Mesh Math
An AR app assisting visualizing complex 2-variable mathematical function graph
2022, Grad Student Researcher, Team with: Titus Chen
Background
Since the day I first learned calculus 2 during undergrad, the function graph of "Z = y^2 - x^2" has always confused me, no matter how hard the instructor is trying to draw it on the blackboard while describing its shape as a "Chip".
With the agenda to make math and physics eaiser for everyone, I got chance to expand this idea in a course project with Titus who is a learning specialist. With collaboration, we started to research about aspects of the problems that confused learners for a long time.
We listed out a few perspectives such as: (very similar to the VR physics sandbox project)
- Lack of basic geometry skills or sense of spatial imagination.
- Feel difficult to bridge between text/equations/graphs/numbers with the graphing procedure.
- Not be able to visualize, annotate, and check annotations effectively on the graph
- Hard to visualize the dynamic graph change after tweaking some parameters or variables
- Not be able to build connections with simular objects reality
- Due to the reasons above, for a long while, get very little positive feedback during learning, and finally lose confidence.
......
We listed out a few perspectives such as: (very similar to the VR physics sandbox project)
- Lack of basic geometry skills or sense of spatial imagination.
- Feel difficult to bridge between text/equations/graphs/numbers with the graphing procedure.
- Not be able to visualize, annotate, and check annotations effectively on the graph
- Hard to visualize the dynamic graph change after tweaking some parameters or variables
- Not be able to build connections with simular objects reality
- Due to the reasons above, for a long while, get very little positive feedback during learning, and finally lose confidence.
......
Poster Cover
Project Overview
Inspiration / Ideation
The solution implementation was first inspired by the Procedural Terrain Generation in Game Development. With a quick research, we initially come up with an idea of a simple mobile app with 3D graphing, denotation tool, and transform rotation features. However, after a more careful research, we found an AR solution out-perform the initial design by:
- Interactiveness
- Inituitive alignment with the graphs/equations on a paper/text-based media
- Conveniences for annotations and visualization manipulation
......
- Interactiveness
- Inituitive alignment with the graphs/equations on a paper/text-based media
- Conveniences for annotations and visualization manipulation
......
Prototype Implementation
We decide to design and develop a prototype include the following features:
- User input conversion (string to math function)
- Procedural math graph generation
- AR graph projection with a movable anchor
- Graph rotation and scaling
- Basic UIs and aesthetics
......as to the future, check the Future Work section below
- User input conversion (string to math function)
- Procedural math graph generation
- AR graph projection with a movable anchor
- Graph rotation and scaling
- Basic UIs and aesthetics
......as to the future, check the Future Work section below
Procedural Graph Generation, 1
Procedural Graph Generation, 2
Deliverables
A Short Demo
Future Work
Implement the unfinished features.
Future Work
Team Roles (Not Ranked by Contribution, everyone works the best for the team)
- Chongyang(Me): Developer, Designer, and Researcher
- Titus: Designer, Researcher, Learning Specialist
- Titus: Designer, Researcher, Learning Specialist
My Major Contributions
- Raised the very first, original project idea.
- Code and build everything in Unity.
- Contributed creative design ideas.
- Researched on related theories and existing products.
- Coordinated collaboration and communication.
- Code and build everything in Unity.
- Contributed creative design ideas.
- Researched on related theories and existing products.
- Coordinated collaboration and communication.
Highlights
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