Inspiration
Focus Realm was born from the recognition that current task management solutions often fall short, particularly for individuals who struggle with focus and productivity. Traditional to-do lists can be overwhelming, making it difficult to concentrate on immediate tasks. We saw an opportunity to revolutionise task management by leveraging XR technology to create a more intuitive, engaging, and effective solution.
What it does
Focus Realm transforms task management by bringing it into the third dimension. Users can create tasks and anchor them in a 3D space, interacting with them in a way that feels natural and intuitive. The app allows for the addition of voice notes to tasks, providing richer context and detail. To promote focus, users can enter focus mode, reducing overwhelm. This unique approach turns task management from a chore into an immersive, almost game-like experience.
How we built it
We used the building Meta XR All in One SDK to build the prototype. Building blocks were really helpful to get started quickly. Unity Implementation- we used object oriented approach to build out the application with all core interaction elements as prefabs and all key features/systems having their own manager/controller scripts. Task Manager is the core starting point of the application. The main UI can be visualized on the left hand and user can start creating tasks with hands or controllers. Various UI layers had individual management on gameobjects. Features of the Meta Presence Platform used: Interaction SDK (hand and controller tracking) Passthrough for mixed reality feature Scene /Mixed Reality Utility Kit - to spawn room elements and perform passthrough relighting for the Focus Zone feature in our application Audio SDK for spatial audio notes Virtual Keyboard
Challenges we ran into
Our journey wasn't without obstacles. Initially, we envisioned Focus Realm as a tool for interior designers, but, thanks to our mentor Beril, quickly realised this direction lacked a strong value proposition and pivoted to our current, more impactful use case. This shift, while necessary, presented challenges in redesigning our approach mid-development. We also faced technical hurdles, particularly with keyboard visibility for task input, which required creative problem-solving within our tight timeframe. Technically, we wanted to implement spatial anchors for the orbs/tasks but it required a bit more time as our tasks were movable and spatial anchors are fixed so a custom implementation would have been required.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Despite the challenges, we're immensely proud of what we've achieved. Our successful pivot early in development led to a product with real-world potential. We've created a cohesive design and brand identity that feels polished and store-ready. Most importantly, we've developed a core set of functionalities that demonstrate the power of XR in task management, all within the constraints of a hackathon.
What we learned
This project taught us invaluable lessons about product development. We learned the critical importance of validating our value proposition early and often. The experience reinforced the benefits of seeking and incorporating expert feedback, as demonstrated by our pivotal interaction with our mentor. We also honed our skills in rapid prototyping and iteration within the XR space, and gained a deeper understanding of how to balance ambitious goals with realistic timelines.
What's next for Focus Realm
Looking ahead, our primary focus is on user research. We want to ensure that Focus Realm's future development is guided by the real needs and preferences of our target users. Based on our initial insights, we're planning to implement:
- All tasks to be spatial anchors with voice notes as well saved in the session
- Higher fidelity polish of UI and interactions throughout
- A task dashboard to give users a high-level overview
- Task categorisation to give users more options for organisation
- Customisable decorative assets for a more personalised and engaging experience As we refine and expand our core functionalities, we're excited to see how Focus Realm can continue to evolve, making task management not just manageable, but truly enjoyable.
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