[U7] - Lantern in the Room

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splash
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writing mechanic
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writing
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writing on 3d with Stylus
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MR hands

Inspiration

We were inspired to create Lantern in the Room because modern communication often feels disconnected. Texts are quick but lack emotion, and phone calls can be stressful. We wanted to make a space where people can connect in a more personal and meaningful way, using handwriting to bring warmth back to our conversations.

What it does

Lantern in the Room is a Mixed Reality (MR) experience where users can handwrite notes and draw on floating lanterns. These lanterns can be sent into the sky or shared with others, creating a calm and thoughtful way to communicate. It slows down the pace of communication, making every interaction more meaningful.

How we built it

We built Lantern in the Room using Unity, C#, Meta XR all in one SDK. We started by designing a peaceful MR environment, then added the handwriting feature so users could write directly on 3D lanterns. Finally, we brought everything together to create a smooth and immersive experience.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges was making the handwriting feel natural in a 3D space with the Logitech MR stylus. It took a lot of testing to get it right. We also had to make sure the MR environment was both immersive and easy to use, which required careful optimization to ensure it ran smoothly.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud of creating an experience that makes digital communication feel more personal. Successfully adding handwriting in MR was a big achievement, and we’re thrilled with how the experience encourages people to slow down and connect on a deeper level.

What we learned

We learned a lot about working with MR and how to design experiences that feel personal and engaging. We also discovered how powerful handwriting can be in adding a human touch to digital communication. This project taught us the importance of being persistent and creative when solving technical challenges.

What's next for Elephant in the Room

Next, we plan to keep learning and exploring more about MR technologies. We want to continue finding new ways to bring people together through these experiences.