Orbis VR App
Background Info
Program-Ace developed Orbis, a Virtual Reality travel app for Oculus (now Meta) Quest 2 and Quest 3, designed to help users explore hidden gems across North and South America, from Machu Picchu to Choquequirao and beyond. Orbis brings these untouched locations to life through immersive experiences, allowing users to explore the extraordinary without leaving home.
Built on the Unity engine, the app utilizes the Addressable Asset System and Google Cloud for efficient scene management and optimized download sizes. At the core of our work was enhancing the UX/UI to ensure an intuitive and seamless experience for non-gaming users — a growing demand in today's VR market.
Business Challenges
Approach and Solution
We approached this project by focusing on user-centric solutions, addressing technical challenges like accessibility, scalability, and platform compatibility.
- Cloud-based content management. The Addressable Asset System enabled flexible content delivery, keeping the app lightweight and supporting efficient scene updates without increasing download size.
- Cross-platform expansion. Initially developed for Oculus Quest 2 and 3, the app was prepared for future scalability to platforms like Steam VR and Apple Vision Pro, ensuring long-term viability.
- Enhanced user interface. The UI was completely redesigned with larger, high-contrast buttons and labels for elderly users, ensuring accessibility for those with tremors or vision impairments and simplifying navigation for non-gaming audiences.
- On-demand content downloads. Tours could be downloaded as needed to minimize the initial download size, optimize memory management, and enhance the user experience.
High-quality immersive experiences. Detailed 3D geometry with overlaid textures and MP4 videos delivered authentic, immersive experiences, avoiding using CGI to engage users more effectively.
Technology Stack
The VR app was developed using Unity 2019, leveraging the Addressable Asset System for efficient scene management and cloud-based content delivery. Google Cloud was utilized to host asset bundles, ensuring scalability and flexibility. Built for Oculus Quest 2 and 3, the app is prepared for future expansion to platforms such as Steam VR and Apple Vision Pro.
Audience
Orbis caters primarily to elderly users, stressed individuals, and hospital patients, with a secondary focus on travelers. Its user-friendly interface ensures ease of use across various physical abilities and settings.
Value Delivered
- Optimized content delivery. Implemented cloud-based content management, reducing app size while ensuring smooth access to new tours and updates. This allowed the app to scale easily as more content was added.
- Cross-platform readiness. Prepared the app for future expansion to Steam VR and Apple Vision Pro, ensuring a wider audience reach across multiple platforms.
- Improved accessibility. Enhanced the user interface for non-gaming audiences, making the app easy to navigate for people of all ages and abilities.
- Efficient resource management. Introduced on-demand content downloads, allowing users to manage memory effectively while accessing immersive experiences without overloading their devices. The app remained lightweight and efficient.
- High-quality user engagement. Created detailed, realistic 3D environments using advanced geometry and real-world textures, providing users with an authentic, immersive experience.
Introducing Orbis VR App!
