StellAR

Inspiration

People often overlook the impact of poor posture, worsened by constant screen time. We wanted to shift control back to people, using technology to support our bodies rather than dictate our habits. XR provides a unique platform where humans—not screens—take center stage, fostering a healthier relationship between technology and well-being. Our goal was to create an experience that subtly encourages users to look up, realign their posture, and immerse themselves in a calming environment that promotes natural well-being, both mentally and physically.

What it does

StellAR surrounds users with a serene, star-filled sky. The objective is to gaze at specific stars, connect them, and form constellations. This experience subtly encourages users to keep their head and neck in a healthy, upward posture without direct reminders. The relaxing visuals and ambient sounds add a meditative quality, helping users feel grounded and calm, while shifting their attention away from screens and back to the vastness of the cosmos.

How we built it

We developed our project using Unity and the Meta SDK, testing extensively on the Quest 3 headset. To create a realistic galactic environment, we incorporated comprehensive star data from Yale Bright Star Catalog.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest challenge was creating a seamless star-connecting experience, which required managing edge cases to keep interactions smooth and intuitive. This included ensuring accurate connections and guiding users naturally through each constellation. We also invested time in perfecting visuals and sound to evoke a calming atmosphere, refining star effects and constellation placements for full immersion. Finally, achieving smooth gaze-based interactions required careful calibration to allow effortless star selection without unintended inputs.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud to have created an experience that not only entertains but also promotes health and wellness. StellAR naturally encourages users to adopt a healthier posture through immersion, transforming a simple game into a tool for positive physical change—without the need for direct instructions. We’re especially proud of how we’ve gamified healthy habits, blending elements of physical and mental wellness into an engaging experience.

What we learned

We learned how impactful subtle design choices can be in encouraging healthy behaviors. We gained insights into user-centric design, particularly how to guide physical movements through VR/AR without overt instructions. This project also deepened our understanding of gaze tracking and interaction dynamics in VR/AR environments.

What's next for StellAR

We plan to expand StellAR with more constellations, celestial themes, and guided relaxation sessions to deepen the meditative experience. We’re also exploring adaptive difficulty to make it accessible to various age groups. Additionally, we aim to incorporate upper body tracking, allowing users to mimic a gentle swimming motion to navigate the scene. This subtle movement will encourage users to stretch their back and shoulders, complementing the posture benefits for the neck. Finally, we’d like to integrate biofeedback tools to measure relaxation and posture improvements, demonstrating StellAR’s impact on users’ well-being over time.