Guardian launches VR app for Google Cardboard

The Guardian has brought its virtual reality (VR) app to Google Cardboard for the first time, providing people with an innovative way to access journalism.

The publication gave away 97,000 Google Cardboard headsets to its readers this weekend so they can experience the VR-based stories from the Guardian at home and on the go, creating an immersive way for people to learn about the world around them.

VR experiences created by the Guardian so far include: 6x9, which immerses viewers inside a solitary confinement cell to tell the story of life in a US prison; First Impressions, a look at the world from the viewpoint of a newborn baby; and Arctic 360, a virtual tour of the Arctic that demonstrates the devastating impact of human behaviour on the ice caps.

Francesca Panetta, executive editor for virtual reality at Guardian News and Media, commented: "We're pleased to be able to share the unique encounters we have created with more people than ever before, giving them the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective."