Category: capstone2021

 
My project adds real-time immersive co-design to the AEC (Architecture Engineering and Construction ) workflow in China, to improve project coordination and reduce cost. I identified the coordination issue in the current AEC workflow in China and found a fitting software solution to integrate all the expertise of all the stakeholders at different phases of a building construction project. By improving coordination, professionals are able to troubleshoot and test, ultimately finalizing the design early and save money for clients. Using my research on XR, I identified a unique feature of the VR medium; the ability to put 3d information into spatial context. The user can “feel out” the space before anything is built. By allowing the customer to experience the space prior to contraction, It minimized rework and deliver a satisfying co-design experience for clients.

 
With technology becoming more scalable and economical, there is a perceptible trend of broader adoption in previously expensive areas, such as the military, firefighting, and medical sectors. Breaking ground in mixed reality technologies (innovative VR headsets to the Microsoft HoloLens) has also made it conducive for emerging media and technologies to continue to evolve. My research is focused in an AR context and scopes into “augmenting” the first responder and making their process the most efficient it can be. From global political movements(BLM, police brutality, the Israeli-Palestenian conflict) to global natural disasters demanding firefighters and medical professionals on the scene immediately, I explore how augmented reality can, and how it should, apply to critical issues for the first responder. Through the lens of a firefighter in a burning building, the user is immersed into a VR simulation in which they are equipped with an AR headset capable of monitoring the vitals of civilians in the virtual environment. The user is evaluated on several criteria: the ability to surveil the environment in limited time and range of movement, detecting and comprehending the civilian’s vitals through the AI headset risk assessment, assessing the correct subject to be saved based on the situation, and completing the simulation within 90 seconds. Based on the realtime information the user receives, they are confronted with choices to respond effectively in the situation. For instance, the user may detect a civilian has a drastically inflated heart rate or is unconscious and must receive immediate assistance. Real time hand tracking coupled with an enveloping atmosphere of smoke and heat panels makes for a realistic rendering of a critical situation. The value of this AR technology in a real life scenario- when time is of the essence- makes all the difference in the loss or rescue of a life.

 
The rapid development in technology has pushed human interactions to become more digitized. We receive instructions on how to interact and form a connection with others through our virtual presence. As we stand in the phase of transitioning to the age of intelligence, perhaps we could experiment with ways to take advantage of the digital tools to enhance our emotional connections with something we have always been familiar with, our bodies.Bond is an interactive installation that aims to explore the possibilities of humans forming an emotional connection with each other through movement-tracking encouraging physical encounters. It takes the form of multiple particle systems in the 3D space, where the expansion of particles represents the stimulation of oxytocin, the brain chemical released in response to social bonding. As the two users approach each other, links are formed between the particles with ‘glowing’ lines as it represents the activated neuron networks. The users’ original avatars would also emerge into a new object. The particles consist of four colors, red, yellow, green, and blue as they are the commonly used colors for brain activity experiments (such as PET scans). Functions such as the rotation of the network and cube as particles were added to enhance the project’s 3D visual effect.
Bond pushes the boundaries of the role technology has been playing in human interactions. From encouraging competitive to collaborative relationships, from 2D to 3D visual responses, previous research and multiple user-testing experiments have set a valid foundation for the development of this project. This is just a start to opening up many more opportunities.

 
When it comes to making a doctor’s appointment, we often find ourselves confused or intimidated with the process of finding the best clinic or doctor, figuring out how to make an appointment, and worst of all how to make sure our insurance covers it, if it even does. Targeting mainly first year NYU students, The Collection of Issues aims to diminish these intimidating components that surround this process by providing users with all the information they need in a quick and relatable way. During my Capstone research, I explored why Insurtechs are much more efficient than traditional insurance incumbents in acquiring and retaining users. I found that there is a widespread urgency for digital disruption across all industries, especially the insurance industry. But through further research, I discovered an underlying trend that Insurtechs are not only up to date with integrating and leveraging innovative digital technologies, but they also strive to understand the customer experience process from the user perspective, rather than from a policy perspective, ultimately reimagining the user experience. Through effective and relatable means of communication, they are able to connect with their consumers on a deeper level and build lasting relationships for life. This research insight led me to conduct interviews with a variety of NYU students – from freshman to seniors and study abroads – to better understand what they wanted to know. Not only was time-efficiency an important factor, but I was also able to identify three main issues NYUSH students wanted medical support on: finding a therapist, gynecologist, and physiotherapist. Applying my newfound knowledge of communication strategies and taking into consideration our international community at NYUSH, relatable language and visual content stood out as a key focus, prompting me to take a visual centered approach that would appeal to a broader audience. Not only do stickers, memes & gifs have the capability to explain how we feel when we don’t have the words, but they embody a sense of lightheartedness and humor that can often diminish some of the barriers of intimidation we feel when we go into something we don’t know much about.

 
Cancelled culture happens on a micro scale before traveling outward to the larger community outside of the immediate stakeholders. This project throws the user into a decision maker’s position within a small community, in this case a mid-sized business. The big question being, how does the user choose to react to feedback and perspectives on a problem and what consequences do said reactions have on immediate and outside stakeholders. This decision-making experience is done in isolation, where the user is meant to make decisions based on the information presented to them.

The project has multiple perspectives and multiple endings to match the journey the user takes. The question to consider is what does the project reflect on the users who repeatedly get the same ending? Users are encouraged to engage with the project as many times as they would like with the vague suggestion that they try selecting different decisions. The project in this way is a trap, in that depending on decisions made at key decision nodes, some users will never have the opportunity to prevent an outcome in which they, the user, end up facing backlash in the experience. There are eight unique endings, with a handful only being available on one specific decision-making track. There are two endings which are very common, in terms of the number of times they appear in the code, but that does not mean they will be common in outcome when users explore the project.

From the very first decision node, all choices made are recorded and categorized into two groups: proactive or dismissive decisions. That is, proactive decisions are those which are on the path of greatest utilitarian satisfaction of the population. The dismissive decisions are those which are on the path of other ethical views. The underlying tone of ethics systems comes through in the way decisions are phrased. These value systems range from utilitarianism to hedonism. These categorized decision values are then displayed just past the experience, a haunting reminder that just like with canceled culture, those involved with the situation are closely monitored by external stakeholders. The title of the project even alludes to the greater theme at play which is, what those external stakeholders in the experience choose to do with you based on your decisions.

The originality of the project comes in the form of the medium. This is an audio-based project where the tone, the volume, even the tiny sighs between words all have meaning and value in terms of the decision-making information the user has within reach. There are limited visuals which are meant to keep the user purposely focused on these shifts in tone and little morsels of information which may be missed if there was a more complex visual element. The complexity technically speaking comes from the page structure and the use of more advanced JavaScript libraries which allow for the complex details within the minimalist visuals.

The choice to explore the project is yours, and yours alone.