Bringing the control center to the palm of your hand.
Control centers are ubiquitous in most products, as they provide efficient access to key functions that are subject to change frequently. However, in the realm of spatial computing and 3D environments, control centers must be rethought under a new design paradigm.
Most control centers for immersive experiences affect the user’s capacity to remain in their environments, and often require opening a new window or pausing the current user’s process. Not to mention, these pop-ups are slow and require multi-interaction.
This emphasis on access to essential functions without multi-interaction is helpful in improving productivity, maintaining immersion, and saving time. I am to redesign the control center for a 3D environment, with an emphasis on accessibility and comfortable interactions.
Accessible UI in spatial environments that enable quick, comfortable interactions.
Opening the Control Center - Natural Spring
Information at your fingertips. A flower opening.
The control center redesigned with accessibility at the forefront. Windows should be kept close to the user to avoid laborious movements. Gestures to call the centre should be quick and intuitive.
The control center should have all of the functions one may need for quick changes, as well as options for customization. It should not disrupt the immersive experience and thus should be small in size.
Building with Light - James Turrell
Inspired by the light and space movement.
Shadows and how lights interact in 3D environments.
When building for the new AR/VR medium, I found James Turell's light artworks to be a useful guide.
Control Actions - Without Space
Swap between passthrough and immersive.
Interacting to reveal more information.
Toggle states on and off
Prototyping the app design using various gestures and actions.
The control center is close to the user, allowing for easy hand interactions that don't require stretching an arm out, or laborious point and pinches.
The control center is also large enough to be readable and easily interacted with. The button toggles are large, important for VR.
I aimed to minimize the amount of interactions required to use the control center.
Natural language query into your data
Calling the control center with two pinches
Hand tracked movement
Grabbing and moving
A new medium for control
This project led me to an appreciation of the light and space movement, particularly works by James Turrell. After seeing his work, I felt that this was a design ethos I wanted to base my spatial computing designs around.
I also learned that design needs to place the user first, always. Design can also evolve, and small interactions can slowly be removed after users become comfortable with them.