The mobile version of this case study is under development and will be ready to be browsed on 06/05/2023
VR Farm
A virtual reality journey to a farm, exploring and discovering the wonders of a staple Indian diet
Duration
1 month (200 hours)
Role
Designer
Developer
Tools used
Unity
Blender
Figma
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effects
SUMMARY
Problem: Find a way to create a digital heritage of my culture
As time progresses, people are finding it more challenging to remain attentive and engaged in learning about different cultures and even basic aspects like the culinary traditions of other countries. How can we effectively safeguard and uphold these cultural elements for future generations?
Solution: Build an educational experience to learn about a staple Indian diet in VR
Motivated by my parents' discussions about the health benefits of the staple Indian diet, I envisioned a transformative VR experience to preserve and share this valuable knowledge. By recreating a virtual field brimming with raw materials, users could freely navigate and explore while learning about the nutrition value of each ingredient. This immersive journey would enable users to physically immerse themselves in the world of the Indian diet, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for its health benefits.
Research
Virtual Reality (VR) offers an engaging platform for education, leading to enhanced retention of knowledge. The immersive nature of VR captivates learners, enabling them to better absorb and remember information. Moreover, the inclusion of hand tracking and sound in VR adds an extra layer of interactivity and realism to the educational experience, making it more immersive and impactful. Furthermore, when VR applications provide interactions that closely mirror users' real-life experiences, it facilitates ease of use and understanding. Users can navigate and interact within the virtual environment with a sense of familiarity, enhancing their overall experience and learning outcomes. Clear instructions and guidance within VR applications further assist users in maximizing their learning potential.
Engaging VR improves retention in education
1
Hand tracking and sound enhance immersion
2
Real-life translation for ease of use and understanding
3
Instructions and guidance aid user navigation
4
Despite my parents' efforts to educate me about the advantages of Indian cuisine, I regrettably failed to give it the attention it deserved. Although I was aware of the basic components of a typical Indian diet, I never truly delved into its nutritional value. Consequently, I found myself seeking answers on the internet.
A staple indian diet contains
Wheat
1
Wheat is a fundamental dietary element in Indian cuisine, and chapati, a staple bread made from wheat, is a significant source of nutrition, providing 106 calories per serving, making it an indispensable component of the daily diet.
Carbohydrates: 59.4%
Proteins: 9.4%
Fat: 2%
Rice
2
Usually eaten with lentils and vegetables, rice is cooked and eaten across all India. Each serving of rice contains around 169 calories and is eaten for lunch or dinner.
Carbohydrates: 80%
Proteins: 18%
Fat: 2%
Vegetables
3
When cooked with Indian spices, vegetables become really interesting and fun to eat. Vegetables like carrots which contain around 41 calories are not only delicious but provide the necessary daily nutrients therefore becoming a staple of the Indian diet.
Carbohydrates: 80%
Proteins: 18%
Sugar: 25.8%
Fiber: 15.4%
Fat: 2%
Fruits
4
Fruits, usually consumed as evening snacks provide essential nutrients in the daily diet that protect against chronic diseases. Apple is a staple fruit consumed once every day and each provides around 52 calories.
Carbohydrates: 50.9%
Proteins: 1.1%
Sugar: 38.4%
Fiber: 8.8%
Fat: 0.8%
Seafood
5
Sea food, usually fish is consumed once or twice a week and it offers weight loss. They contain healthy fat and contain a total of 280 calories in one serving.
Sodium: 63%
Proteins: 28%
Fat: 9%
Milk
6
Milk which is usually consumed for breakfast ot after dinner excellent source of vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium. There is a running joke in Bollywood movies that show people drinking milk before consummating their marriage.
Carbohydrates: 21%
Proteins: 31%
Fat: 48%
VR Farm
Research
Ideation
Design
Development
Testing
Next steps
PROCESS
To ensure a comprehensive and successful execution of my projects, I adhere to my tried-and-tested design thinking process. This approach enables me to take a holistic and all-encompassing approach, considering various aspects and factors at each stage of the project
Research
1.
Conduct thorough research on the Indian diet and explore how to create an immersive educational experience in VR.
Ideation
2.
Generate ideas and concepts for the VR application, brainstorming innovative approaches to deliver an engaging and educational experience.
Design
3.
Create and gather relevant assets for the project, including 3D models, textures, visual and audio elements, and user interface.
Development
4.
Utilize Unity to develop the VR application, implementing the planned features and functionalities.
Testing
5.
Thoroughly test the application on Oculus Quest 2 to identify any issues, bugs, or areas for improvement and gather feedback from users.
Next steps
6.
Using the user feedback, find ways to improve and update the application for a more engaging experience.
