Echos: Interactive VR
Storytelling
An interactive Virtual Reality experience that preserves the backstories of inspirational heroes, including their challenges, decisions, and emotions.
MHCI+D CAPSTONE x RevereXR
TIMELINE
ROLE
9 months
January 2023 - August 2024
Lead Product Designer
DELIVERABLES
Overview
CONTEXT
THE BUSINESS
BUSINESS GOAL
My capstone project was sponsored by RevereXR ➜, a startup that recreates historical narratives that are being forgotten using immersive technology (VR, AR, XR).
RevereXR introduced its initiative to enter the education market, specifically high school education in Washington. 📚
They were interested in exploring how we could better teach high school students about the important contributions that notable BIPOC figures have made in society.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT
Current stem education often fails to adequately represent the rich history and diverse contributions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals.
Despite their significant achievements, BIPOC narratives are frequently absent or overlooked in mainstream curriculums.
Research has found that the visibility of successful BIPOC STEM professionals encourages BIPOC high school students to envision themselves in similar roles.
DESIGN PROCESS
WHAT I DID
Although my team of 2 other MHCI+D classmates and I were heavily involved in each step of the design process, some notable personal contributions include moderating generative research interviews, formulating research insights, organizing and facilitating the co-design workshop, completing a thorough competitive analysis, prototyping 3D assets, leading concept tests, writing documentation, and directing final concept video shown below.
Final Solution
Echos is an immersive VR platform that preserves the backstories of inspirational heroes, including their challenges, decisions, and emotions. Designed to amplify BIPOC voices, Echos aims to motivate and inspire future generations to achieve their dreams.
2 and a half minute video that decribes the experience you will have using Echos (directed by me).
Preserve a Backstory
Students can interview someone they find inspiring to learn about their career journey. The Echos AI dissects interview transcripts and uploaded media to create a vivid avatar of the notable person, descriptive memory milestones, as well as an immersive visual experience of each memory milestone.
A Living Archive of Heroes
Students can immerse themselves in a living archive teeming with avatars representing inspirational heroes from across time and cultures, where every story and contribution is celebrated. Students can interact with inspirational heroes to learn about their backstory through a timeline of memory milestones.
Walk in their Shoes
Students can engage with a memory milestone to be transported into a 360-degree immersive experience, visually and audibly exploring the inspirational hero's thoughts and memories. Students can reflect on the obstacles that the inspirational hero faced and consider what they would do in that situation.
Impact
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
Student Engagement and Interaction
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Quality of Storytelling and Content
Impact on Student Perception and Attitudes
Implementation and Scalability
CONCEPT TEST FEEDBACK
Participants understood the main takeaways from the story of Jeremiah.
They critqued some of the decisions he made, and found it interesting and memorable to learn about the obstacles he came across and the choices he had to make.
This reflection aligned very well with the experience we were trying to provide: interactivity, critical thinking, and memorable moments.
“[My main takeaway from Jeremiah’s story] was to follow your passion, [although], I don’t think he made a good choice [to drop out of school and get married].”
-Participant 4, Conceptual Testing
BUSINESS IMPACT
As of Autumn 2024, RevereXR began its pilot program in select Washington high schools.
While our design concept was highly speculative (requiring advanced AI capabilities), the findings from our research, the strategy which led to our design concept, and student feedbacks and testimonials remain extremely valuable to RevereXR's future ambitions.