Virtual playground

By Maks Fus Mickiewicz 01 : 12 : 2015 Mattel : Virtual Reality : Gen I

US – Mattel has collaborated with Google to re-invent the iconic View-Master as a ‘mom-approved’ virtual reality (VR) headset.

The child-friendly device is aimed at kids over the age of seven
‘Leverages technologies to deliver an immersive educational experience’ – Aslan Appleman, senior director of design and marketing, advanced concepts at Mattel

The new View-Master is a lightweight, handheld headset created to offer immersive, educational VR experiences. The device is strapless and features no headphone socket, to discourage children from spending too much time in the digital world, according to Mattel.

Three experience packs including Wildlife, Space and Destinations are available to buy, and can be paired with a smartphone app to create the 360-degree photospheres seen in Google Cardboard’s VR ecosystem.

‘This classic toy gives kids an enhanced experience allowing for play opportunities not yet imagined through new, digitally curated content,’ says Douglas Wadleigh, senior vice-president and global brand general manager at Mattel.

The Big Picture

The revamped View-Master demonstrates that virtual reality is no longer the preserve of the gaming sector. Take a look at our Virtual Reality Market report to see how its implications extend to film, social media, education, medicine and more.