Sky Bubble

Sky Bubble aims to visualize real-time weather in 3D within an immersive dome, blending virtual and real-world elements with Mixed Reality for a unique planning or relaxation experience across cities.

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Inspiration

The idea came from the desire to combine immersive technology with the beauty of global weather. We wanted to offer a unique way to explore and experience different cities from anywhere.

What it does

Sky Bubble brings any city’s weather to life in an interactive, immersive dome. Our aim is to let you explore real-time weather, switch between cities, and seamlessly blend virtual and real worlds.

How we built it

We employed ShapesXR for conceptual design and Blender for 3D modeling and animations. Development occurred within Unity, where we integrated sample weather data to showcase the app's functionality.

Challenges we ran into

Initially, we intended to prototype within ShapeXR for easy headset testing. However, due to limitations such as a lack of FBX animation support and a particle system for weather simulation in our XR Globe, we transitioned our development to Unity. Another challenge arose with the Meta XR keyboard, which could not handle more than two instances of text input in a scene. To address this, we implemented a script to destroy keyboards after each input session, ensuring seamless user interaction. We also considered using real-time weather APIs to integrate live data, including time and weather conditions. However, due to time constraints and the complexity of covering all global locations, and creating detailed 3D weather animations, we had to scale back on these features.

Accomplishments that we’re proud of

We’re proud of creating a functional XR prototype within a short timeframe, combining interactive design, and an innovative concept that blends worlds.

What we learned

We learned the importance of early platform evaluation to avoid technical limitations, like ShapeXR's lack of FBX animation support and particle systems. We also discovered the need for flexibility in overcoming challenges, such as the Meta XR keyboard’s input restrictions, which we solved with custom scripting. Additionally, we recognized the complexities of integrating real-time data in XR, highlighting the need to prioritize features based on time and resource constraints.

What’s next for Sky Bubble

Next, we plan to enhance the Sky Bubble prototype by refining weather simulations and exploring real-time data integration for a more dynamic experience. We aim to optimize performance across platforms, expand interactive features, and improve scalability. Additionally, we're considering the use of Google Earth 3D APIs to incorporate realistic 3D environments of locations worldwide. User feedback will guide further improvements in usability and functionality.

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