Diary Of A Self-Confessed Virtual Reality Tragic
It’s one for B&T’s techy readers! Here, Chris Hogben (pictured below), a designer for GPJ Experience Marketing agency, talks through his day at a recent virtual reality hackathon…
7.24AM
First alarm goes off, followed by second alarm…then a third.
7:35AM
I’m up. I can’t claim to be a morning person and my alarm app will attest to that. I do have getting ready and out the door down to a fine art though. I yell “Alexa, flash briefing” while making a coffee so I can listen to the headlines from around the world. It’s a Saturday and this is usually my weekday ritual, however today I’ve decided to take part in a Virtual Reality (VR) Hackathon so every minute counts.
I jump in my car loaded with a hefty PC and Oculus Rift (not the most portable setup). I usually put on a podcast for my commute, and I’ve recently discovered ‘There’s No Such Thing as a Fish’.
8:30AM
I pull in to the venue and proceed to lug my stuff upstairs and reconvene with my group. We kicked off the hackathon Friday evening, selecting our groups so that we had a good mix of people in each team. There was a good spread of people here today; developers, designers, artists and entrepreneurs eager to better understand the potential of VR.
VR has become one of my passions, as a designer, it’s a really exciting challenge. Bad design never hurt anyone, but poor VR design can and will cause sickness or injury. This means you have a responsibility as a VR designer to understand the technology and human physiology well enough to know how it can affect people.
In our team huddle we brainstorm some ideas, discuss a couple that we conceived the night before and see if the concept holds up in the light of day. One of our group members is keen to do an educational experience, specifically build a chemistry experience that will help teach the periodic table of elements. Learning these kinds of things in class can be quite abstract, so we had an opportunity to help build a stronger association between the elements and their symbol.
9:00AM
We’re all pretty happy with this idea and feel that VR can add some real value here, so it’s time to figure out the plan of attack. After quickly scoping out the project, we devise a MVP and then create a wish list if we have time leftover to build it out a bit more. My team member Nathan (our developer) begins working out some of the mechanics and creating a basic blueprint in Unity for us to build our experience from. Seiya (fellow VR designer) begins researching some elements we can focus on and I begin to map out the UX.
Storyboarding scenarios for VR is a little different from storyboarding a typical piece of screen content. You have to resist the urge to draw in rectangles and stop thinking about camera angles/a frame. Instead, you place the user in the centre, and map out the scene around them. In VR, you can’t control where they’ll look, so if you’re only designing for what’s in front of them, you’ll end up creating a linear experience that underwhelms.
10:30AM
We have another quick huddle to see where everyone is at and make sure everyone feels comfortable with the direction and scope. It all looks good so it’s time to get on the tools and see what we can cobble together in a weekend. There is a lot of guess work involved in developing a VR experience. It’s too early to just say “this won’t work” – it’s always worth throwing together a quick demo and giving it a try. Our developer begins getting to work on building out the core mechanics of the experience while Seiya and I begin to build test scenes of the key interactions to see how they feel.
7:30PM
I could go through the previous hours of work but it can simply be summed up as follows: test, iterate, troubleshoot, troubleshoot, troubleshoot + coffee. We designed a basic scene where you’d need to build a molecule to solve a problem. For example, create an H2O molecule to put out a fire. This allows for a practical application of the periodic table as well as providing a bit of a science playground. The beta was very basic; a 3D scene sourced from the internet and some quick elements painted in tilt brush.
8:00PM
We take a break for dinner when the pizza arrives. I’m pretty sure hackathons and meet ups wouldn’t exist without pizza.
8:30PM
By now we’ve got a lot of the core mechanics of the experience working so we can begin to add some features. It’s odd but I’ve found one of the most satisfying things for people in VR seems to be simply picking up an object then throwing it, so we’ve worked this action into the experience so that you can flick an element at the compound you’re creating and it will snap in place. It’s satisfying!
10:30PM
Deciding we’re in a good place, I head home to veg out and get some sleep.
11:30PM
Arrive home and say “Alexa, turn on the lights” … “lights aren’t responding at the moment”. No one said turning on a light was supposed to be simple, did they?
Latest News
TV Ratings (18/04/2024): I’m A Celebrity Wins Prime Time And Key Demos
Aussie viewers can be a harsh lot at times. Only days after Ellie Cole bled her heart out, she has been sent packing.
Effie&co Launches New ConnectAsia Division To Help Aussie Brands Market To Asian Consumers Overseas & At Home
Not provided is advice on using chopsticks and not spilling ramen down your shirt.
Cashrewards Sets Out Stall For New CMO
Thinking of applying for the Cashrewards CMO gig? Here are some insider tips that, yes, are tantamount to cheating.
‘I Ask For The TV Industry To Stand Up And Defend Itself’ – Seven Boss James Warburton Steps Down
The Seven supremo heads for the exits after five years. Here's hoping the Spotlight team organised the farewell bash.
Poh! Jamie! Adriano! Paramount ANZ reveals its tasty plans for this year’s MasterChef
It's your fan's guide to this year's MasterChef! Although no tips on how to pronounce crudités or use a un fait-tout.
Dentsu’s iProspect Partners With MOOD Tea Ahead Of May Campaign Launch
We love a Mood Tea here at B&T. Although we do store old screws and nails in the International Roast caterer's tin.
Opinion: When Culture Starts Eating Itself: Navigating The Age Of Self-eating Nostalgia
Born boss David Coupland asks is adland going through a nostalgia period? But please, no repeats of Best Of Red Faces.
