VR Sky Museum – Virtual Reality exhibition
This is a documentation about a Virtual Reality exhibition, which I developed as coursework for my online training „VR Developer“. The focus of the exhibition is the use of Virtual Reality for Google Cardboard in the industries edutainment, relaxation/health and sales. The user is taken to unusual places, which he could not reach without VR. The microcosm, other times or fantasy and art worlds can be experienced.
The location
For the exhibition place I had in mind a surreal environment, a small „museum in the clouds“. It should be a dreamy and futuristic place that embodies virtual reality. I designed a skydome center and created assets in 3ds Max, modeled them modularly and textured them. I then assembled the assets into the building complex in Unity and created the appropriate light and color atmosphere. In addition to the normal Unity lights I used a freely available HDRi package from the Unity Asset Store. For the exhibits I have found some small free 3d models on Turbosquid. I converted and textured them for Unity. The photos and sounds are free content from the sources: Pixabay.com and freeSounds.org.
Outcomes
Final „VR Sky Museum“ VR Gameplay screencast:
Technical Information
Unity 2017.4.15f1, GoogleVR SDK (GoogleVRForUnity_1.190.1), iTweens 2.0.9., Plattform: Android on a Samsung Galaxy S7.
Screenshots
From the Unity editor interface
First iteration
with coloured panels and few objects. Only one audio speaker at the launch plattform.
Second iteration
Each station received an audio guide that could be switched on and sounds and objects matching the theme. In order to improve the orientation, I inserted a signpost system and offered a tour suggestion. There is also an Exit button.
Final iteration
has added more signposts on the floor. Because some users found the panel colors rather irritating, I have now kept them grey and semitransparent. Thus the exhibition objects and the atmosphere of the place come better to the fore.
Screenshots
The modeling process in 3Ds Max.
Process Section
Statement of purpose
„VR Sky Museum“ is a VR application that offers the user the possibility to inform herself/himself about audio-visually appealing contents for Google Cardboard for the areas Edutainment, Relaxing/Health Care and Sales.
Persona
Target audience: People who are interested in VR Cardboard and want to be informed about VR Apps.
Age: Mainly adults
Occupation: Marketing People, Salespeople, Consumer
A quote: Interest in new technologies
VR Experience-Level: Less experience
Sketches
First quick concept scribbles: Skydome centre above the clouds.
Suggestion for the User Interface
User Testing
This time I did user tests in an early stage, in order to then insert the results and change suggestions from the user tests in the further project iterations. Here are the results from the interviews (adult m/f):
User test 1 – Environment experience + atmosphere
1. How big are you in this VR experience?
Like in real life.
2. Discribe the atmosphere of the environment.
Very bright and airy. A lot of space. Space enough to see everything. Friendly athmosphere. I‘m comfortable.
3. How did you feel at this place?
You float and it‘s like freedom, borderless…impressive.
4. Is there anything, you would like to look at? But is is difficult to see?
No, I can go anywhere and I see everything.
User test 2 – Exhibition theme
1. What is the theme of this experience? Do you know what it‘s about?
It‘s a museum, an exhibition or an encyclopedia and I‘ve seen a shop.
2. Did you realize from the beginning what an exhibition this is? Did you know it’s an exhibition about VR apps?
No, not until the end.
3. What would have been necessary? To make the theme clear to you?
Some hints, signposts, a floor plan. A board on which I can get information about the theme of the exhibition.
4. Did you find the place appropriate for a VR exhibition?
Yes, I think so. I liked the building and the exhibits and I liked walking around there.
User test 3 – Navigation
1. Was it clear to you how you can navigate through the room?
Yes, with the waypoints, they were easy to find.
2. Did you like the Waypoints and the navigation? How was the movement? Too fast?
The movement was good, I liked it. It‘s not too fast. The waypoints were ok, good recognizeable
3. Did you feel uncomfortable in any way?
No.
User test 4 – User Interface
1. Did you find the boards? Were they easy to read?
Yes, there were good to read.
2. Did you miss anything?
Maybe an audio speaker would be great. To switch on and off.
3. Did you like the colors of the boards?
I‘m not sure. You knew where you’d been because you could see the colors from outside.
User test 5 – Sound and Audio
1. Discribe the sounds, please. Were you distracted?
Multifarious, but appropriate to the individual stations and overall harmonious. They didn‘t bother me, I found them pleasant. Good chosen.
2. Would you ever want to turn it off?
No
Ideas for changes and enhancements that have been implemented:
– audio speaker to switch on
– signposts
– additional objects
– exit button
Ideas for extentions:
– animated objects
– popups with informations
Final User test
All participants liked the audio speaker and were happy with the new signpost system. The speaker and the new objects made the topics clearer. When asked whether they would visit the exhibition again or recommend it to others, everyone answered yes. 🙂
Breakdown of the final piece
Item 1 – Start screen with launch plattform and info panel.
Item 2 – The entrance of the exhibition + central meeting point
Item 3 – Station Edutainment
Item 4 – Station Art Exhibition
Idem 5 – Station Sales
Item 6 – Relaxing
Item 7 – Exit
Conclusion
It was a very extensive project with a high conceptual effort. First I did a lot of research and tried out a lot of apps for Cardboard. It was difficult to decide on a topic. I then chose apps that I liked very much and that I found to be thematically exciting and graphically very well implemented. The search for suitable free 3d models, pictures and sounds for the exhibition stations also took me a lot of time.
I have to admit, at the beginning I found this task rather boring, but then I really enjoyed working on it. Especially the user tests were very helpful and helped me to get ahead.
I have gained a lot of experience during this project.
Next steps
I need a VIVE 😉