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Exploring internal augmented reality development skills
Whiteboard was our internal R&D project — another jab at Magic Leap’s capabilities in the business setting. The result is a promising proof of concept that redefined the idea of whiteboard brainstorming.
In our internal research and development (R&D) department, we often experiment with immersive technologies. The idea for an XR Whiteboard came up during discussions on cross-reality collaboration.
At nomtek, we're firm believers that immersive remote collaboration is the future of work and distributed teams across the globe.
When brainstorming on solutions that could facilitate remote collaboration, we came up with the idea of creating a mixed reality whiteboard. We decided to work with Magic Leap’s ecosystem to build a POC and gauge this tech’s possibilities.
A mixed reality whiteboard could improve collaboration in projects that ordinarily rely on in-person communication. The free-form sketching of ideas in an immersive setting lets users tap into their creativity.
To provide the familiar feeling users associate with using whiteboards, we had to focus to make the input method resemble how a user would normally use a whiteboard, with markers and erasers to manipulate the whiteboard’s content.
Scope of Work
The project started with intense brainstorming sessions where we tried to uncover the nuances of translating a whiteboard into its mixed reality version.
Technical Feasibility
Exploring the usability and accessibility of the mixed reality whiteboard was a key part of the project. We had to consider which form of interaction to choose, i.e., hand gestures or controller-based manipulation.
UX/UI Design
When working with immersive experiences, it's critical to design the interface in a way that creates a spacious working environment without making the user dizzy.
3D Development
Crafting optimal 3D models for augmented reality elevates the user experience. The graphics had to maintain the necessary level of detail while not clog the device's resources.
Solution
The Whiteboard project hints at how businesses can interact and brainstorm remotely, bringing a new dimension to collaboration. By amplifying everyday tools like whiteboards with augmented reality, we can enhance creative processes and make remote meetings more engaging.
Since it’s only a POC, there’s a lot more work to be done to make the project viable for enterprise production. The result is still a fun and immersive experience that redefines how we think about using and seeing whiteboards.
The project can be further expanded to include a remote cast with multi-user collaboration capability. Developing these features would give the whiteboard more interaction, immersion, and usability.
Team Composition
Whiteboard for Magic Leap called for experts in augmented reality development.
3D Designer
3D Developer
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