PSViewer (Photosphere Viewer)

Field	Value
Status	✅ Complete (shipped Apr 23, 2026)
URL	https://psviewer.web.app
Type	Quick-build / web app
Owner	Reuben
Requested by	Rachel Wolf + Kyla Cook
For	Cal Academy of Sciences VFT collaboration
Tags	[STUDIO-BUILD]

What It Is

A stripped-down, viewer-only version of the Photosphere app (360cam.stanford.edu). All capture/creation/PWA features removed — just renders a 360° photosphere image.

Why It Exists

Kyla is leading a potential VFT collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences. Cal Academy plans to shoot test 360° photos in their giant aquarium in the next few weeks.

Two concerns drove the request:

1. Cal Academy is wary of sharing their images through a third-party viewer (terms of service / data handling unknowns).
2. They want a clean way to view their photospheres without the bells and whistles of the full creator app.

A Stanford-hosted, no-frills viewer solves both — Cal Academy keeps control of their assets, and there’s no third-party ToS to negotiate.

Related Projects / Family

• 360cam.stanford.edu — Photosphere Camera (full PWA with capture)
• reubenthiessen.com/artifacts/ps-maker — AI Photosphere Generator (text → 360° image)
• VFT (Virtual Field Trips) — broader research initiative with Rachel + Kristen Pilner Blair (AAALab)

Source / Origin

Slack message from Rachel Wolf in mpdm with Reuben + Kyla, Apr 23, 2026 14:55 UTC.

Possible Next Steps (none active)

• If Cal Academy collaboration formalizes, may want lightweight analytics or an embed mode
• Could become a template for other partner-hosted viewer needs