Skye Winters
Ballroom Guide
Role: Solo Developer
Team: Skye Winters
Development Period: August 2024 - October 2024
Software: Unity, Figma, Vuforia,and Motion Builder
Core Question: How can we design a more affordable and accessible method of learning ballroom?
Project Description:
The Ballroom Guide is an Augmented Reality (AR) prototype exploring the feasibility of using AR to enhance ballroom dance learning. This app turns written dance instructions into interactive 3D visualizations, allowing dancers to see and practice moves directly from their phones. It demonstrates how technology can bridge the gap between traditional written instruction and interactive, visual learning experiences in dance.
Key Features:
AR Dance Visualizations: Scan specific book pages to view animated 3D demonstrations of dance steps for both lead and follow roles, making it easier to learn and understand movements.
Adjustable Speed with Metronome: Practice dance steps at different speeds with metronome beats, helping users maintain timing as they learn.
Motion Capture Integration: Uses motion capture technology to accurately represent the dance moves performed by virtual dancers, providing a realistic learning experience.
Glossary and Technique Tutorials: Includes a built-in glossary of dance terms and AR-enhanced tutorials that visually break down complex techniques.
Interactive Controls: Switch between lead and follow perspectives, step through movements beat by beat, and access on-screen tips to guide practice.
Methodology:
This project was created using a figma prototype to design the UI and determine what would be feesible to add to the project. Then from there using the Unity Game Engine and Vuforia, an AR application was created that would be able to identify pages of a ballroom technique book that would then have a "popup" appear on the page when scanned with a phone. Finally, using a motion capture studio and Motion Builder, two ballroom dancers movements were recorded, cleaned up, and implemented into the popup system so that users could view the movements in 3D.
Future Directions:
Through my work on this project, I was able to gain experience in making a mobile app using Unity, learn how to capture and incorperate motion captue into an application, and how to prototype UI in Figma.
If this project were taken into the future, for further development I would include refining motion capture animations, expanding the glossary, and adding features like sequence builders to enhance the user experience.
Takeaways:
Through this project, I was able to gain experience using Motion Capture in VR projects. Additionally, I was able to explore the problem space of what challenges new dancers experience when beginning to learn ballroom. Finally, I was able to gain experience creating apps for mobile devices.
Credits: Mixamo for Character Models
