Merging augmented reality and virtual reality

Abstract

Augmented and virtual reality are separate growing technologies that have started to impact areas such as video games or 4.0 industry. The aim of this thesis is to create a seamless experience between them, focused on a video game perspective to show the real capabilities of both platforms working together, in a multiplayer first-person shooter. To achieve this goal, there will be a development in Unity, the video game development platform, using the standard libraries such as Mixed Reality Toolkit for augmented reality (AR) and SteamVR for virtual reality (VR). Additionally, the physical devices that will execute the experience will be the HoloLens from Microsoft (AR device) and the Oculus Rift from Oculus (VR device). The combination of platforms will need a networking library, as every communication will be via Wi-Fi. The chosen library is UNET from Unity itself. It is being deprecated but it is still working until Unity releases the new networking alternative. Based on the experience and lessons learned during this development, in this document will remain the different alternatives and choices made, as well as the limitations found in involved technologies.