Beyond

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  Beyond, a metaphysical journey using XR.

Inspiration

Our team's inspiration for "Beyond Boundaries" stemmed from our diverse backgrounds in bioengineering, medicine, biotechnology, and computer science. We were driven by a shared passion for exploring creative possibilities beyond our traditional fields. The opportunity to participate in the Immerse the Bay Hackathon hosted by Stanford XR presented us with a unique platform to blend our skills and interests. Our project is inspired by the desire to create an immersive virtual reality experience that transcends the boundaries of traditional learning and art, exploring the surreal territories of non-Euclidean geometries.

What it does

"Beyond Boundaries" is a virtual reality experience designed for deployment on the Oculus 2. It invites users to explore the surreal and uncharted territories of non-Euclidean geometries, structures, and spaces that defy conventional physics. This VR experience bridges the gap between art and mathematical education, allowing users to visualize and interact with complex geometrical concepts in an intuitive and engaging manner. It serves as both an educational tool and a creative exploration, pushing the limits of what is conceivable in virtual reality.

How we built it

We built "Beyond Boundaries" using ShapesXR's collaborative environment, a tool that facilitated our design and prototyping of spatial applications. Our interdisciplinary team utilized this platform to transition our ideas into a tangible, immersive prototype efficiently. The process involved brainstorming, designing, and iterating in a virtual space, enabling us to mold our concept into a unique VR experience. We then made custom models on Blender, and used some outside free assets to facilitate the process. We then loaded our code onto Unity, which was the primary engine for our app. Our approach combined artistry, technology, and education to create an engaging and insightful journey through virtual spaces.

Challenges we ran into

One of our main challenges was integrating complex non-Euclidean geometries into a VR environment in a way that was both visually appealing and educationally valuable. Balancing artistic creativity with the accuracy of mathematical concepts posed a significant challenge. Additionally, ensuring seamless collaboration across different fields of expertise within our team required careful coordination and communication.

Navigating the technical aspects of VR development, especially for an innovative project like ours, also presented its own set of challenges. UI and Shaders, as well as compatibility when developing on different devices presented huge issues. It was also our first time developing specifically for Oculus, so roadblocks with developer mode and sharing files were apparent throughout the development timeline.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We take pride in creating a VR experience that both educates and captivates, artistically showcasing complex geometrical concepts - especially the Mobius strip. Overcoming technical and creative hurdles, we've crafted an immersive experience that transcends typical VR boundaries, a feat we're particularly proud of.

What we learned

Throughout this project, we learned the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and how combining diverse perspectives can lead to groundbreaking innovations. We gained insights into the complexities of VR development, especially when dealing with abstract concepts like non-Euclidean geometries. The project also enhanced our understanding of how virtual reality can be used as a powerful tool for education and creative expression. With the help of ShapesXR, we learned a very useful skill in the XR development process for prototyping, among others that accelerated our project greatly.

What's next for Beyond

Looking forward, we aim to refine and expand "Beyond Boundaries" to reach a wider audience. Our goals include enhancing the educational aspect, making it more accessible for different age groups and learning styles. We also plan to explore additional virtual environments and concepts, potentially integrating augmented reality elements. We want to improve the graphics, UI, and environments so that it’s as aesthetically pleasing as possible. With this traction we hope to seek seed investment to further develop the product and partner with MoMA, Guggenheim, The Getty Foundation, and la Biennale di Venezia.

Built With

• android
• blender
• c#
• oculus
• oculus-integration
• quest
• shapesxr
• unity
• unity-xr