OVERVIEW
VR(Virtual Reality) Content Creating and Sharing Platform, Samsung’s C-Lab Project
FEATURE SET
Didn’t you fan out on VR devices after finding out that there is not much content you can enjoy on them? VRicks is a VR content editing tool and sharing platform that allows you to create your own VR content easily and to share it with your friends.
– VRicks supports multiple forms of devices (mobile, tablet, and GearVR).
– You can create VR content easily by combining 360-degree images and 3D objects that are either preloaded or imported.
–You can create VR attractions (e.g., roller coasters) by drawing their moving paths with your fingertips.
–The VR attractions can be connected to motion simulators so you can enjoy them more dynamically.
ROLE
Project Lead / UX Designer
VRicks started as one of the C-Lab projects(Samsung’s new business incubation program). My responsibilities included leading the team of 4 with engineers and designers, driving the product vision and overall design.
HOW IT STARTED
VRicks initially began from an idea of one of our teammates from Everland, the largest amusement park in South Korea. He thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun if visitors of Everland could build their own VR roller coaster and ride?”. His idea developed into a C-Lab project, and designers and engineers from Samsung Electronics joined to realize it.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
VR has been hailed as the next big thing in the tech industry. However, several factors have affected the mass adoption of VR.
– Lack of content has made users rapidly lose interest in VR.
– The high entry-barrier for creating VR content has held up the growth of the VR content marketplace.
This vicious cycle was also evident at Everland, where the recent opening of new attractions using VR devices was inspired by their relatively low construction costs and changeable content. However, renewing VR content was more expensive than had been expected, and the freedom to choose the content was also limited because manufacturers of motion simulators produce the matching VR content by themselves, and this is not compatible with many other simulators.
INSIGHTS
A few things we learned from user studies, market research, and personal experiences have caught our attention:
– One of the main entertainment resources on smartphones is user-created content via social media such as YouTube and Facebook. However, due to the difficulty in creating VR content, there are no such platforms in VR.
– What sets VR apart from other mediums is its immersiveness. This allows for a new level of experience in multi-player games and social activities. People feel that they are sharing experiences with their peers in the virtual space just as they do in the real world.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
After brainstorming different approaches to solving the problems and using the insights we had gained, we established the following plans:
– VRicks is being developed into basic and pro versions.
– The basic version is a simple VR roller coaster builder that allows those visiting Everland to create their own VR roller coasters in less than a minute and ride them with a VR device and a motion simulator.
– The pro version is for users who want to create more sophisticated VR content. These users can create their own VR content easily by putting together 360-degree images and 3D objects.
– Multi-play and co-authoring are essential parts in creating and enjoying VR content with VRicks. Since VRicks supports multiple forms of devices, users can create and enjoy the same content with each other either from mobiles, tablets, or Gear VRs.
C-Lab Fair
VRicks was presented to thousands of Samsung employees at the annual C-Lab Fair in December 2017. By being involved with audiences as they followed walkthroughs from building VR roller coasters to riding them with a motion simulator, we gathered valuable feedback. This feedback has inspired us to make some improvements in the usability of our products and to think about potential applications for our products in broader areas (e.g., creating promotional content that flies around the construction sites of new apartments).
NEXT STEPS
We’re preparing for the next steps of VRicks, with advanced features in creating and sharing VR content. The first step is to collaborate with more simulator manufacturers, so that users can enjoy their VR content with any simulator that is compatible with VRicks. Secondly, VRicks could be a VR content sharing platform through which users publicize their VR content to broad audiences. This would be powered by adding chatting features and content sharing features via other social media. Lastly, we expect that VRicks could be used as an advertising platform, offering users 360-degree images and 3D objects sponsored by advertisers. When users created VR content using sponsored items, they could be rewarded based on content views.
Jihea Moon 