Exploring Ubiq
Note I took library package concerned with networking -> low level Use code Low level message pass -> necessary to support issues Users use ubiq by creating their own networking try to make it as simple as possible but still Core concept programming model : ubiq follow unity system message : components each other own state they communicate to exact instance scene graph : underlying connections to the server or the other peers : more flexibility peers and peer group : nodes or processes that host a network scene : peer to peer : more scalable, change the architecture out from underneath an application without actually changing the behavior of the application, have different system to manage the peer group application layer multicasting object addressing room system : shared secret code : expanding the peer group through negotiation through Ubiq messaging system join code room guids server JavaScript NobeJs Full Source Provided Supports WebSockets & TCP subsystems Avatars and social voice : C# implementation webrtc : unity audio possible logging : like matlab or python pandas environment spawning and scene management : spawn objects or interact with the objects error check but no security need to be more permanent WebXR two scale maze : navigate together to get out of maze puzzle game : use pipe or other material to lead the ball from spawn point to the pot on the other side Rokism : assemble items together, interact with the parts that have same color with one core rail : use material from the environment to make a rail to get to other part 5.mixed reality
Measure my experience
(1) Ease of use
To be honest, it was not a comfortable experience to use a Ubiq with my computer. My computer's system is so weak that even turning on Illustrator and Photoshop at the same time make it shut down. With this system, exploring through the Ubiq was quite tough for me.
Moreover, I have so many difficulties in opening the Ubiq space with Unity since every time I tried to open it on Unity, it just shows me the error page.
(2) User Goals
Through this program, researchers are looking forward to some collaborative projects. For instance, the lecturer from the tutorial provided videos about projects that students and instructors themselves have done. From the examples, I can feel that the main user goal of Ubiq is to share the same virtual space with lots of people at the same time while doing specific tasks together. In addition, the mixed reality project indicates that the Ubiq can be stretched out to broader fields like architecture.
(3) Joy of Use
Even though I had lots of trouble opening the Ubiq, I did enjoy exploring the virtual world. All the interactive materials, like the box that plays a piece of music when I clicked, the box that provides a firecracker, the small firecracker on the ground which can activate the one that is given to me, and the function of having a conversation with other users, are so interesting.
I had a short (real short because I just said hello) encounter with the other user while I was wandering through the Ubiq world.
(4) Meaningfulness
Learning and experiencing new technology is important and highly meaningful to a student who is studying in the field of interaction design.
Especially VR technology is recently a trending technology. We can see lots of people from YouTube using this technology to do live streaming. Making a 3D model for a virtual world and adding motion tracking (or live2D) is now becoming a huge industry.
Not only live streamers but also surgeons, construction workers, interior designers and etc are actively using this new technology.
Based on this background, having an opportunity to look thoroughly into the Ubiq, a social VR toolkit is greatly beneficial.
In-depth
Overall navigation
1. jagging a lot
- made me difficult to browse through the world
2. quite small so not many things to enjoy
3. I can not meet many people but still I saw some of them wandering around
4. love the music that I can turn on
Atmosphere
1. kind of weird to me
- the place was to small without any background
- looks like a small forest but it gives me a vibe of island
2. so quite
- since the music they've put on the small cube is not fit to the
environment, I just turned it off and everything was so quite
- little bit spooky
Main functions
1. play music by clicking the small cube on the log
2. hold a firecracker and make it activate
3. can have a conversation with other users
- the time that takes to react is quite short
How to enhance the spatial environment considering secure and pleasant experience
1. lack of interaction
- insert more functions to interact
ex) the sound of grass when people step on them, the sound of certain textures
(rock, tree, bushes..etc)
2. size of the environment is too small so it feels like I am in the wrong spot or in a
isolated island
- make a bigger sphere so that people can hang around
ex) at least maybe put a huge ocean around the platform and named the map as
“lonely island” or something
3. less convenient to rotate my head (but this might be because my computer has bad
quality)
- not sure about how to improve this part cuz it is basically my computer problem
4. Less affordance (★)
1) need a description of how to move (which key we need to press in our keyboard)
- write a description on the entrance board of what we see when we just enter the
space
2) in order to rotate the head, I need to press the right button of my mouse (seems
kind of complicated and less affordance)
- just simply make people rotate their viewpoint by using a cursor
ex) without pressing anything but just moving the mouse, the viewpoint changes
3) hard to get what to do in order to light the firework
- at least put a whiteboard right next to where we get a firecracker
4) figures are not in that shape
- the music box is not the shape of the jukebox, the place where we can pick up a
firecracker doesn’t look anything like it
- maybe put a figure of the exact objects (speakers and box of firecrackers)
