Ogmented

A Creator's Tool

A brief about Ogmented

Ogmented is a VR-based platform built to collaboratively design, visualize, render hi-fi Interiors/Architecture associated work. It comes with next-gen features: VR meetings (with voice chat), Speech recognition, Instant render, Real-Time measurement tools (supported on limited devices), Rapid rendering capabilities(Post design completion), and generate a 360 image/video or even as a VR experience (a client app). Ogmented uses the open-source 3d tool Blender as the backend for all its 3d content creation in VR.

Features of Ogmented

Collabrative design

Redefine Collaboration with a new perspective: a multi-user experience where users from distinct locations connect through Ogmented and band together for designing and visualizing while interacting in VR, Making it a unique experience compared with VR meetings.

E-commerce

From a user's perspective, post completion of a design, It will become a nightmare to find the exact match to the furniture with correct measurements. It would be more convenient to purchase or use the element designed and rendered. Thus, we implemented a VR app portal through which the users can directly buy these custom-designed elements. Once the design is complete, the users will have an option to purchase the designed furniture.

Instant render

Typically Rendering a high-quality image is a laborious and time-consuming task. Moreover, utilizing cloud rendering tools available in the market is uneconomical, Considering the cost and configuration time. The instant Render feature solves the above problems by minimizing the render time drastically (lesser than a min) and needs zero setup time. Thus, setting up all this in the cloud was achieved with minimal cost.

Smart Assistant

This feature is targeted at people who lack experience/skill in designing. The app will prompt the user to choose a theme, based on which the Smart Assistant will provide furniture, color options, and other interior options.

Speech recognition

Through research and testing with users, we discovered that employing the controllers to design complex interiors was challenging, and therefore, we needed an alternative way to do design tasks. To solve the above pain point, we came up with the solution to implement speech recognition. Thus, the app features speech recognition for hassle-free design in VR.

Hi-fi VR Experience

The visual quality can be compromised due to technical constraints while creating the interior. On completion of the designs, the user can use the instant render functionality to render as a 360 image or Video or VR experience.

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Roles & responsibilities

Solely responsible for product design, prototyping, and development. Embedded unique features like Speech Recognition systems and Smart Assistants are attributes to offer a complacent experience, individually designed, prototyped, tested thoroughly to instigate user pain points.

Product's Goal

Ascertain the conceived design notion through the simulated experience of Virtual Reality helps manifest the ideal interior design through quick rendering. It Appreciates better decision-making for the clients over a meek visual projection, an independent and collaborative resolution for the designers.

Research

Based on the competitive analysis, most design tools are available in the market don't support VR designing, Collaborative design, and visualization.

Our expert panel of SMEs, compromised of Architects and Interior-designers provided us inputs on design standards, and site weather reports could be beneficial while designing/creating a climate-based interior plan.

Understanding User Needs

Based on the user research, the idea of collaboration works in designing an environment and Instant Render was exciting. The Primary hardship experienced by the users was translating the object / designing the whole environment using a pair of controllers. Furthermore, the majority of the sole designers were expecting a Smart Assistant to aid them with design and color ideas throughout the designing process.

Personas

Persona 1 - Architect

An architect is the project owner, can independently design, can add/remove designers and viewers. The Architect has the authority to grant and limit the users' (designer and viewer) permission: usage of Instant Render, setting up the wake word for speech recognition, etc.

Persona 2 - Designer

The designer will have access only to design the interior based on inputs provided and create a VR walkthrough of the interior. By default, the designers will not have access to Instant render and user management (On-demand can be provided by the Architect).

Persona 3 - Viewer

The viewer can experience the walkthrough and interact with fellow designers and architects. The viewer is typically a business client who notices the progress in real-time. The viewer can attach a voice note on the top of any specific design for any improvements/changes to the original design.

User Pain points

Complicated usability for collaboration in designing

Challenging to maneuver VR devices to design an interior

Tedious workflow for rendering high-resolution images

Disruption in client feedback interaction

Analysis & Inference

Users preferred to have a collaborative environment for designing an interior with Instant Render capabilities. Translating/Nudging the objects can be an intricate process while using controllers. Users favoured the idea of buying their self-designed furniture to avoid the annoyance of finding the exact match for it in the market.

Methodology of Implementation

Instant Render

After multiple iterations, the Open-Source Blender was adopted as the backend for Instant Renders. It has python as a scripting language attributed to quick automation with an API call.

Collaborative Design

Though numerous complex solutions are available to create a collaborative environment in Unity, we decided to have a straightforward backend to create a collaborative space.

Speech Recognition

Microsoft LUIS helps add speech recognition abilities. We designed a common conversational language to do a specific task. For example, to change the color of a wall, the user calls Aria (wake word), "Change the color of this wall the system," a color palette pops up to pick the desired color.

Creating VR experience

Access the VR renders in the application. Walk-through mode helps users to visualize the walk-through. Rendering/Light mapping of the VR experience is done in the backend (in Unity) through an Automation script.

Mind Map

Work-In-Progress Images

Working Prototype Video