Inspiration
Have you ever been in a restaurant, glanced at the table next to you, and thought, "Wow, that dish looks amazing—maybe we should order that!"? Now, imagine if you could see every dish on the menu laid out right in front of you in 3D. With Spectacles, you could browse a virtual menu, viewing each dish in realistic detail, complete with portion size and ingredients (no need to ask the waiter every time!). You can find "the one" that speaks to your taste buds. And in the future, this experience could be collaborative, allowing everyone at the table to explore and choose dishes together.
What it does
Forkast is an innovative augmented reality experience designed for Snap Spectacles, allowing users to browse a restaurant menu visually. With this experience, users can view every dish in 3D right in front of them, complete with portion sizes and ingredient details. Say goodbye to lengthy descriptions and guessing how a dish will look — Forkast lets you see it in realistic detail, helping you make your decision in a whole new way.
How we built it
This project is built using Lens Studio, the platform for creating augmented reality experiences for Snapchat and Spectacles.
Challenges we ran into
Documentation Gaps: Incomplete or unclear documentation slowed our progress, especially with new tools and technologies.
Limited JavaScript Experience: Our team's lack of experience with JavaScript required extra time for learning and troubleshooting.
AR/VR Design Experience: Designing for AR/VR was new to us, leading to a lot of trial and error in optimizing user experience and interactivity.
Device Accessibility: I wear glasses, while my teammate doesn’t, which created a challenge in fully understanding the device's potential and designing for a universally accessible experience. Additionally, I use a Linux laptop, and since Lens Studio isn’t supported on Linux, I had to rely on a small Windows partition. This led to frequent crashes and performance issues, making the development process more difficult.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Successful 0 to 1 AR app development: Despite our limited experience, we successfully integrated immersive AR elements that enhanced the user experience, bringing the concept to life.
Learning and Adapting Quickly: We quickly upskilled in JavaScript and AR/VR development, overcoming a steep learning curve to implement the features we envisioned.
Collaboration and Problem-Solving: Through teamwork and continuous iteration, we solved key technical and design challenges, maintaining a focus on our goal of promoting healthier food choices.
What we learned
The world of VR is vast and full of creative potential. We quickly realized how challenging it is to keep up with the rapid pace at which artists and developers push the boundaries of what’s possible. It’s an exciting, yet demanding space that requires constant learning and adaptation.
What's next for Forkast?
In our busy lives, it’s often hard to make informed decisions about food—whether dining out or preparing meals at home. Too often, we find ourselves passing on a dish that looks delicious, simply because we’re unsure of its ingredients or nutritional value. Calorie counts and ingredient lists aren’t always readily available, making it harder for us to make health-conscious choices. Also, what's better than competing with friends and earning calorie awards! Yup, in the future, Forkast can be collaborative and social-healthy environment to interact with peers.
We want to change that.
Imagine having the experience of a chef at your fingertips—without the need to cook, of course. With our platform, you’ll have easy access to detailed ingredient lists for every dish, as well as nutritional information, including calorie counts. Want to try your hand at cooking? We’ve got you covered with optional recipes, allowing you to recreate your favorite dishes in your own kitchen.
We believe in empowering you to make better, more informed food choices that align with your fitness goals and dietary preferences. Whether you're dining out or cooking in, we want you to have all the information you need to enjoy a healthier, more satisfying meal.
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