Emerging Technology

Co-Play

special thanks to vaibhavi bhorihanna

Handhelds

The controllers are made to connect to the main headset via a series of magnetic pogo pins. This keeps the headset semantically in one piece, the disconnection of the controllers gives a tangible accent to the breaking of a new reality.

Manta VR

Among the incredible denizens of our magical world, the surrealist whimsicality of a manta ray struck me as a designer. I would love to explore other worlds on the back of a majestic creature.

Manta morphologically is constructed with an organic form factor, considering each of our heads are vividly different.

Through the process of experimenting with existing headsets I attempted to uncover how I can tweak the ergonomics to suit any head shape and let a user wear Manta for longer than average times.

Design Process

By performing user journeys with the headset, a lot more meets the eye, those who have never used a headset before trying to use one, or those with spectacles fumbling their way through to the headset. It seemed like a lot more needed to be fleshed out with the headset’s communication.

Several users identified where the pressure was building due to the weight of the headset. Marking these out and building accordingly was a huge part of the designer constraints.

Ergonomics

Back To Work

About Me

A challenge I decided to take up was the isolating narrative of headsets today. Virtual aside, can humans physically collaborate, come together and access a virtual world alongside each other?

On an obvious note there were physical challenges, especially the lack of a visual queue to keep people from crashing into each other. Via IoT interfacing I was able to get the two headsets to identify each other through Unity. Integrating this as a feature in game makers and app developers, could amplify the creative development for virtual reality. The controllers, being a part of the headset, sync with one another prior to each dive, Within each defensive ring on the controller I planned to include an IR Photogrammetry mechanic to build a space virtually including the other player.

A challenge I decided to take up was the isolating narrative of headsets today. Virtual aside, can humans physically collaborate, come together and access a virtual world alongside each other?

In the spirit of open-source, Manta assets and its design were entirely developed using Blender.

Interactive Immersions

Bonus Content

The process of this project led to a series of inquiries around immersive interactions all around us, whether they are a faucet knob, or a handle for a door, these micro interactions were so immersive we barely notice interacting with them. If VR also represented the aspects behind these immersions, it could entail a clearer communication of the virtual world without the impending doom of removing the headset. This inquiry sparked a collaboration with one of my friends, Varun, who was vastly interested in daily interactions, and together we built a workshop to brainstorm around this topic further.

Interactive Immersions

Co-Play

Visualize a headset that speaks through to another reality simply by the way it functions physically.

Many headsets today lack the explorative edge in their physical design and limit themselves in semantics, playtime and form.

Manta is an experiment to provide an otherworldly experience on a fun and creative platter by introducing simple features that build a stronger narrative around the concept of virtual realities. It hopes to uncover the creative passion in people to build for this medium and introduce a collaborative element, blending the best of both worlds.

Visualize a headset that speaks through to another reality simply by the way it functions physically.

Many headsets today lack the explorative edge in their physical design and limit themselves in semantics, playtime and form.

Visualize a headset that speaks through to another reality simply by the way it functions physically.

Many headsets today lack the explorative edge in their physical design and limit themselves in semantics, playtime and form.

Manta 1:1 scale mockup using MDF, PLA, and recycled headset parts to convey the use case and feel.

Processes include 3D printing and Laser Cutting.

This project developed into identifying micro-immersive experiences all around us, something as simple as holding an object like a bag makes us think an object is simpler and more controllable than it may really be.

Manta boasts a snap-fit portable form factor to easily carry everything together at once by fitting the battery back into the headset space. This is not only for a functional, but also a cognitive immersive experience.

Microimmersion

Manta 1:1 scale mockup using MDF, PLA, and recycled headset parts to convey the use case and feel.

Processes include 3D printing and Laser Cutting.

The logo is shaped to match the surrealism of a giant manta ray. The shape organically matches the appearance of the headset in its packed form.

Characterization

A product should possess a character, and should allow for someone using the product to express their character thoroughly too. Especially in a VR headset, where the isolation of the task can be devoid of a social aspect.

A dynamic E-ink display on the front side lets you customize the way you look to others, inviting a social element.

In play mode the headset balances itself in a concave arc, and this shape lets you place the headset comfortably in stall mode to interact with the real world.

Characterization

A dynamic E-ink display on the front side lets you customize the way you look to others, inviting a social element.

In play mode the headset balances itself in a concave arc, and this shape lets you place the headset comfortably in stall mode to interact with the real world.

Microimmersion