We started developing our own plastic Virtual Reality glasses around October 2014. Google have launched their Google Cardboard units in June 25, 2014. We wanted something the same but more durable and decided to develop our own Virtual Reality Glasses. I have develop these virtual reality glasses in association with Philip van der Walt one of the leaders in 3D Printing in South Africa.
The Virtual Reality glasses was based on the Google Cardboard devices. The main difference between our virtual reality glasses and the Google Cardboard devices was that ours was made of plastic, and the eye piece was made from rubber that fitted perfectly on a users face. It also offered better hygiene since users could just wipe it clean. Our version was also much more durable since it was made from plastic and not cardboard.
Our virtual reality glasses had a rubber that fitted perfectly onto someones face. It was also made to be more hygienic and easy to clean.
The plastic cover was made to be more durable than the Google Inspired Google Cardboard Virtual Reality headsets.
3D Render – Virtual Reality Glasses
3D Render of how the Virtual Reality glasses fitted on a user.
Rear view of the custom virtual reality glasses without the rubber face cover.
Rear view of the Virtual Reality Glasses with the custom made rubber face.
Although we made several hundred of these virtual reality glasses. The project failed because we could not compete with Chinese manufacturers whom made similar glasses at a fraction of the cost that we were able to manufacture at. This project was also completely self-funded and we had to abandon the project for financial reasons.