RESEARCH
Virtual Reality (VR) offers an engaging platform for education, leading to enhanced retention of knowledge. The immersive nature of VR captivates learners, enabling them to better absorb and remember information. Moreover, the inclusion of hand tracking and sound in VR adds an extra layer of interactivity and realism to the educational experience, making it more immersive and impactful. Furthermore, when VR applications provide interactions that closely mirror users' real-life experiences, it facilitates ease of use and understanding. Users can navigate and interact within the virtual environment with a sense of familiarity, enhancing their overall experience and learning outcomes. Clear instructions and guidance within VR applications further assist users in maximizing their learning potential.
Engaging VR improves retention in education
1.
Hand tracking and sound, enhance immersion
2.
Real-life translation for ease of use and understanding
3.
Instructions and guidance aid user navigation
4.
Despite my parents' efforts to educate me about the advantages of Indian cuisine, I regrettably failed to give it the attention it deserved. Although I was aware of the basic components of a typical Indian diet, I never truly delved into its nutritional value. Consequently, I found myself seeking answers on the internet.
A staple Indian diet contains:
Wheat
1.
Wheat is a fundamental dietary element in Indian cuisine, and chapati, a staple bread made from wheat, is a significant source of nutrition, providing 106 calories per serving, making it an indispensable component of the daily diet.
Carbohydrates: 59.4%
Proteins: 9.4%
Fat: 2%
Rice
2.
Usually eaten with lentils and vegetables, rice is cooked and eaten across all India. Each serving of rice contains around 169 calories and is eaten for lunch or dinner.
Carbohydrates: 80%
Proteins: 18%
Fat: 2%
Vegetables
3.
When cooked with Indian spices, vegetables become really interesting and fun to eat. Vegetables like carrots which contain around 41 calories are not only delicious but provide the necessary daily nutrients therefore becoming a staple of the Indian diet.
Carbohydrates: 80%
Proteins: 18%
Sugar: 25.8%
Fiber: 15.4%
Fat: 2%
Fruits
4.
Fruits, usually consumed as evening snacks provide essential nutrients in the daily diet that protect against chronic diseases. Apple is a staple fruit consumed once every day and each provides around 52 calories.
Carbohydrates: 50.9%
Proteins: 1.1%
Sugar: 38.4%
Fiber: 8.8%
Fat: 0.8%
Seafood
5.
Sea food, usually fish is consumed once or twice a week and it offers weight loss. They contain healthy fat and contain a total of 280 calories in one serving.
Sodium: 63%
Proteins: 28%
Fat: 9%
Milk
6.
Milk which is usually consumed for breakfast ot after dinner excellent source of vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium. There is a running joke in Bollywood movies that show people drinking milk before consummating their marriage.
Carbohydrates: 21%
Proteins: 31%
Fat: 48%
IDEATION
In order to create an immersive learning experience about the Indian diet, I wanted to replicate the feeling of being on an actual farm. I envisioned a virtual farm setting with raw materials surrounding the user, providing a tangible connection to the origins of the Indian diet. To further enhance immersion, realistic soundscapes were included to transport users to the farm environment. Additionally, I wanted users to engage physically with the items, using their hands to interact with and manipulate ingredients. This hands-on approach not only deepens immersion but also facilitates a more interactive and experiential learning process
The solution must
Educate users about the Indian diet
1.
Be immersive
2.
Provide user control and freedom within the virtual environment
3.
Features
In order to create an immersive learning experience about the Indian diet, I wanted to replicate the feeling of being on an actual farm. I envisioned a virtual farm setting with raw materials surrounding the user, providing a tangible connection to the origins of the Indian diet. To further enhance immersion, realistic soundscapes were included to transport users to the farm environment. Additionally, I wanted users to engage physically with the items, using their hands to interact with and manipulate ingredients. This hands-on approach not only deepens immersion but also facilitates a more interactive and experiential learning process
An immersive virtual farm environment
1.
Organize the content into sections dedicated to different raw materials
2.
Include informative panels in each section displaying the raw material's name and providing nutritional information
3.
Incorporate realistic farm sounds to enhance immersion
4.
Allow users to grab and inspect raw materials using their hands
5.
Give users instructions of interacting with their environment
6.
Enable users to walk around the virtual farm
7.
Allow users to grab and drop items in a basket
8.
Provide the ability to teleport to different sections
9.
Sketches
To bring my idea to life, I began by creating sketches to visually conceptualize the application. These sketches served as a blueprint, allowing me to outline the various elements and interactions within the application. Additionally, the sketches played a crucial role in identifying all the necessary assets that would need to be gathered and designed for the development phase of the application. By visually mapping out the application's structure and components, I gained a clearer understanding of the scope and requirements, ensuring a more streamlined and efficient development process.
