School of Science and Technology 科技學院
Computing Programmes 電腦學系

Augmented Reality Gift-box DIY System SOSGift

Ma Man Wai Celia

Programme Bachelor of Science with Honours in Internet Technology
Supervisor Mr. Kevin Tse
Areas Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Applications
Year of Completion 2016

Objectives

This project aims to provide a convenient, efficient and well-described utility for users to create gift-box in order to enhance the making process experience with augmented reality technology (AR). Because the lack of utility for the whole process, this utility aims to provide service from gift-box selection to final product creation which is convenient. When people DIY the gift-box, they need to draw the paper pattern. If the size is not perfect, they go back and draw the pattern one more time which is totally wasting time. This utility aims to reduce the overall time of DIY gift-box especially in the size-measurement part in order to achieve efficiency. Some existing tutorials of DIY gift-box are complicated and unclear. This utility also aims to provide well-described tutorials for user with assist with AR.

To achieve the aims, the below systems will be created:

  • Develop a user system
  • Create gift-boxes selection catalog
  • Develop an AR size-measurement system
  • Develop a web printing system
  • Develop a virtual tutorial stage
  • Create some 3D-models demonstrate the completed product
  • Develop a user-friendly GUI Views

Background and Methodology

SOSGift consists of two app including the Android app and web app. Those 2 app works interactively to finish the whole DIY process. After selecting a gift-box in the gift-box catalog, the detail page of the gift-box will be shown. In the above figure, the e pictures gallery. By pressing the picture, a bigger one will be shown so that users can watch it clearly. Annotation 2 area is 3D step-by-step tutorial button of the box. Virtual tutorial state will be shown by pressing it. Annotation 3 area is the AR size-measurement system which is explained in below section.

Users can download and print this marker from the web app in A4 size. This marker is specially designed for more stable performance of the GameObject (the virtual gift-box). The different color, edge and border used in the marker makes the virtual gift-box becoming stable and not vibrate.

By pressing “Measure size” button, an AR screen will be shown:

Above figure shows the AR size-measurement screen. The left-hand size is the how to use panel. It gives instruction to users about how to use this function. User can close it by pressing the top-right corner button or the cross button in the window.

As long as the size of virtual gift-box is same as the size of gift-box in reality in the mobile screen, it can be confirmed that the virtual gift-box fitted the gift is identity to the gift-box in reality fitted the gift.

First, the box in scale one is made out. Measure the size of it and the width is 4.6cm.

And then a virtual rainbow box with width 4.6 cm was made. It is in scale 1.0. As long as the system follows the ratio and scale of this measurement, the scaling values can be calculated.

From the above figure, it shows that the size of rainbow box in reality and in virtual is nearly identical. The widths are both 4.6 cm. It proves that if the virtual gift-box can totally cover the gift, it means the gift-box in reality can also cover the gift perfectly. The size is determined in this way.

The animation is in 3D form and can be viewed on different sides. From the above figure, it is step 2. User can go into different steps as they wish. The 2 buttons in right hand size are the scales up and down button letting the 3D animation can be zoom in to see the detail much more clearly.

When user finish the tutorial the progress bar is 100% but they can also go back to the previous step in case they don't understand the folding method. So, below is the finish product:

Evaluation

If the user can position the gift-box 3D model as they want, they can measure the gift size easily leading to speeding up the process. About 78% of users agree that they can accurately position the models.

By asking questions on gift-box selection and the whole gift-box making process, the degree of convenient can be evaluated:

By asking questions on the tutorial, the degree of well-described can be evaluated:

If a user satisfies for the app, he or she will be more likely to use the app next time. 80% of users will use the app next time indicates that they are satisfied for the app.

Conclusion and Future Development

SOSGift is a gift-box making utility with Augmented Reality Technology. There are three aims that SOSGift wants to achieve that are convenient, efficient and well-described. The lack of utility for the whole gift-box DIY process leading to the first aim. It aims to provide service from gift-box selection to final product creation which is convenient. For the efficient, it aims to reduce the overall time in the DIY gift-box process including the size-measurement part, paper pattern creation part or others. Lastly, it aims to provide some well-described tutorials for users that are clear enough and easily understand.

