VIBRATION GROUP
Vibration Group is a Transmedia Immersive performance and an Alternate reality experience that speculates on modes of cultural survival and preservation in a dystopian future directed by Anna Luisa Petrisko. The project has two variations: An immersive experimental Sci Fi Opera, where participants visit a spaceship commune floating in space, and an interactive Videoconference performance, where the members of the spaceship transmit information to earth.
Scope
• Immersive Design
• Environment Design
• Animation
• Creative Technology
• Natural User Interface Design
• Technical R&D
• User Flow Design
Tools & Techniques
• Cinema 4D
• Unity
• Mobile VR Development
• NUX Design
• Photogrametry
• 3D modeling & Rendering
Project Type:
Transmedia Immersive Performance • Alternate Reality Experience • Virtual Reality
My Role:
Experience Designer • VR Developer • Animator • Environment Artist
Funding:
LACE • Human Resources • MAP fun
Project Website:
How to design digital components effectively to expand world building and ensure visitor participation.
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How to design an interactive Virtual Reality component with a novice audience in mind.
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How to create a expansive and believable database that allows users to explore while expanding the lore.
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EXPANDED REALITY FOR WORLDBUILDING
The main component of Vibration Group is the Immersive Sci Fi Opera experience that takes place in a not so distant future. The digital elements of the piece were key to expand the world building and ensure the visitors participation.
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WELCOME TO THE SPACESHIP
I joined forces with Tonia B to design and implement the digital components of the Sci-fi Experimental Opera. While we were developing the digital components of the show, our focus was on generating prototypes that offered participants a deeper understanding of the piece while maintaining straightforward interaction. This led to the creation of two key elements: the Virtual Reality Spa and the Intergalactic Open-Source Library.
We aimed to have the technology serve a dual purpose. On the one hand, it was a tool that deepened the immersive quality of our universe - as soon as our visitors stepped into the gallery, they were essentially stepping onto our spaceship, with the technology naturally blending into this alternate reality. On the other hand, the interfaces were supposed to be fun and allowed our visitors to feel part of the world of Vibration Group.
EARTHNESS
Recognizing that many of our visitors were new to Virtual Reality, we aimed to craft an experience that was both engaging and intuitive.
Each show had about 60-70 attendees, and we aimed to accommodate as many participants as possible in the Virtual Reality Spa. To achieve this, we used the Oculus Go, an affordable standalone headset, which allowed us to establish 10 simultaneous stations. While the Oculus Go offered us accessibility, it had limitations like reduced processing power and interaction, which we addressed through some "Out of this world" decision-making:
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We developed a VR landscape that combined Pre-Rendered Stereo Spherical Footage and real-time Unity elements that responded to participant interaction and fit the artistic vision.
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We utilized the Go controller's rotation and position for input, simplifying the control scheme and eliminating the need for button familiarization.
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We housed the Go controller within a plush "crystal, connected to your heart" further integrating the technology into the lore. Participants were asked to move the crystal, thus quickly learning its effect on the VR world.
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To minimize the impact of the Oculus Go's 3DoF limitation and enhance immersion, participants started the experience seated on a beach chair, aligning with the initial paradisiacal beach landscape of 'Earthness'.
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The members of Vibration Group are not the only humans floating in the Space. There’s an active network formed by other space communes, that share their research through the Intergalactic Open-Source Library. The visitors of Vibration Group can access the public resources of this library through a touch screen computer located on the Lobby of the spaceship.
THE INTERGALACTIC LIBRARY
Just as with the Visual reality Spa, a key concern was creating a system that had a very straightforward user experience and that in exchange gave as much context as possible. Given all the variables existing during the development of the library, Tonz, who is the HTML wizard of the spaceship, developed the whole system web-based, allowing us to host it in a myriad of platforms.
Given the amount of content needed to create such a library, the process was highly collaborative: Each member of Vibration Group offered images, texts, recordings and titles that could’ve been produced and consumed by their characters in the alternate reality of the piece.
Afterwards Tonia and I, unified the content and designed and the missing elements.
SHOWS AND REVIEWS
TouchDesigner Installation Artists
Keshav Prasad
Crystal Jow
Photogrammetry Process
Emilia Mason
Meta Spark Development Assistance
Alanna Cassias Foilose
Experience Design
Ana Carolina Estarita Guerrero
SparkAR Design and Artwork
Ana Carolina Estarita Guerrero
Andy Cao
3D Modeling and Textures
Juanita Rubio
Augmented Reality Creative Production
Emilia Mason
Director
Emilia Yang Rappaccioli
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