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"When Facebook spent $2 billion to acquire of Oculus Rift, virtual reality technology took center stage in the tech world \u2014 but many felt the headset was too bulky to be appealing.\nNow Altergaze, a pair of 3D-printed goggles, promises a virtual reality experience through your iPhone or Android device.\nSee also: A Virtual Reality Headset Takes You to the Movies, But Tickets Are $499\nLiviu Berechet Antoni, the creator of Altergaze, envisions a future where virtual reality technology could be used as a way to share and collaborate in the real world \u2014 architects showcasing designs to clients, for example.\n\"I am a firm believer that virtual reality should be used as a way of connecting people rather than isolating them into their own virtual worlds,\" Antoni told Mashable. \"A lot of people, when talking about virtual reality, expect to see a simulation of reality. I think the beauty of it actually lies in the worlds that are as far from reality as possible \u2014 \u2018Alice in Wonderland\u2019 kind of experiences.\"\nThe mobile phone accessory \u2014 constructed using a series of 3D-printed rubber layers, some screws and a pair of optical lens \u2014 has a 110-degree field of view and uses the phone\u2019s gyroscope to track motion in as many as 9 different axes.\nAltergaze is currently running a campaign on Kickstarter and has amassed almost half of their $42,000 goal with 29 days left at the time of writing. \nThe company plans on making the 3D printing design open-source for non-commercial use. Designers will be able to tinker with the design. Anyone with a 3D printer can become an admin user and embed the Altergaze Online Customization Tool onto their website, allowing their users to customize and create their own Altergaze goggles. \nAltergaze will supply the lenses to any admin user and charge a small royalty fee for any devices sold at the end of the year.\nIf a Kickstarter backer donates $125, they will receive Altergaze when the campaign ends, though Antoni explicitly states on Altergaze's website that the donation amount doesn\u2019t reflect the actual cost of the product. \nAntoni explains that the final price will be relative to the cost of 3D printing \u2014 and that as the technology becomes more affordable, so too will the Altergaze.\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/04/11/virtual-reality-smartphone/>