Project 2 - Takin' Care of Business

By: Michael Lederer and Mansur Shawabkeh

For project 2 we had to design our dream office space in a virtual reality cubicle. The goal was to carefully maximize and detail each office cubicle,(one for each team member), adding multiple models and grab and touch functionality to them as they interact with the user and the office environment. For this project we used the most recent version of VRTK, VRTK4 where we were able to use prefabs to make multiple items in the office interactive and gradable. Using the already downloaded VRTK4 we continuously use these prefabs to allow the user to interact with and grab objects. We plan on implementing more office like items to the project as well as making the already labeled characters be more interact-able and detailed. Now looking at each Team members cubicle.

The primary use-case for this kind of project would be to help people design their cubicles during new-hire on-boarding or company space re-designing. Many companies are moving away from traditional grey cubicle designs with no color or flair, and opting for office spaces with more personality. The best way for employees to make their spaces custom would be to design the spaces themselves, and for that, this application would be perfect.

view of side desk

Mansur's Cubicle

View of Front desk

In Mansur's Cubicle you can walk in and interact with a number of items, some of these items in here when touching them make a sound like that of the Water Bottle or the sandwich. Some of the items when you interact with them actually turn on like the Laptop which boots up to windows Vista. Some items like the boom box just play calming music as you come next to it and just take you away. some items are not intractable like the power strip, the plate, the mouse, or the pencil. You see two different light sources coming from the cabinet, and the lamp.

left side of front desk

right side of front desk

Wide view of small side desk

Items on the small desk

Now if you look at the other side of the cubicle you will see a number of items as well. you will see the bobble Head as well as a deck of cards which makes a sound as you touch it. You also see planty on the side and see pickle rick on the table, and as you touch him he begins to scream pickle rick. providing some much needed humor in the office space.

Michael's Cubicle

Michael's cubicle is one that focuses on realism. Many of the objects can be picked up, have realistic physics, and play sounds when interacted with or when their proximity is entered. It's complete with a desktop computer chassis and monitor, keyboard, desk chair, phone, whiteboard and more.

Left-Side Desk Area

Upon entering, to the immediate left are 3 models. There is a Lysol can that can be picked up and sprayed (with a sound), a birthday cake that plays a "Happy Birthday!" sound when touched, and a bonsai tree.

Main Desk Area

The main desk area is by far the more model-dense. On the far left are two of Michael's custom models, a pair of headphones (which plays a sound in the proximity) with a stand. Next to those are a pair of keys which can be picked up, and a Newton's cradle toy. A cell phone sits next to the cradle (with a sound when touched), complete with a local light source acting as an LED notification light. The wall is adorned with a whiteboard and marker, which sits next to the computer. The computer is complete with a monitor, keyboard (which plays a keyboard sound when touched), and chassis (hiding under the desk), and when the monitor is touched, the windows start screen begins playing. Next to the keyboard is Michael's third custom model, a desktop phone. The phone also uses a local light source to emulate an LED notification light. Finally, a chair that can be grabbed sits at the desk, ready to welcome Michael's rear-end.

Right-Side Desk Area

Lastly is the right-side desk area. This part of the cubicle has 5 models. It contains a bowl with a chocolate bar inside, a notebook, Michael's fourth model, a book, and a red pen sitting on the notebook. Both the bowl and chocolate bar can be grabbed.