This project explores the use of AR through image target, in this case cubes, to create a 3D environment of an attraction chose by you! With this project you will be able to create environments of your choosing with my attractions as templates. This project does require a computer that is able to handle moderate graphics and is new roughly a computer after 2018 would be ok. In this project not only will you be able to make your own attractions, you will be able to learn how to do API calls to both the time and weather as show in the images on this site. Also in this project, you will be able to see how scripts are used to control lighting as well as sound once the cubes are rotated a certain way or when it comes into view, plays a noise. This project can used as an actual knickknack for your personal use or even create a NFT knickknack of your own by using this project. Below are steps on how to get started and where to get the code!
Here are a list of asset used that were both created by me and assest from the internet:
In each of the models I chose an attraction that I specifically felt were important to me and fun to make. The Golden gate bridge was the fun attraction to make because it was a scene that could have any background on it since it was on land and water. I chose this attraction because I visited this location in summer 2022 and it was spectacular! I had to try to recreate the best that I could of the bridge and also the experience that I had going under the bridge via boat. Using the water boat sound was important because that is what it felt like that day being under the bridge. On the second attraction, I chose a train station that I essentially grew up on to get me everywhere in the city. It was important for me to make this because its my identity and the reason why I know so much of Chicago and the places I’ve been and the connections to other transit lines as well. Using the train passing by sound is perfect because it reminds me when I was late, early, waiting, or barely getting onto the train from the platform. Also, I recently moved out of that neighborhood, and I wanted to pay tribute to the good old days!
While building this application, I started to wonder how this can be applied in real life and how popular can this get? In my opinion, I think this will gain popularity especially if these knickknacks become interactive in the real world. One application that I can see this happening is using it take a glance at your digital life. For example, we can use AR glasses to track a small object that would be able to pop up your digital life. It would be able to show your socials feed, events, time, or anything that you would like. It becomes personal to the user. This would have traction with people as the knickknack itself can be customizable as well. If they wanted a knickknack of SpongeBob, they could do it! Another Idea could be posters set up around cities that could point them to famous attractions or give information about the city neighborhood. With technology evolving, AR could become a popular information tool at first then expand into something else. It could go into AR games where you can use a knickknack to virtually fight another knickknack to see who’s the strongest. It could go even further to showing a patient’s medical history by simply using AR glasses to view their knickknack. The size of these knickknack could be small but not to the point where it is microscopic. For instance, a coin or a button on shirt could act as one knickknack. This would be an ideal size for the someone as it can easily fit into a pocket, phone case, wallet etc. These would be personal knickknacks but let’s say they want something to compete or have fun watching something. A good size for something like that is a playing card to a sheet of paper. This is still mobile enough to carry around, but it also gives more room to make multiple image target to create mini worlds, games, 3D Visualization etc. Since it would have more room to make unique image targets, it can open up to more interaction for the user. On a larger scale, a poster size to even a monument plate can be used to give info, video history, movement etc. to the viewer. This would give tourists the chance to learn about the monument in their own language as well! Of course, these would be seen with AR glasses, but it could be much more interactive. With AR glasses you can have your personal knickknack control your temperature at home or turn on/off the light to your house or car. With playing cards you can link the games with real money. With larger scale image targets, you could potentially watch a movie play out right in front of you. There are endless possibilities for this to become popular in the future and I believe it can evolve to some degree the things I mentioned. It could even be more than what I listed! AR truly can be more popular if we are creative.
