Classroom VR

[Craig_W]

We are currently looking at putting together our own Google Cardboard Classroom VR package. Companies out there sell all this as a package, but I think I can do it for a 3rd of the price!

 

Google visited us for an expeditions demo, and they used the Asus Zenfone 2 which we are struggling to get hold of. We have seen the Moto G4 at a reasonable price and I'm wondering if anybody out there has this phone, whether they have tried it with Google Cardboard and can offer their input on how well this phone performs?

 

Cheers

[dhicks]

We have seen the Moto G4 at a reasonable price and I'm wondering if anybody out there has this phone, whether they have tried it with Google Cardboard and can offer their input on how well this phone performs?

 

Yes, I have a Moto G4, which I bought specifically to use with Google Cardboard. It works just fine with Expeditions - looking around a scene is smooth and pretty much lag-free as far as I could see. 360-degree video on Youtube was also fine - I didn't have any problems using the phone with a Cardboard viewer for half an hour or so in one go, no headaches or anything like that. Battery life doesn't seem to be great - if I leave the phone unplugged for a couple of days it won't even switch on the next time I go to use it, the power runs down so quickly - I don't think it would manage an 8-hour school day of constant use with WiFi turned on, and I'm not sure it would charge quickly enough to be charged over lunch for the afternoon. I also bought a micro SD card which I intended to use as Adoptable Storage, but for some reason I don't seem to be able to configure it as such.

 

How do you plan to use Cardboard / Expeditions / VR ingeneral in the classroom? Do you plan to buy a class set of phones to pair with headsets and then share them around classes?

 

The next version of Google Expeditions to going to focus more on AR, wirth the best features requiring support for Project Tango hardware - you might want to consider buying compatible phones, although they are at the more premium end at the moment.

 

You might also want to consider a 360-degree camera for pupils to create their own content with - the Samsung Gear 360 (2017 edition) is £220.

[Craig_W]

Thanks for your input with this. We went for it a bought 30 - they seem spot on!

We are using them as a class set in a particular room we have - its a large room that clear of furniture so the students can sit in the floor. The room will need to be booked to make use of the VR sets.

 

Have you used any form of MDM for the handsets?

[dhicks]

Have you used any form of MDM for the handsets?

 

It's good to know they're working out alright - it sounds like you have an interesting setup, with a room capable of being set up for VR lessons.

 

We haven't managed any Android devices via an MDM yet - the Moto G4 is my own device, not the school's. Our school devices are all Chromebooks, which are managed via the Google console, which I understand can manage Android devices aswell.

[Blue_Cookeh]

We are currently looking at putting together our own Google Cardboard Classroom VR package. Companies out there sell all this as a package, but I think I can do it for a 3rd of the price!

 

Google visited us for an expeditions demo, and they used the Asus Zenfone 2 which we are struggling to get hold of. We have seen the Moto G4 at a reasonable price and I'm wondering if anybody out there has this phone, whether they have tried it with Google Cardboard and can offer their input on how well this phone performs?

 

Cheers

 

Can I just ask how these are holding up for you? Our staff are very interested in getting VR into our classrooms. At the moment I'm looking at something like Google Cardboard (so we can cheaply replace them) with Wileyfox phones or something.

Edited December 15, 2017 by Blue_Cookeh