Project Overview
Spatial Talk is a web-based, interactive 3D live meeting application designed to mimic real-life interactions in virtual spaces. By entering a unique room number, users can navigate a customizable 3D environment in real time using keyboard (“WASD”) and mouse controls. This project aims to make virtual meetings more engaging and accessible through immersive interactions.
You can try the latest demo at: Spatial-Talk
Motivation
Spatial Talk was inspired by the need for a highly intuitive, fully controllable 3D virtual environment that simulates physical presence. By lowering the barrier to entry (simple controls and room-based login), this platform aims to make online collaboration more engaging, accessible, and customizable.
How It Works
- Peer-to-Peer Connectivity: Utilizes SimplePeer to establish real-time, peer-to-peer connections. Users can seamlessly join or create rooms by specifying a unique room number.
- 3D Environment Construction: Built with Three.js to render real-time 3D objects and environments, ensuring an immersive and fluid experience.
- Data Management: Integrates Firebase for storing and retrieving user and room data, enabling efficient customization and scaling.
Code Availability
The full source code for Spatial Talk is open source and publicly available. This initiative encourages developers worldwide to adapt and expand the functionality of this application, fostering a community-driven approach to virtual interaction technology.
Future Directions
- • Enhanced mobile compatibility by improving motion sensor data mapping for smoother navigation
- • Collision detection to prevent overlapping of virtual objects
- • Custom 3D model uploads for personalized virtual environments
- • Ongoing accessibility improvements to better serve users with diverse needs
Technical, Creative, and Interpretive Aspects
Technical: I implemented the core networking functionality (SimplePeer for P2P), built the 3D user interface with Three.js, and set up Firebase integration for data persistence. These components ensure a robust and scalable environment.
Creative: Designing an environment where users can freely move around with “WASD” and mouse controls brings a sense of exploration to virtual meetings. The ability to customize rooms and future plans for uploading 3D models fosters creativity and personalization.
Interpretive: Spatial Talk rethinks how we connect online by blending physical presence metaphors with digital flexibility. It offers a new lens on virtual collaboration, encouraging dialogue on how spatial metaphors can enhance or redefine social interaction in virtual contexts.
Collaboration & My Contribution
I led the core architecture design and full-stack development for Spatial Talk, focusing on:
- • Setting up real-time networking with SimplePeer
- • Building 3D scenes, user avatars, and physics interactions using Three.js
- • Integrating Firebase for data storage, user presence, and room management
- • Designing user flow, including “room number” logic for creating/joining rooms