We played with the laws of physics to mess with our devs.
Mixed Reality technology merges the physical and digital worlds, enabling unique and imaginative interactions – like defying gravity itself. In a recent exploration using Quest’s capabilities, we experimented with physics, hand gestures, gravity and spatial understanding to craft an experience that feels both tangible and magical.
We crafted a colorful set of playing cards, dominoes and a jenga tower, all scattered across the real environment. To achieve a realistic look and feel, enhancing the interaction between the digital objects and the real environment, we applied a space mesh with materials and shaders: an occluder to hide elements when these are positioned behind others, and a transparent material which only renders the projected shadow of virtual objects on the surface. By fine-tuning physics properties like mass, friction, and bounciness, each object behaved naturally in the scene.
But the magic truly began when hand gestures took control of gravity. Gravity is no longer a constant – it’s a playground. Through variable gravity values and intuitive hand interactions, we enabled objects to float and move weightlessly, creating surreal moments that blend the digital and physical in ways only MR can achieve.
This experiment highlights the limitless potential of MR to reimagine physics and interactions. It’s not just about visual fidelity but creating experiences that feel intuitive and engaging.
Whether it’s for entertainment, education, or creative expression, MR proves to be a powerful platform for exploring the impossible.
Who knew a simple deck of cards and dominoes could make gravity so enchanting?
