Google Cardboard - Spirit of Anzac

The Spirit of Anzac is a touring exhibition featuring genuine artefacts and stories. To promote the tour the Australian War Memorial and the Australian Government have sent out packages to schools of about 10 Google Cardboard head sets in boxes. You can download the Spirit of Anzac 360 Explorer App from the App Store or Google Play.

​The actual headset is already made when it arrives and is packaged within a cover to protect the set. It is quite robust (a little more sturdy than the Google Cardboard sets I have purchased from Ebay before and discusses in previous posts). The lenses are quite large, which will enhance the viewer experience, and some additional velcro and padding should also add to the experience.

The actual headset is already made when it arrives and is packaged within a cover to protect the set. It is quite robust (a little more sturdy than the Google Cardboard sets I have purchased from Ebay before and discusses in previous posts). The lenses are quite large, which will enhance the viewer experience, and some additional velcro and padding should also add to the experience.

The App provides an interactive tour of the displays at the Spirit of Anzac exhibition. Students can focus on a particular image and information pops up to explain the display. This isn't as immersive as some other Google Cardboard apps that I have reviewed, but given that it is being sent to schools for free and that the app is free it would be a useful and interesting way to engage students with the displays prior to a visit.

The exhibition is showing at:

• Orange (Indoor Tennis Club) 12 March - 17 March 2017
• Newcastle (Entertainment Centre) 29 March - 4 April 2017
• International Convention Centre Sydney 15 April - 27 April 2017

Explore The Spirit of Anzac - What to Expect

Access the Spirit of Anzac Google Cardboard User Guide 

Some other options of Google Cardboard/Virtual Reality apps that you might like to look at are:

War of Words VR

This VR experience uses the Seigfried Sassoon poem "The Kiss" as the basis  of the experience. It is an animated experience created by BBC Arts. It promotes the feature-length documentary War of Words - Soldier-poets of the Somme.

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Trench Experience

Trench Experience enables the user to experience an authentic trench from world War I. This is like a virtual museum.

Diggers Trench VR
This VR experience is only available with Oculus Rift - not Google Cardboard. However, I imagine that as Google Cardboard begins to be used more that this will be the type of experiences that we can expect more of. This is more story based. As a new recruit you experience life in the tranches and are able to influence some of the events that unfold in the story.
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