In 2016, the British company Zappar has released cardboard, a headset called ZapBox to view augmented reality through your smartphone. Today, the company introduces an updated model of plastic.
New ZapBox recently launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to the tune of 65 000$. Zappar calls the new device a mixed-reality headsetcapable of delivering content with augmented reality tracking 6DOF for $ 40 and maintain a virtual reality, although the definition of VR is a bit special.
As for hardware, the new headset offers ZapBox with strap-halo and mounting brackets for mounting the smartphone in front of a few lenses. The kit includes two marker 6DOF controller with triggers and camera adaptor for placement over the camera of your phone for a wider field of view. You can use the third square marker in combination with computer vision, to anchor virtual content to the real world.
The company claims that this kit will work on any iPhone 6 and later, but not can individually check compatibility of your phone with Android. She recommends that the Android phones to be at the “upper end of the performance spectrum” and to have the gyro sensor and the camera mode 60FPS.
However, when it comes to VR, ZapBox offers access to content in the style of Google Cardboard with views of the real world outside of the field of vision of the headset. The company believes that it is more convenient and social way to experience VR without being cut off from the world.
In addition, the ZapBox comes with an existing set of content that uses its functions AR, plus all the previously created application ZapBox will work with a new set.
The company plans to send the set to consumers and developers in April 2021. For $ 65, the developers will also receive early access to the beta ZapBox Unity SDK and older models ZapBox to work.
Source
