In recent years, technological advancements have made their mark on various sectors, including education. One of these advancements, the utilization of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), is fundamentally transforming our approach towards interactive learning experiences. At San Francisco State University (SFSU), we aimed to utilize these emerging technologies to solve a prevailing challenge among our student body: campus navigation.
San Francisco State University's sprawling campus can be a labyrinth for new and even returning students. Navigating to classrooms or department buildings timely can be a daunting task, leading to time wasted and late arrivals. The scale of the campus necessitates an innovative and intuitive solution that aids students in seamlessly finding their way around.
The Gator Maps application was proposed as an innovative solution to this problem. This AR/VR navigation app aims to simplify campus navigation, guiding students around the university and helping them reach their desired destinations effortlessly.
I kicked off the project by drawing from personal experiences as an SFSU student and conducting surveys among peers, focusing on their experiences navigating the campus. I discovered that many students found it difficult to locate specific buildings or classrooms, especially when returning to the campus for a new semester. This phase helped me understand the extent of the problem and how an app like Gator Maps could address these concerns.
I defined the project's key needs and goals through a comprehensive review of students' requirements, potential competitors, and the implications of VR and AR technology in higher education. My goal was to develop an AR/VR navigation app that integrated SF State ID login credentials, had a Google Maps-like interface, and offered an AR navigation feature for on-foot navigation and a VR browsing feature for remote exploration.
In the development phase, I ensured the app met both the user needs and business needs. For users, it was essential that the app made campus navigation easy, providing AR guidance for walking and VR browsing for remote exploration. From a business perspective, the app needed to be free for all SF State students and provide a comprehensive virtual campus tour.
The final product is a highly intuitive AR/VR navigation app, Gator Maps, which enables SF State students to navigate the campus with ease. With augmented reality, students can follow real-time navigation to their destination. In contrast, the virtual reality feature allows them to explore the campus virtually from their smartphones.
This project represents a fusion of user experience design and emerging technologies to address a real-world problem. Gator Maps not only made campus navigation a breeze for students but also offered a glimpse into the potential future of campus navigation in higher educational institutions worldwide.
