Virtual Experimentation
Youniverse began as an exploration of virtual and augmented experiences in an effort to discover novel and approachable hardware for future creators. Our early prototypes ranged from social graffiti applications to augmented educational toy kits.
By combining hardware, interaction, and spatial design, Youniverse is a holistic experience built around Google’s proficiencies organizing the world’s information through maps, search, machine vision, and artificial intelligence. Together they form a powerful tool for community.
Prototyping Tools and Functions
The concept for Cardboard Controller was inspired by the functionality of existing virtual reality controllers and the accessibility of Google’s own Cardboard and Daydream product lines. Can a multifunctional controller be as simple as Cardboard?
This led to the design exploration of various controller mechanisms and a search for an optimal input method. While motion sensing and voice driven experiences were explored, target tracking became the clear winner due to its flexibility and reliability with mobile devices.
Vision, Research, and Testing
The convenience and portability of Youniverse make it an optimal tool for large scale crowdsourcing. Google’s Cardboard democratized virtual reality. Youniverse expands on Cardboard to include interactivity and world building. To validate our vision, we met with leading mixed media artists, architects, urban planners, urbanists, researchers, and designers.
“With mixed reality we can move within the planned city in realtime and actively participate democratically in its development (…) It’s about the capacity to live within the future and make better decisions about it.”
— Kai Reaver, architect and researcher at AHO
Defining the Product
At its core, Youniverse is a product about empowering communities through a simple, fun, and approachable user experience. We aimed to turn boring questionnaires and meetings into an explorative adventure for world building right in your own neighborhood. Shared ideas are the building blocks to empathy, creative solutions, and a flourishing community.
We believe technology can help reduce boundaries, bring people together, and empower communities to work together. Through Google’s data driven approach —with thoughtfulness on privacy and user control— we can connect communities from across the world and learn from one another to build a better tomorrow.