InSync XR
An XR experience in darkness where touch and sound guide an unfolding encounter that grows into a warm, accepting bond with a living, mythical presence.
Omu, a Living Presence
Curious Mind
Built as an animatronic driven by a central server and complex state machine, Omu senses touch and shifts its behavior in real-time.
Its “neural network” maps inputs to gestures, letting it tilt its head, nod, and lean into your hand.
Its voice shifts across a range of sounds to express emotion. It calls to you, warm and insistent, like a cat brushing against you in affection.
Embracing Wings
Omu draws you close once trust is built.
A pair of fantastical wings unfold into a soft, enveloping embrace.
Flexible Limbs
3D-printed joints and bones give Omu the ability to flex and move its tendrils in playful interaction.
Something soft brushes against your arm. It hesitates, then returns, tracing along your side with a searching curiosity.
Breathing Skin
Soft-circuit touch sensors detect location, pressure, and rhythm.
Under your hand, you feel its pulse quicken when pressed, its breath turn short and uneven, then steady again under a gentle stroke, accompanied by a quiet, purring hum.
Flexible limbs invite approach and curiosity, responsive skin builds intimacy, the head seeks closeness and communication, and finally the wings open in embrace. These interactions unfold in sequence, layering touch, motion, and sound into a living bond with Omu.
Layout & Guest Flow
Image by Rosie Gao & Quinn Liu
Storyboard
Artwork by Shunran Shen
An explorer passes through a desolate world searching for life signs.
As if compelled by a deep, irresistible pull, they descend into a cavern of darkness.
Their touch awakens the cavern, stirring the ancient beast of life, Omu, from its slumber.
Omu answers with voices that echo through the chamber, gently guiding the explorer closer.
Explorer and Omu merge in connection, their bond pulses like a long-awaited ritual, reviving the cavern itself.
With the source of life revived, the world outside flourishes, as the sacred cycle begins anew.
Technical Work
We use 3D-printed tentacles and motor-driven feedback to create realistic creature interactions. The 3D-printed tentacles dynamically respond to player actions, such as dragging and wrapping, enhancing environmental immersion.
Pressure-based input system for close contact and soft bodies.
Motors simulate the creature’s breathing and heartbeat, providing lifelike feedback that intensifies the sense of presence and tension.
We built a state-machine–based control system. Multiple Arduino UNO R4 WiFi boards collect sensor signals and transmits them over Wi-Fi to a central server.
