Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Mattel, Google unveil upgraded View-Master

NEW YORK — Mattel and Google are trying to bring the 75-year-old View-Master into the 21st century, with help from smartphones and virtual-reality technology.

NEW YORK — Mattel and Google are trying to bring the 75-year-old View-Master into the 21st century, with help from smartphones and virtual-reality technology.

While the original View-Master gave users a chance to click through colourful photos by inserting reels into the viewing devices, the updated View-Master requires them to insert a smartphone into a headset.

A smartphone app will then enable the gadget to immerse children in virtual worlds such as outer space. The new View-Master will be priced at about US$30 (S$41). Mattel and Google unveiled the virtual-reality viewer on Friday in New York City. The device launches in the fall.

Mattel demonstrated the technology using Google Cardboard, a cardboard attachment that turns smartphones into virtual-reality viewers.

Reels will not be necessary in the new View-Master, but will enhance the experience. In a demo, there were reels for outer space and dinosaurs. When the representative pointed his headset at one and clicked a button on the side of the headset, he was taken into each of the worlds. A set of four reels will cost US$15.

The original View-Master launched at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. Mattel says it has sold more than 100 million of them. The new version will launch on Android devices first, but the companies plan to make it available on all platforms down the line. AP

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.