NerdLens is an open-source VR desktop experiment that mirrors your laptop screen into a VR headset using just your phone and a Google Cardboard viewer. This wired solution captures your desktop, compresses it into JPEG frames, and sends them over USB to be rendered on a virtual screen.

It offers features like streaming a selected display at a configurable FPS, showing a live preview with connection status, and allowing adjustment of the virtual display's distance. The project is an early proof of concept, primarily targeting iOS for hacking and experimentation, and requires a source build.

Setup involves building the iOS client in Unity, establishing a USB tunnel with iproxy, and running the Tauri/Rust host on your desktop. The process is detailed for macOS users with specific software prerequisites. Future development aims for smoother video transport, automatic device discovery, and a more polished VR environment.