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Development Log - Week of
Nov. 1st, 2023

* Note regarding our demonstration video: 

We acknowledge that some choppiness is visible in the video, and we want to assure you that this issue is solely related to the recording software used during the capturing process.

We want to emphasize that the actual simulation runs seamlessly without any choppiness or glitches. The smooth operation of the simulation remains unaffected by the recording software limitations. Our team is actively working to address this challenge and find a solution to avoid any future instances of choppy video demonstrations.

Thank you for your understanding!

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<--- Start of Development Log - Week of Nov. 1st, 2023 --->

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During this week, our team dedicated efforts to brainstorming ideas and planning the development of our VR application.

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Idea 1: STEM Education - Apollo 11 Moon Landing

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  • Allow users to dive into interesting STEM concepts associated with the Apollo 11 mission while being transported back to July 20, 1969, to experience the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. 

  • Learn about different engineering, science, and math concepts applied while experiencing the Apollo 11 mission.

  • Possible educational concept ideas: 

    • Physics: Mechanics, Newton's laws, E+M, Radiation, Gravity, Orbital Mechanics, trajectories, Electromagnetism, etc.

    • Geology: Landing site selection, Lunar highlands, Lunar rock types, impact cratering, soil sample and analysis, etc.

    • Astronomy: Lunar phases, eclipse, cosmic radiation, earth-moon-sun geometry, etc.

    • Materials Science: spacecraft materials

    • Electrical engineering: circuit design, circuit safety, sensors, basic communications concepts, etc.

  • Can have multiple scenes -> on the moon, in the spacecraft, etc. 

  • Apollo 11 VR is an existing VR Documentary. -> this application would differ because it would be focusing on teaching science/math/physics/engineering concepts while in an exciting immersive Apollo 11 mission setting rather than being a VR video documentary of the mission.   

 

Idea 2: Culinary/Food Safety Training in VR

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  • Creating a food/culinary safety training VR simulation can provide an immersive and effective way to educate food service professionals, chefs, and kitchen staff about safe food handling practices. ( Food Safety Principles research based on CDC guidelines).

  • Users should be able to navigate and interact with the kitchen tools, equipment, and ingredients using VR controllers.

  • Incorporate educational modules that cover fundamental food safety principles, including temperature control, cross-contamination, hand hygiene, and safe storage practices. Use interactive scenarios to reinforce these concepts.

  • There exists culinary VR applications for culinary training, but I did not find much about food safety training, and this can be used by anyone in the food/service industry. 

  • The primary objective is to create an immersive bundle of VR simulations focusing on risky behaviors and challenging driving conditions, simulating the consequences of dangerous actions in an engaging manner to raise awareness about hazardous driving behaviors.  

 

Idea 3: Neural Odyssey

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  • Concept: A VR simulation that allows users to explore the inner workings of the human brain in an immersive and educational way. 

  • Users are shrunk down to a microscopic size, entering the human brain to witness its neural networks, synapses, and electrical impulses in real-time.  

  • Features:

    • Interactive Learning: Users can interact with different parts of the brain, learning about their functions and how they contribute to human cognition, emotions, and behavior. 

    • Neurological Disorders Exploration: Users can experience simulations of various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or schizophrenia. This allows them to understand the impact of these disorders on neural pathways and gain empathy for individuals suffering from these conditions. 

    • Brain Engineering Workshop: A creative mode where users can experiment with building their own neural pathways and synapses. They can modify neural connections, create new pathways, and observe how these changes affect different aspects of the brain's functioning.

    • Mindfulness and Meditation Zones: Introduce calming environments within the brain where users can practice mindfulness and meditation.

      • Feature serene landscapes or peaceful settings, providing users with a relaxing experience and teaching them about the connection between mental well-being and brain activity. 

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Idea 4 (and our chosen idea!): RiskyRoads

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The primary objective is to create an immersive bundle of VR simulations focusing on risky behaviors and challenging driving conditions, simulating the consequences of dangerous actions in an engaging manner to raise awareness about hazardous driving behaviors.  

 

Concept Development:  

  • Defined specific scenarios for the RiskyRoads VR simulation, including drunk driving, adverse weather conditions, not wearing seat belts, and texting while driving. These scenarios serve as the initial focus for our simulations. 

  • Randomized outcomes/ accidents may trigger for different scenarios.

  • Emphasized interactive elements, enabling users to make decisions within the simulations and receive feedback based on their choices. 

  • Considered the possibility of incorporating a freeplay mode, although this feature will only be developed as time permits. 

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Design and User Experience:  

  • Explored various 3D models, including cityscapes, pedestrians, traffic lights, and car models, with some featuring skeletons for animations. 

  • Worked on designing the user interface for the website. 

  • Discussed integrating realistic driving scenarios to enhance user immersion and engagement. 

  • Outlined user interactions and potential outcomes for different situations, such as handling text messaging, driving under the influence, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving while sleep-deprived. 

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Technical Development:  

  • Established the foundational elements for all four simulations, including basic car driving features such as forward movement, turning in the user's intended direction, and braking. 

  • Developed a large-scale cityscape with roads and buildings to create an immersive environment. 

  • Implemented a functional traffic light system capable of displaying red, yellow, and green lights. 

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Testing and Feedback:  

  • Conducted preliminary testing sessions with team members; further playtests are scheduled for November 8th, involving external developers for more comprehensive feedback. 

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Initial Plans for Next Steps (Week of 11/8/2023):  

  • Iterate on the VR simulations based on feedback received during testing sessions. 

  • Begin detailed construction of two VR simulations: text and driving, and drunk driving. 

  • Introduce pedestrians on sidewalks and create accident simulations to enhance realism. 

  • Implement prompts and reminder messages (texting and driving scenario). 

  • Refine the user interface and overall design to ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience.

 

<--- End of Development Log - Week of Nov. 1st, 2023 --->

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