Who’s Going To Cannes?! The TikTok Young Lions Winners!
It's Aussie adland's next gen! They're off to Cannes with high hopes of bringing back a Lion & a foot-long Toblerone.
Adobe Launches Express Mobile App With Firefly AI
Want to be the coolest kid at Friday staff drinks but forgot your retro Nikes? This new Adobe wizardry may do the trick.
ThinkNewsBrands & IMAA Extend News Publishing Education In Brisbane
Industry duo takes its publishing roadshow to Brisbane. Was disappointed no male attendees were wearing walk socks.
B&T Chats With Wavemaker’s Provocative Pioneers On Their Cross-Pacific Sojourn
B&T TV heads to Wavemaker's Sydney digs to interview two staffers from its New York & LA digs. If that makes sense?
HoMie & Champion Launch “Give One. Get One” Campaign Supporting Youth Homelessness Via Town Square
Much like the fête's prized chutney wears a blue winners sash, so too should this top initiative from HoMie & Champion.
Thinkerbell Takes Us Back To Summer In Latest Work For XXXX
This beer ad wants to take you back to summer! Just minus any chance of a shark attack on your morning bus commute.
Cannes Lions Unveils 2024 Programme Featuring Queen Latifah, Jay Shetty & P&G’s Mark Pritchard
Are you one of the lucky ducks heading to Cannes in June? Check out the headliner acts you'll be queueing hours to see.
Scroll Media Recruits Costa Panagos From Twitch
Costa Panagos set to bring South American flair to the Scroll offices. Assuming that he is, indeed, South American.
Year13, Microsoft & KPMG Australia Launch AI Course For Gen Zs
Born around the 2000s? Need to amp up your AI creds? This guide's for you (although it's not really that age specific).
General Motors Snares Heath Walker From Scania
Do you rage about oversized American cars on our roads? You need to bail up Heath Walker at parties & industry events.
VML Launches New “Envoyage” Brand For Flight Centre
VML unveils new brand for travel operator Flight Centre. Alas, no sign of those paid actors pretending to be pilots.
Subaru Places Media Account Up For Review
Subaru puts media up for review, as adland journos get set for mandatory "agency drives off with..." headline.
TV Ratings (17/04/2024): Contestants Faced With Harsh Realities As Alone Australia Heats Up (Or Cools Down)
Alone still doing the business for SBS. Overly long train journeys not doing the business, but they persist anyway.
Ben Fordham Loses Number One Spot As Ray Hadley Celebrates 156th Ratings Win
The radio numbers are in! Discover who's off for a boozy lunch today & who's waiting for the dreaded HR death knock.
Gourmet Ice Cream Brand Connoisseur Launches New “Thrill Your Senses” Iteration, Via SICKDOGWOLFMAN
Rattling the old "truth in advertising" adage comes this ice-cream spot full of noticeably thin people.
Paramount’s Global Sales Boss: ‘Australia’s Converged Model Is A Blueprint For How I’d Like All Of Our Markets To Be’
Paramount's global sales boss gives local sales ops the thumbs up. Didn't weigh-in on the Lisa Wilkinson debacle.
TikTok Starts Testing Its Instagram Rival In Australia
In exciting news for piano playing cats & brattish pranks in shopping centres, TikTok unveils its Insta rival plans.
Man Wrongly Named By Seven As Bondi Killer Hires Lawyers
Struggling to save for a house deposit? Why not get wrongly identified by Sunrise!
Smartsheet Appoints Indie Agency Sandbox Media To Its Media Account
Can't stand your colleagues? Like to dob them in when they miss a deadline? These work management platforms are ideal.
Boss Not Letting You Come To Cannes In Cairns? Use This Business Case To Convince Them!
Stingy boss won't spring for a ticket to Cairns? Add this to your persuasive argument repertoire. Or grovel.
Alt/shift/ Brisbane Builds Portfolio With Ausbuild Creative, PR, Content & Social Account Win
The Brisbane comms/PR agency lands constructor Ausbuild. Also hoping for a discount on its new glass conservatory.
Young Guns Versus The Old Guard: Who Adds More Value to Our Industry?
Cannes In Cairns poking this hornet's nest in a lively debate. Just so long as the oldies can get up the stairs.
70% Of Aussies Don’t Have Green Power Plans ENGIE Says In Major Brand Campaign Via HERO
Are you the notorious "light leaver on-er" in your flatshare? Quell any infighting with this green energy news.
PrettyGood Launches Offering Brand & Media Solutions For Australasian SMEs
B&T applauds the charitable nature of this new agency. Although we'd hate to see it impact any Chrissie present sends.
A Blunt End: Dolphins Medicinal Cannabis Sponsorship At Risk
Yes, it's another NRL drug story. Yet, thankfully it doesn't involve coke in Kuta during the off-season.
Slew Of New Creative Hires At Leo Burnett Australia
Ahhh, all black! The outfit of choice for agency creatives, David Jones staff and everyone in Melbourne.
Under Armour Unveils Local “Live in UA” Campaign
American apparel brand set for yet another tilt at the Aussie market, as Nike declares "we'll see about that".
Pepsi Launches New Look, Refreshing Classic Fashion Staples Via Special PR
Are you always the bridesmaid, never the bride, as the old saying goes? How do you think Pepsi feels?
Pure Blonde Returns To A Place Purer Than Yours In New Campaign Via The Monkeys
B&T's always been a huge fan of the 'drink yourself thinner' diet plan. So big thanks to Pure blonde, vodka & tequila.