STOCKHOLM – In Sweden, Happy Meal boxes will have a purpose beyond serving as a container for burgers, fries and toys. Dubbed “Happy Goggles,” the concept is simple— fold the box on the dotted lines, insert a pair of lenses and a smartphone and voila! You’ve got a virtual reality viewer.
Happy Goggles are similar to Google Cardboard, a DIY headset made of cardboard that uses a smartphone for the display.
McDonald’s Sweden said in a news release that Happy Goggles are designed to complement the physical toys that usually come with a Happy Meal. McDonald’s Sweden developed the cardboard VR headset in collaboration with child psychologists Karl Eder and Fadi Lahdo. Eder and Lahdo also developed recommendations for the use of Happy Goggles.
“We always want to offer something new that’s relevant for families,” said Petra Dahlman, senior marketing manager, McDonald’s Sweden. “This is a modern way to celebrate the Happy Meal as one of our most popular menus. Now we want to try to add a digital experience that focuses on play and learning, and we believe that many will appreciate the fun skiing game with new Happy Goggles.”
McDonald’s Happy Meals first launched in Sweden in 1986, and the Happy Goggles were created, in part, to celebrate the occasion, according to McDonald’s Sweden. The limited-edition Happy Meals will be available at selected restaurants in Sweden on the weekends of March 5 and March 12 for about $4.
