Aria Augmented Reality Spray Controller

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Aria revolutionizes the traditional graffiti experience by leveraging the latest advancements in mixed reality and NFT technologies. This innovative spray paint controller allows artists to create stunning 2D/3D graffiti art in a virtual world, offering them an endless platform to showcase their talent and bring their visions to life. For art viewers, Aria provides an AR-metaverse-Pokemon-Go-like experience, where they can explore urban environments and discover art through their phones.

Dimensions & Packaging

The Aria Controller has been purposefully crafted to be a handheld device, measuring 120mm in height and 38mm in diameter. The translucent cap on top of the device features a convenient gap with a width of 22mm, which has been specifically designed to comfortably accommodate an average-sized finger

Tags

Controller, Augmented Reality, Metaverse, Digital Art, Industrial Design

Production Technology

The Aria controller's exterior casing is designed to allow for the process of injection molding. Specifically, the lower portion is composed of a durable, charcoal black, injection-molded plastic material, while the upper section consists of a similarly robust but translucent plastic. Within the device itself, one can find an array of components, including gyroscopes, LED pipes, batteries, a printed circuit board, and modules for both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Additionally, the controller features piezoelectric actuators which deliver precise, tactile feedback to the user, enhancing their overall experience.

Design Challenge

The first was creating a form that effectively combined the aesthetics of a tech object with the dynamic nature of spray painting. This involved careful consideration of factors such as shape, color, and materials to achieve a product that balanced form and function.

The second challenge was designing an immersive user experience that incorporated both the physical outdoor environment and the virtual digital space. This required thoughtful planning of how users would interact with the controller in the real world, as well as how they would create and manipulate digital art in the augmented reality environment.

Research

To develop a new augmented reality spray painting controller, a comprehensive research approach was taken. Interviews were conducted with individuals who had experience with augmented reality technology and those in the field of graffiti art to gain their insights. An analysis of existing products in the market within augmented and virtual reality was also carried out to identify potential gaps and innovation opportunities. Based on this research, a specific opportunity area was identified: creating a controller designed for spray painting in augmented reality, which would provide a tactile and intuitive user experience.

Inspiration

Graffiti art is often viewed negatively in mainstream society due to its association with vandalism and property damage. This project seeks to mitigate those negative connotations by utilizing virtual world technologies to create graffiti art. By shifting the medium of expression to a digital space, the project aims to promote the artistic merit of graffiti while circumventing any potential legal or social repercussions of physical graffiti.

Project Duration

The project started in June of 2022 in San Francisco Bay Area and was finished in around 4 weeks.

Operation Flow

Aria is an Augmented reality controller that one would use while wearing AR glasses. To use the controller simply put your index finger through the top gap and press the button located on the top to start spraying. To interact with the controller in augmented reality, the menu button brings up the user interface, while the scroll buttons can be used to switch between colors, nozzle type and sizes.

Patents

Copyrights belong to Shubhangi Chuhadia, 2023

Image Credits

All images by Shubhangi Chuhadia