Google Daydream with my Pixel XL

I bought a Google Pixel phone earlier this year mainly because the unlimited photo storage in Google Photos piqued my interest. I was aware that it was one of the few phones that were Daydream-compatible so I decided to explore more about what Daydream offered over the last weekend as I finally got my hands on a Daydream Headset with a handheld controller (from Carousell).

According to Wikipedia, 

"Daydream is a discontinued virtual reality platform which was developed by Google, primarily for use with a headset into which a smartphone is inserted. It is available for select phones running the Android mobile operating system that meet the platform's software and hardware requirements."

The good thing about Android is that most of the apps can still be found online even if they are no longer in the official Play store. One just needs to be careful when downloading and installing lest the software comes with malware and such.

One of the Daydream-compatible apps is Sherlock VR and the app description is as follows:

"Explore 3D crime scenes and solve mysterious cases in the footsteps of Sherlock and Watson!

This is a hidden object game where you step into the shoes of the greatest detective in the world and save London from crime!

Join Watson, Mrs. Hudson, Molly and many other characters from the Sherlock franchise on a crime solving adventure. Explore immersive environments in VR, find clues through old fashioned detective work, catch criminals and eradicate all crime from..."

I tried out the game and shared some screenshots below for you to have a feel of what it is like. The screen is split like a view-master and the hidden object game included little dialogues with the different characters as well as some pretty smart use of the controller. For example, in one case, where Sherlock supposedly experimented on a hamster, the syringe could be analysed and one could turn the controller around and the gyroscope helped simulate the investigation of the syringe for fingerprints. I think such an immersive experience would definitely benefit students and I can imagine letting students from NPCC who are keen in Crime Scene Investigation have a play at this to gather some ideas for their CCA.

There is also the Netflix VR and some other apps that I have not explored and perhaps I will share more on how they can be useful to engage students when I am done checking them out. 

The other experience I tried out recently was that of the Star Wars Jedi Challenges which also has been discontinued, unfortunately.

"Star Wars: Jedi Challenges is an AR experience created by a joint effort by Disney and Lenovo. It has some canonical elements such as planets and Force powers."

I think this Augmented Reality experience was pretty unique as it actually came with a lightsaber hilt and the lightsaber could be blue or red in the AR form. I did not have any screenshots or photos of this experience but I liked how the headset made use of mirrors to conjure the images in the real world.

I bought my set for $12 off carousell and it is definitely worth the experience.