studying setting,’ in response to Mattel.

The brand new VIEW-FINDER Experience

In line with the View-Master description of the expertise on its new website, users of the device will feel like they are inside the scene.


It says: 'Move your head. Look around. Embark on immersive 360-degree journeys exploring and studying concerning the world by way of beautiful visuals.


'Take a digital area trip to Paris and magnetic mounts sit in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower because it soars above you. Visit historic Alcatraz Island and work together along with your surroundings to discover enjoyable information.


'Travel via time and house in methods you never thought possible. If you have any inquiries concerning the place and how to use magnetic badge mounts Shop, you can call us at the web site. Watch because the photo voltaic system comes to life on your kitchen table or share with a friend to view the constellations overhead. New model of the disk to be utilized in the new machine will value $15 (£10) for a themed pack of 4

THE History OF THE VIEW-Master

In 1938, cameraman William Gruber produced 3-D color slides for stereoscopes - which had been standard in nineteenth century homes - using two cameras strapped together.


An encounter with Harold Graves, president of Sawyer's Photographic Services within the Oregon Caves National Monument led to a partnership a yr later.


They came up with the View-Master - a brand new method of viewing vacationer attractions in America - which was sold to adults in digital camera outlets.


It was solely in the 1960s that the View-Master turned a toy, and afterwards, low-cost reels have been produced showing scenes across the world, Disneyland and cartoon characters in ‘3D’.

Today, the toy is produced by Fisher Price - a part of the Mattel group.

‘By working with Google's Cardboard platform, we are actually in a position to take that experience even additional bringing the discovery and immersive viewing experience of the View-Master to the digital age.


‘Combining technology and innovation with this traditional toy provides children an enhanced experience allowing for play opportunities not yet imagined via new, magnetic badge mounts shop digitally curated content material.’


The device itself is ready to be released in autumn for $30 (£20), with reels sold in themed packs of four for $15 (£10).

Mattel told MailOnline the toy will come to the UK early subsequent yr.

A pattern reel that will come with the toy will embody a gallery of basic View-Master photographs, such as a journey into space with a tour inside a space shuttle.


Star Wars packs may be in the pipeline, because Mattel senior vice president Doug Wadleigh instructed USA Today: ‘We're creatively attempting to figure out methods to use the outdated imagery in ways in which enhance the brand new experience.’

Mattel will also work with Google Cardboard developers to create new content.

Last week, Google and toy maker Mattel sent out a retro-themed invite that hinted the toy is perhaps getting a hello-tech makeover. Many commentators appropriately guessed that Google's Cardboard would be the basis for the brand new View-Master

…AND LG HAS MAKE A Virtual Reality Device TOO

South Korean electronics agency LG has additionally labored with Google to make a plastic virtual actuality system based on Cardboard.


It will be given away free with the firm’s G3 smartphones from this month, enabling house owners to play on VR-appropriate apps and games.


The smartphone slots into the plastic gadget’s viewer, which has two holes for users to peer via to see action on the phone’s screen.


South Korean electronics agency LG has also worked with Google to make a plastic virtual reality device referred to as VR for G£ (pictured) primarily based on Cardboard

The design of ‘VR for G3’ deviceis based mostly on the blueprint for Google Cardboard.

The neodymium ring magnet on the side of the VR for G3 works with the magnetic gyroscope sensor in the G3 to select functions and scroll by means of menus without touching the display.


‘While still in its infancy, that is simply the beginning of the digital actuality movement which till recently was costly and inaccessible to on a regular basis customers," stated Chris Yie, vice president and head of promoting communications on the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.


‘By leveraging Google Cardboard, not only are regular customers in a position to participate within the VR expertise, we’ll be able to introduce this technology to future developers who could sooner or later present us how VR can be used to enhance our lives.


Mike Jazayeri, Product Director for Google Cardboard mentioned that the toy will ‘make immersive digital actuality experiences as accessible as potential for everybody.’


‘Many of us on the Google Cardboard group 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,’ he added.


The gadget was teased in an invite last week, where many commentators appropriately guessed that Google would base the toy on its Cardboard project.


Last summer time, the Mountain View-based tech agency revealed a virtual actuality headset fabricated from cardboard, which was given out to attendees of the firm's annual developer convention.

It used a cell phones because the display, with a special app to point out 3D images and video.

Google appears to be intent of winning the hearts and minds of kids, having announced last week that it has acquired Launchpad Toys, which is behind the iPad app Toontastic.


Google has beforehand announced plans to make child-friendly variations of some of its merchandise akin to Chrome, YouTube and search, which are set to be launched this year.


There was some hypothesis that Google may have re-centered its ‘Cardboard’ project for youngsters. Last summer season, Google revealed a digital actuality headset product of cardboard (pictured) nevertheless it wasn't commercialised

Methods to MAKE Your individual CARDBOARD HEADSET

What you'll have to make a Google Cardboard digital reality device...


Cardboard -Corrugated cardboard sheet, preferably E Flute (corrugated cardboard comes in a wide range of thicknesses known as "flutes"), accessible at many art provide stores and on-line . For finest results, you must search for robust, skinny cardboard (sturdy shoe box relatively than transferring box). Minimum measurement: 8.75in (22cm) by 22in (56cm), and 0.06in (1.5mm) thickness.


Lenses - That is the trickiest component. Lenses which have a 40mm focal distance should work. Biconvex lenses work best because they forestall distortion around the edges.


Magnets - One neodymium ring magnet - like this or this - and one ceramic disk magnet - like this or this. Approximate measurement: 0.75in (19mm) diameter and 0.12in (3mm) thickness.


Velcro - Two strips of regular energy adhesive-backed velcro. Approximate measurement: 0.75in (20mm) by 1.25in (30mm).


Rubber band - One rubber band, to stop the cellphone from sliding out. Minimum size of 3.2in (8cm).

NFC tag (non-obligatory) - One sticker NFC tag. Program it with the URL cardboard://v1.0.Zero

You'll additionally want a ruler, glue, and scissors, an X-acto knife, or entry to a laser cutter.