Project Aurora

A concept for a suite of Augmented Reality programs that I created solo and submitted for a 24-hour internal Shark Tank-like product competition.

Proof of Concept Augmented Reality Competition
VOD Tool Creator Dashboard

The challenge

The core need: Create a proof-of-concept for a new Thales product within 24 hours and present the idea to the executive team.

Thales’ hardware offerings were often limited by strict FAA regulations on weight, running temperature, and privacy, and as such, we were often building on 10-12 year-old technology while competing with smartphones, tablets, and other passenger tech. Clients often voiced concern over this, so it was my job as a UX designer to come up with creative and innovative solutions to even the playing field.

One such idea, Aurora, was a suite of augmented reality programs driven by our newest hardware’s camera and gyroscope - firsts for Thales tech - that each showcased a different way of engaging with AR. I presented this during an executive-led Shark Tank-style competition, which allowed each team (in my case, myself) only 24 hours to put together and pitch a new product or service.

My solution

Let's Play

Below is the full carousel, and the basic IA structure of this app, which contained 5 different 'modes' a user could explore using the handheld TPMU device’s camera and gyroscope. The modes were as follows:

'Looking Glass' which shows an AR view of animals laid over the cabin. 'Lightspeed' which shows a rocket and UFO floating in space. 'Storyteller,' which shows an adventurer fighting a dragon on a mountain top. 'Time Traveler' which shows an image of American Airlines flight attendants. 'Blueprint' which shows a paper airplane flying on a green background.
The carousel menu showing the 5 apps within Aurora.

Looking Glass

“Looking Glass” allowed the user to select from a variety of types of content and explore another world through the lens of the camera. By moving the device around from their seat, they would be able to peer into another world and interact with each object to learn more about it.

I used the solar system as an example, pulling the user into our solar system to see the planets in orbit. Clicking on a planet would bring up an info screen where the user could learn more about each planet.

The image shows planets floating in an AR space around the cabin, and the user has clicked on earth, which pulls up an info page about the planet.
"Looking glass" allowed the user to explore the universe from the comfort of their own seat.

Light Speed

Light Speed allowed users to build their very own aircraft, and then fly it around using the camera and gyroscope on the device. The craft could explore the cabin, possibly collecting power-ups, or be used in a game to avoid objects, etc. Airlines could brand these craft with their own livery, or offer various options unique to that airline. Users could then share their craft and take it with them anytime they flew that airline through a simple QR code.

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"Light Speed" allowed users to build and fly their own rocket on a test flight around the cabin and in a game to avoid asteroids.

Storyteller

Storyteller prompted users to create their own short story using simple choices. In this instance, they would choose a hero, a villain, and a location, and the story would play out on their own tray table!

A blue screen with three fantasy heroes for the user to choose from - a ranger, a warrior, and a wizard. A blue screen with three villains for the user to choose from - a funny lamb, a goblin, and a dragon. A blue screen with three locations for the user to select from - the desert, plains, or hills. The result of the user's choices, the image shows the warrior and lamb interacting in the desert through an AR view on the user's tray table.
"Storyteller" was a choose-your-own-adventure style of app.

Time Traveler

Time Traveler was an excellent opportunity for airlines to showcase the evolution of their craft and crew over time, including the history of their livery, crew uniforms, and aircraft. In this example, the users can browse through the history of American Airlines fleet, or the Bangkok Airlines crew uniforms.

An image of an American Airlines airplane from 1959 overlaid on the tray table with historical info shown below the plane. An image of a current Bangkok Airways crew uniform. The user can explore past uniforms as well.
"Time Traveler" let the user explore the history of the airlines' cabin and crew uniforms, livery, etc.

Blueprint

My favorite of the apps, Blueprint doubled as both an entertainment and safety feature. With this app, the user could see their current aircraft on their tray table, with diagrams of the layout, features, or any other info the airline might be proud of showing. Users could also move the camera around the craft to see vital info overlaid onto their screen, like restrooms, exits, masks and flotation devices, and other safety info.

The image shows planets floating in an AR space around the cabin, and the user has clicked on earth, which pulls up an info page about the planet.
"Blueprint" allowed the user to explore their current craft in both a small model and by moving the camera around the cabin to see various features of the craft.
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