HydroShift
After a few years of availability of XR-soft- and hardware, we see different approaches to using this technology. Common are cases in gaming (e.g., Virtual Reality) and business (e.g., Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality). The potential to use this immersive technology in a meaningful way has not yet been exhausted. People are not aware of some impacts they are doing through consumption decisions. Even if they are searching for these information, they find abstract data which are not easy to imagine (e.g., water consumption or ingredients with unknown supply-chains.)
In this Mixed Reality (MR) prototype project, we try to convert abstract data into concrete information. We refer to abstract data as the hidden consumption of water in manufacturing products. To make this more concrete, we use MR to visualize this amount of water in relation to the size of the product. The goal is to change grocery customers' thinking and behavior while shopping in grocery.
In this future related approach a customer is entering a grocery and stats shopping. While the customer is wearing mixed reality glasses they can scan and select a product. The glasses are showing the hidden water consumption in a concrete manner. For example, the amount of needed water to produce one kilogram of cocoa can displayed right next to it. Through this they could get more affected. Based on this, they can overthink about their consumption decision. The solution can build a bridge between abstract data and influencing information.
Prototype v1
Exploring_XR_v1-2.mp4
Prototype v2
HydroShift_v0-3_shrinked-for-demoday.mp4
The project is in the state after a second prototype. Research and Design is done in its first iteration. The goal is to pursuit the mentioned approach to use the potential of MR.
Next main steps for the thrid and upcoming prototype will be:
- Retrieve product information against a json file
- Implementing Product selection via image recognition
With the third prototype we can deliver a first functional MVP.
The fourth prototype is already in planning.
- We are using Microsoft Visual Studio 2019, Unity and MRTK3.
- The MRTK3-approach keeps the door open to work crossplatform.
- Hardwarewise we are focusing on Microsoft Hololens 2 primarly.