#Future Design
#Virtual Reality
#AI Application
Neo Sport
Neo Sport is a socially oriented sports game that incorporates MR devices and Generative AI as its main technological components. Regardless of location or companionship, it can generate a new set of sports experiences for you.
Role
user research
concept development
AI data design
AI concept model
VR development
Context
September - October 2024
Graduation Project
Group of 3
Tool
Figma
Unity
R studio
DESIGN BACKGROUND
Reflecting on human history, there is always a profound connection between sports and the backdrop of each era, intertwined with technological advancements.
400BC Prime Times
Run for Survival
+ war and conquest, agriculture, tools
400BC-476AD
Prepare for Battle
+ christianity
500AD-1500AD
Reject of the Body
+ physical, anatomy, biology, health and physical education
1600AD-1914AD
Train for Homeland
+ the industrial revolution, fitness video tape, sedentary lifestyle
20th Century
Fit for Own Health
?
21th Century
_________________
This led us to ask: How might emerging technologies reshape the next era of sports, and how can we design for that future?
DESIGN PROCESS
To develop a future-oriented sports concept, we first explored generational shifts, social trends, and emerging technologies. Based on these insights, we established our design goal and identified a promising concept. We then investigated the concept’s technical challenges, designed and defined key design elements and an interaction flow, and created an exhibition prototype to make the future vision tangible.
GENERATION RESEARCH
Gen Z values social connection and diverse experiences
Our research suggests that Gen Z places greater emphasis on life fulfillment, social relationships, and spending on experiences. Their interest in travel and increasing international mobility also create more opportunities to connect with people from diverse backgrounds.
Key themes
Life fulfillment and work-life balance
Meaningful social connections
Experience-driven spending
Travel and international mobility
TECHNOLOGIES RESEARCH
The next stage of generative AI will comprise 3D and gaming
Artificial intelligence and augmented reality are two of the most influential technologies of the future.
source: 2023 Gartner Emerging Technologies and Trends Impact Radar
The next stage of generative AI will be the development of 3D objects and games. Meanwhile, the quality of text generation will be greatly improved.
source: 2022 The history of generative AI
Creating adaptive sports that bring people together
Inspired by younger generations’ desire for social connection and new experiences, alongside advances in generative AI and mixed reality, we proposed Neo Sport, a concept that instantly creates personalized sports experiences, turning physical activity into a more social and diverse form of play.
DESIGN CONCEPT
1/ Leverage AI to create fresh sets of game rules applicable for all players
2/ Generate corresponding virtual props in mixed reality to enable sports to be played anywhere
In reality
In MR glasses
3/ Customize the style of play for you and your friends
DESIGN DETAILS
A hybrid interface for individual and shared interaction
Neo Sport combines a personal, hand-following interface for quick individual actions with a shared central screen for group discussion and sport selection. This hybrid approach balances personal control with collaborative decision-making in mixed reality.
Object-based UI
Follows the user's hands for quick and efficient interaction. Displays key information such as personal data, records, nearby players, and allows instant game starts.
Screen-based UI
Appears in the center of the shared space, making it visible to all users. Enables group discussion and collaborative sport selection.
Personalized and accessible sport generation
Using players’ preferences and contextual data, the AI generates three suitable sport concepts for the group to choose from. After each game, players can provide feedback to improve future suggestions. This approach balances personalization with a quick, accessible setup process.
Invitations that encourage new connections
Neo Sport supports both familiar and spontaneous social play. Players can invite nearby friends or use location-based matchmaking to connect with other available players, turning sport into an opportunity to meet people and build new relationships.
EXHIBITION PROTOTYPE
Bringing Neo Sport to life through full-space VR
To make the future concept tangible, we developed Golf Billiards, a full-space VR game representing one possible AI-generated sport. Visitors could experience the game at our exhibition and explore how Neo Sport might transform a physical space into a new shared sports environment.
USER FLOW OF THE EXPERIENCE
1/ Put on MR Glasses
2/ Connect with Sport Partners
3/ Scan Space to Generate New Sports
4/ Preview the New Sports Rules and Select a Sport to continue
5/ Enjoy the Unique Sport with Your Partners
DEMO VIDEO
I implemented the prototype’s core interactions and gameplay systems in Unity, using AI-assisted coding to accelerate development and troubleshoot technical challenges.
Key features
Custom gravity and physics system
Real-time scoring system
Controller-free hand tracking
Immersive VR environment
Spatial audio and dynamic lighting