Cosmic virtual reality: a selection of Cosmonautics Day for children

On the eve of the holiday, we invite you to virtual travel using Android smartphones and virtual reality headsets .



At Geektimes, the topic of space is one of the main issues, and we will try to do our bit as we can. On the eve of the cult holiday, we decided to assemble a small “children's” selection of VR applications, and also tell you about the fact that our children like space toys. Suddenly, it will help someone.

Unfortunately, in due time to get any set with astronauts became a problem. All networked children's stores were “in Star Wars.”
')


There was also a range of designers, but this is not for every age. Simply put, get a set with rockets and astronauts, for example, with such as on the screen saver, believe me, it was worth the work. A year ago, it was found here .

But, with the massive Chinese invasion, it is easy to find just such a simple model of the solar system .



In a set the models of planets divided in two, paints and a support. Going quickly, and around we just placed their astronauts. Periodically, depending on the plot of the game, children return to it. There is such a modification .

Titans of space

A good, but schematic educational application. It is controlled depending on the selected mode, either manually or by turning the head (in the autopilot mode). A small space journey allows you to see the planets of the solar system.

As you approach each of them, the user receives brief background information. Everything is drawn quite schematically, but the silhouettes are very recognizable. To create a presence effect, the user sees his virtual hands and feet.


Solar system vr

A weakly rendered application is more likely for relaxation than for receiving any information. Accompanied by sleeping music ...

The task of the user is to look around and observe outer space, the way different bodies fly at you. Everything happens very calmly. No dynamics. In the screenshots, everything is not very bright, but with glasses it is distinguishable.


VR Solar System

Journey through the solar system. Just be in space and watch the planets as they float past you. Very good detailing, all objects are recognizable, and, perhaps, the only thing out of place is advertising = (. The cosmonaut himself is not visible, that is, moving your arms and legs does not make sense.


VR Cosmic Tour

Under the dynamic music with a claim to soundtrack to the blockbuster, everything will move on you: just manage to turn your head. The quality of the drawings is very approximate, but this is one of the most dynamic space applications.


Solar System - Space Museum

Educational application in English, to which you need a controller. Otherwise, if you want to listen to information about a particular planet (in English), you will have to remove the smartphone from the headset and poke your finger. At C grade. It works, however, in several modes, not only VR.


Solar System VR Cardboard 3D

Application-lesson, but, unfortunately, in English. On the screen are replaced objects of the solar system, which are accompanied by comments. Drawing on C grade.


Home planetarium is one of the simplest and most accessible devices, although the child alone cannot always cope with it. We have a “classic”, in the form of a ball, but there is a “Planetarium-lantern” with disks. The latter is easily turned on and off and allows the child to "manage" the space independently.



The intensity of light, of course, does not allow to project images onto the ceiling, but in the bed on the nearest wall - please.



The toy has the form of a small pistol, so the problem where to press does not arise. Several slides are included.



From the "virtual" planetariums we observed such.

StarTracker VR-Mobile Sky Map

Visually well-designed starry sky map, a kind of virtual home planetarium. When hovering on one or another constellation, it turns into a figure in whose honor it is named, and when hovering over a star, a small reference is given. Zalipat - very cool!


Space dreams

Excellent, it is a pity that in English, an application that represents the metaphor of the children's dream of space. It is decorated in the form of a children's room, where there are several active elements: hover on the cardboard "spaceship" and now it is reincarnated ...

Each planet is also active, however, it should again be repeated that the descriptions to the application are in English. But then objects can be viewed from all sides.


VR Star Night Sky View Walk

Extremely primitive application, which, unfortunately, also in English. Allow to remember the schematic image of the constellations, for example, in order to then accurately recognize them in the school atlas. Advertising!


The telescope is the most obvious, and once it was lucky that there was a sale in the store, which was once among the authors of Geektimes.



VR Planetarium

Attached are several modes, including flights to individual planets and "Free" flight. No information load software does not carry: just watch. You need a controller for it, otherwise you have to choose with your hands, which is not very convenient: get and remove the smartphone in the headset. Also, the controller is useful when flying to the planets, otherwise you will stand still. Or, again, by tapping the screen, activate the walk mode.


VR Mars Walk 3D

Walk on the red planet. A little distracting is the red dot on the screen, which serves as a pointer to where you are going. No action is provided, but you can walk almost everywhere. It is noteworthy: you can walk even sitting on a chair, that is, the child does not hit the corner. You can watch in the direction of travel anywhere. It is also worth adding that the application is not very “smart”.


Space dive vr

By analogy with the "Journey through Mars" a toy from the same creators. The red dot, which was a little distracting there, changed to a blue one. The user enters the open space and becomes an observer of celestial bodies flying by. A kind of light effect in a quiet space cartoon. The app is commented on in English.


VR Moon Walk 3D

Like the other applications in this series, this is followed by a dot. This is the first. Secondly, there is also no need to make additional movements: you are already moving at the program level. The result is a good, slightly delayed walk, which is accompanied by the “illusion” of heavy breathing in a spacesuit.


However, when there are more than one children, it is difficult to divide the telescope's eye. Pretty helps out at this moment accessory Carson .



Anyone can watch, plus you can shoot something in a photo / video.


Having seen enough of the telescope, playing around with the figures, the boy, of course, wants to become an astronaut. A few simple simulators - to help.

VR Space Extended Free

The application allows you to become an observer of the space mission and satellite launch. Independently, nothing will come of it: the whole scenario is subject to a certain algorithm, and what is happening can only be viewed from the specified angles. With medium details on the child will be able to impress. It looks quite impressive, but with the comments of a knowledgeable parent it will be altogether great.


VR Space for Cardboard

A rather primitive way to feel like an astronaut. The application assumes that the user himself walks and studies the map, and this may not be very safe at home. However, as in any other: on the street, too, not much clearer, if only under the supervision of adults. Plus, it's pretty dark.


VR Solar System Roller Coaster

An analogue of the famous Fibrum trolley: it is proposed to travel slowly along cosmic rails surrounded by celestial bodies. At one time - very nice.


Astronaut

Russified application. Several options "missions". You can visit the schematically painted ISS, as well as go into outer space and wander around the ship. Everything happens slowly and allows you to consider a few details.


Well. Our story goes to the finale. We do not pretend to the exhaustive nature of the compilation, if only because much of the material removed has been removed due to poor quality. Also here are not included games on the space theme, all sorts of shooters. If you think that we missed something important, please add your options in the comments!



And in the final one more short:

Earth in Space VR 360

A short visualization of how our planet looks in space. Nearby there is a little time to view the ship, and then the frame abruptly changes to the kind of falling asteroids.


How to look

All applications are universal: that is, you can watch them in any virtual reality headset that fits the diagonal of your smartphone. Will it start, whether there is a question of the characteristics of the device.

• We recently published a large selection with cheap VR headsets , where we tried to describe the advantages and disadvantages of such simple models.
• Also, more options can be found on our website .
• VR cardboard glasses for 300 rubles

Happy holiday
Happy Cosmonautics!