In this development stage, SOSGift is not integrated with after-sale service system yet. SOSGift can cooperate with some companies to be their support of after-sale service. When customer buy a gift in the shop, they can use SOSGift to make the special designed gift-box with company logo. This can lead to value-add of the gift that can help those companies to increase user satisfaction.

In the future, SOSGift can be integrated into VR glasses too. In the size-measurement part, user can just scale up and down the virtual gift-box with finger motion. In the tutorial part, user can watch the 3D tutorial and can have both hands to make the gift-box concurrently. The user experience can be improved.

Copyright Ma Man Wai Celia and Kevin Tse 2016

Jonathan Chiu
Marketing Director
3DP Technology Limited

Jonathan handles all external affairs include business development, patents write up and public relations. He is frequently interviewed by media and is considered a pioneer in 3D printing products.

Krutz Cheuk
Biomedical Engineer
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital

After graduating from OUHK, Krutz obtained an M.Sc. in Engineering Management from CityU. He is now completing his second master degree, M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, at CUHK. Krutz has a wide range of working experience. He has been with Siemens, VTech, and PCCW.

Hugo Leung
Software and Hardware Engineer
Innovation Team Company Limited

Hugo Leung Wai-yin, who graduated from his four-year programme in 2015, won the Best Paper Award for his ‘intelligent pill-dispenser’ design at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering’s International Conference on Consumer Electronics – China 2015.

The pill-dispenser alerts patients via sound and LED flashes to pre-set dosage and time intervals. Unlike units currently on the market, Hugo’s design connects to any mobile phone globally. In explaining how it works, he said: ‘There are three layers in the portable pillbox. The lowest level is a controller with various devices which can be connected to mobile phones in remote locations. Patients are alerted by a sound alarm and flashes. Should they fail to follow their prescribed regime, data can be sent via SMS to relatives and friends for follow up.’ The pill-dispenser has four medicine slots, plus a back-up with a LED alert, topped by a 500ml water bottle. It took Hugo three months of research and coding to complete his design, but he feels it was worth all his time and effort.

Hugo’s public examination results were disappointing and he was at a loss about his future before enrolling at the OUHK, which he now realizes was a major turning point in his life. He is grateful for the OUHK’s learning environment, its industry links and the positive guidance and encouragement from his teachers. The University is now exploring the commercial potential of his design with a pharmaceutical company. He hopes that this will benefit the elderly and chronically ill, as well as the society at large.

Soon after completing his studies, Hugo joined an automation technology company as an assistant engineer. He is responsible for the design and development of automation devices. The target is to minimize human labor and increase the quality of products. He is developing products which are used in various sections, including healthcare, manufacturing and consumer electronics.

Course Code Title Credits
  COMP S321F Advanced Database and Data Warehousing 5
  COMP S333F Advanced Programming and AI Algorithms 5
  COMP S351F Software Project Management 5
  COMP S362F Concurrent and Network Programming 5
  COMP S363F Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing 5
  COMP S382F Data Mining and Analytics 5
  COMP S390F Creative Programming for Games 5
  COMP S492F Machine Learning 5
  ELEC S305F Computer Networking 5
  ELEC S348F IOT Security 5
  ELEC S371F Digital Forensics 5
  ELEC S431F Blockchain Technologies 5
  ELEC S425F Computer and Network Security 5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 ELEC S201FBasic Electronics5
 IT S290FHuman Computer Interaction & User Experience Design5
 STAT S251FStatistical Data Analysis5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 COMPS333FAdvanced Programming and AI Algorithms5
 COMPS362FConcurrent and Network Programming5
 COMPS363FDistributed Systems and Parallel Computing5
 COMPS380FWeb Applications: Design and Development5
 COMPS381FServer-side Technologies and Cloud Computing5
 COMPS382FData Mining and Analytics5
 COMPS390FCreative Programming for Games5
 COMPS413FApplication Design and Development for Mobile Devices5
 COMPS492FMachine Learning5
 ELECS305FComputer Networking5
 ELECS363FAdvanced Computer Design5
 ELECS425FComputer and Network Security5