WeeVR — Xinyu Min

WeeVR is a VR educational app designed specifically for international students who have newly arrived in Australia and are about to study at the University of Sydney. This application provides a realistic virtual environment, allowing students to familiarise themselves with the campus and nearby transportation before they begin their studies. It aids them in gaining a deeper understanding and immersion into their new surroundings, reducing the anxiety and discomfort they might feel when adjusting to a new setting.

Design Process
In the later stages of the project, time and technical constraints prevented the implementation of several planned interactive features. To maintain design consistency, we offered three comprehensive route choices, simplifying interactive elements to retain essential user experiences.

After optimising the user flow and application structure, our team members are each responsible for model collection and construction of a scene. After completion, they are then packaged into a unitypackage for unified VR app development.

Our Goal
Our overarching goal for this project is to harness the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) technology to transform the educational journey of university students. Our aim is to develop an engaging and interactive learning environment that surpasses conventional teaching approaches.

Problem Statement
We aimed to tackle a common issue experienced by international students arriving at the University of Sydney: the intricate and sometimes overwhelming task of acclimating to a new academic and cultural setting in Australia. This challenge is particularly demanding as international students come from various backgrounds, possess limited knowledge of the campus, transportation systems, and Australian culture. Consequently, the primary obstacle lies in crafting a practical solution capable of offering tailored guidance, improving their campus experience, simplifying transportation, and fostering cultural assimilation to ensure a seamless transition into their new academic pursuit.

Solution
To conduct this research, we will first analyse current materials for relevant background investigation and market research. This includes reviewing existing transportation guides, mobile applications, and other related materials to understand the strengths and weaknesses of existing solutions. To better comprehend and understand the transportation needs and actual demands of international students, we will also conduct surveys and interviews with these target groups. Additionally, we will run project tests with the relevant target audience to help us design the virtual reality teaching tool more effectively.

Prototype

Video about this project

Reflection
During this project, we provided a realistic virtual environment to help students familiarize themselves with the campus and nearby transportation before starting their studies. From the initial concept design to the final app release, every step was filled with challenges and innovations.

For me, this project taught me a lot about applying user experience design. First, we ensured the authenticity and detail of the virtual environment. This required detailed research on the transportation system as well as extensive testing and optimization in virtual reality technology. Through continuous adjustments and improvements, we were able to better recreate realistic simulation scenes. Second, we focused on user experience. To ensure the app's usability, we gathered feedback through user testing and continuously improved the interface design, further enhancing the user experience.