Photo VR
Previously, I was involved with a VR project in association with The MAGIC Lab at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Using the HTC Vive, the project aims creating an educational experience based around Henry Talbot Fox, a 19th century scientist and inventor in the field of early photography. With the Vive’s advanced motion controllers and interactive environment, the game will help student work through Talbots experiments developing both his Salt Paper and Calotype Processes.
During our first step, we used Unreal Engine’s level design brushes to create the layout and architecture for the room where the game will take place. This environment is based off of the architecture of the era, and also on Lacock Abbey, Talbot’s home. We are also working through possible interactions and designing the gameplay to help the students reenact the experiment and feel immersed within a virtual environment.
Then we set up the user interaction and controls. Using a rigged arm model and an IK Handle in Unreal, we attempted to link the arms up with the HTC VIVE controllers. If done correctly, this would allow the user to move their hands and arms around in the environment without the typical disembodied hands seen below. As the user would move their controllers, the arms would bend and rotate to compensate for the moving hands, creating a more realistic interaction with the environment.
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