Last week we headed down to XR Hack London 2024, the UK’s largest ever XR hackathon, an incredible event which brought together over 160 developers, designers, and creatives from around the world all looking to test the boundaries of XR development (and what is possible in just three days!).
The three day XR extravaganza was organised by the Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network, XR Bootcamp and PwC UK and we were proud to have Mattercraft sponsor the Best WebXR App/Game category joining Logitech, Meta, Pearson, Women in Immersive Technologies Europe and the XR Diversity Initiative in supporting this awesome event.
The WebXR challenge
As the only WebXR category we were excited to see how developers and creatives would embrace all the benefits of working in a web browser and how they would tackle the challenges it brings. It was also a brilliant opportunity for us to see first hand how the teams used Mattercraft and get in-person insights into how we can continue to build on the tool.
What is WebXR?
WebXR is a technology standard / API designed to make Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality (AR, VR and MR) experiences accessible through the web (also known as XR)
The judges
We were blown away by the skill in all the entries and how well the teams adapted to learning a brand new tool especially those who had to pivot during the Hack.
The winning team: Frontier and Luna the WebXR journal
“Mattercraft enabled us to transform abstract emotional concepts into tangible, immersive experiences. The platform’s versatility allowed us to experiment freely and realise our vision with precision.”
The project:
Among all the projects presented, Frontier’s Project Luna stood out for us. Deftly combining WebXR and AI to create an immersive journaling experience with a twist.
Designed to promote emotional well-being, the team used Mattercraft to create a reflective journaling process that used HumeAI’s sentiment analysis API to interpret emotional sentiment in the user's voice and offer a responsive, personalised visual experience that reflects the user's emotional state.
What we loved:
“LUNA stood out for its innovative use of Mattercraft to create a WebXR experience that integrated AI and stunning visuals. Team Frontiers approach to enhancing wellness and journalling was both creative and well thought through, while tackling a real-world use case. Despite tough competition, LUNAs well executed experience, impressive trailer and future vision meant it earned my vote.”
- George Martin
“The Frontiers Team impressed me with their combination of concept, technical implementation, and artistry. They worked well together, leveraging each other's respective strengths, to deliver a functional prototype in record time.”
- Connell Gauld
“I could really see myself using Luna, and I loved the visual representation of the emotions; from a design and UX perspective it flowed really well and was easy to navigate.”
- Grace Vassallo
The competition
Whilst Frontier’s Project Luna claimed the top spot, the competition was fierce, with the other teams showcasing remarkable creativity and technical skill.
Team TnT and Momento, the WebXR artefact archive
The project:
Leaning on their teammate’s art history and curation background, Momento wanted to revolutionise how historical artefacts are preserved and experienced around the world.
The project enabled users to experience famous works of art or historical artefacts like never before by creating a Mixed Reality environment, accessible to anyone with an internet connection, where institutions from all over the world could add 3D captures of their collections. Envisioning a future where museums, schools, and individuals could easily archive and share these treasures with the world, breaking down barriers of location and access.
What we loved:
The team’s passion for cultural preservation was clear which I loved as an art history graduate and also despite encountering challenges, like optimising 3D model sizes for the web, Momento delivered a really well thought out and technical prototype.
Team Wabi-Sabi and the WebXR digital diorama
The project:
Overcoming the adversity of a team split halfway through the Hack Wabi-Sabi created an elegant and well thought out exploration of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, brought to life as an evolving digital diorama. The project used Mattercraft to create a Mixed Reality experience that could augment museum exhibits, providing users with an interactive way to explore cultural traditions, allowing users to delve into the nuances of the ceremony, guided by spatial audio and narrated insights.
What we loved:
The detail and polish of the project was exceptional and you could really see the 3D design and audio specialisms of the team coming into play. The resulting experience really showcased the potential of XR in enhancing cultural education and we loved hearing how people without detailed coding knowledge found using Mattercraft.
"Mattercraft surprised us with it’s ease of use, and we could definitely see ourselves using it again. I think there’s a lot of scope for augmented web experiences, and this software removes many barriers to creation."
Team Jafergus and The WebXR Arcade Game
The project:
Jafergus offered a glimpse into the future of gaming with their arcade-style game with an AI twist, using text prompts players could choose their theme, with the game dynamically generating in-game assets to match. Really highlighting how XR and AI in combination can creating a unique gaming experience for every player.
What we loved:
The innovative use of AI combined with an old school style arcade game, it had a real sense of fun and showed real technical skill including Mattercraft and text-to-image AI, within the limited timeframe of the hackathon.
Final Thoughts on the WebXR Innovations
XR Hack London 2024 showcased the vast potential of WebXR, highlighting how it can be used to create emotionally resonant experiences, preserve cultural heritage, and innovate in gaming. With tools like Mattercraft, developers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the web-based immersive space. As we continue to support these creators, we look forward to seeing how WebXR will evolve and impact the digital landscape.
Want to have a go at building a WebXR project?
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Grace VassalloSenior Brand & Marketing Manager, Zappar