College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Computer Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Computer Engineering
Date
6-2023
Primary Advisor
Michael Haungs, College of Engineering, Computer Science and Software Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
Ocean Sight One is an interdisciplinary project group consisting of Cal Poly staff and students from several different departments. It exists to educate the public on the marine ecosystems near the Santa Barbara coastline that is the home of twenty-three abandoned oil rigs. Despite one’s initial reaction to these massive abandoned structures, they actually provide an incredibly diverse dwelling for numerous forms of sea life. The site is a shining beacon for marine ecology researchers trying to formulate how to preserve wildlife in an era of worsening global environmental disruptions. The future of these oil rigs are not certain, as the State of California will decide on moving forward with one of the several proposed solutions to safely maintain the rigs, dismantle them completely, exclusively remove the tops of the rigs, etc. Ocean Sight One does not side with any solution, but wishes to express the context and outcomes of the potential solutions in an unbiased format. As part of a portable exhibit, a mobile AR app and VR headset will be available for users to get a supplemental visual education on the information provided by the research compiled by the Ocean Sight One team. Extended Reality products are a growing field that much of the public has not been fully engrossed in. As the technology advances, the medium becomes easier to develop for and can provide experiences that are suitable for a variety of people. Many of the mixed reality experiences do not attempt to strike a balance between education and entertainment, they tend to be one or the other. The work will consist of some miniature game-like activities, several unique 360 O videos, and informational tidbits about the oil rig ecosystems. User testing has been integrated throughout workable builds of the project to gather data on how the applications serve as an engaging way to learn bits of information. The final builds of the project will be used as an engagement tool for visitors of Ocean Sight One hosted exhibits.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cpesp/347