A VR Farm where users can walk around and explore. The farm should:
-
Be big enough for 6 sections
-
Have a pond where fish could go
Each section will have:
-
Collection of the raw material
-
Panel with the name of the raw material
-
An information button
-
Nutrition value of the raw material
Players should have:
-
Instruction panel at spawn
-
Cart attached to them to collect items
-
A menu that opens when players make a fist with their left-hand
The menu should have:
-
Each Section button can interact with the player's right hand
-
A home button that takes the player to the spawn location
DESIGN
I utilized sketches to create a comprehensive inventory of the assets required for the development of this VR application. To expedite the process, I obtained 3D assets from online resources and made modifications to them using Blender. The nutrition information was skillfully designed using Figma, while the menu and panel were expertly crafted within Unity.
Online 3D assets
Nutrition information cards (Designed on Figma)
Information card (Designed on Figma)
Panel and Interactive Menu (Designed in Unity)
Audio (from Youtube)
Farm sounds
1.
Water (for seafood)
2.
Breeze (for fields)
3.
Cows (for Dairy farm)
4.
DEVELOPMENT
Equipped with the prepared sketches and assets, I embarked on the development process. Utilizing Unity 2022.2.177 and Oculus Quest 2, I focused on creating a VR experience. Employing a methodical approach, I tackled each section step by step. Although I encountered numerous trial and error situations, I managed to overcome them with the assistance of Google and ChatGPT, ultimately achieving successful completion of the application.
Import and clean up the environment
1.
Six sections
2.
For setting up each section, I performed 6 different steps
Create a field of the section
a.
Put up a panel with the name of the raw material in the field
b.
Put a raw material under the panel with a plane under it
c.
Add label for the section
d.
Add audio source for each section
e.
Repeat the process for all six sections
f.
Attach the cart to the player with raw materials above them
3.
Add the instruction panel
4.
Attach menu to the player
5.
Add audio source for the whole scene
6.
Track hands
7.
Add interactions
8.
Poke menu item to teleport
b.
Right hand fist to move around
c.
Left hand fist to open menu
a.
Add to Cart
e.
Grab and drop
f.
Information button
d.
TESTING
I conducted thorough testing of the application, involving two additional users besides myself, to gather valuable feedback and insights. The feedback provided by the users proved to be instrumental in identifying areas for improvement and enhancing the overall user experience. Their perspectives shed light on various aspects, including usability, functionality, and visual appeal.
Instructions not clear
1.
The instructions provided in the application were unclear. Upon making a fist gesture, the player would start moving without a proper understanding of the game mechanics. A step-by-step tutorial would greatly enhance user experience and understanding.
Reading Information cards was not ideal
2.
The nutrition card within the application contains a substantial amount of text, which might hinder information retention. Including an option for audio narration could improve comprehension and retention for users.
Rendering issue
3.
During the testing phase of the application, I noticed a problem with the models and images where horizontal and vertical lines would overlap, resulting in flickering. Despite my efforts, I was unable to resolve this rendering issue.
Slow performance
4.
Occasionally, the application would experience slow loading times, necessitating a restart of the app to improve performance.
Character collider
5.
In the environment, the player was able to pass through objects, which doesn't reflect real-life physics or interactions.
NEXT STEPS
The project lasted for one month, serving as a valuable learning experience in the realms of VR design and development. I had the opportunity to acquire substantial knowledge during this time, expanding my expertise in these domains. However, it is important to acknowledge that the research conducted for the project fell short of the desired level of thoroughness, and the execution did not achieve perfection. Moving forward, my next steps would involve:
Thorough Research
1.
Conduct comprehensive research on the staple Indian diet, ensuring accurate and in-depth information is incorporated into the application. This will involve exploring ingredients, nutritional values, and cultural significance to provide a rich understanding of Indian cuisine.
Immersive Farm Experience
2.
Create a more immersive and captivating experience for users when exploring the farm environment. Incorporate interactive elements, detailed 3D models, and dynamic representations of the farming process to make the experience more engaging and realistic.
Recipe Integration
3.
Create a more immersive and captivating experience for users when exploring the farm environment. Incorporate interactive elements, detailed 3D models, and dynamic representations of the farming process to make the experience more engaging and realistic.
Animated Environmental Objects
4.
Introduce animations for objects within the environment to bring them to life. Adding visual elements and movements will enhance the overall visual appeal and interactivity of the application.
Educational Quiz
5.
Implement a quiz or interactive learning activities to facilitate better learning and retention of information. This will allow users to test their knowledge and reinforce key concepts related to the staple Indian diet and cooking methods.
Multiplayer Functionality
6.
Enable multiplayer capabilities, allowing users to explore the application together with friends or family members. This collaborative feature will enhance social interaction, fostering shared experiences and facilitating joint learning opportunities.