About the creation : 

“Evasion” is TKorp’s most ambitious project, primarily completed in 2022 and updated through 2024. The project was developed using Unity in C#, targeting VR headsets and Android tablets, with a web-based management platform.

The project was initiated following a public tender issued by the Hauts-de-Seine department, which requested the development of a software suite and a web platform for managing 360-degree videos for all nursing homes in the department. The aim was to enable residents to reconnect with the outside world using new technologies such as VR, through a catalog of themed and varied 360-degree videos. The budget for this pilot campaign to raise awareness of technology in nursing homes was funded to the tune of 6 million euros by the department.

Most of the budget was allocated to the hardware supporting the software suite, in the form of a case containing 4 Pico G2 VR headsets, a tablet, and various charging and cleaning accessories.

As the lead 3D developer on Unity, my role was to create the application installed and launched by default on the headsets and tablets. The same application runs on all devices, with a common base that includes content downloads, license and hardware checks, and connection to the router provided in the cases. The differentiation between VR and mobile applications is reflected in the dynamic addition of platform-dependent scripts, such as VR setup, and the interface design.

On the project, I handled the backend, which involved exchanging data with the server using REST API plugins. This allowed the device identification information to be sent and content data to be received for downloading onto SD cards. The biggest challenge was the downloading process, as many factors could affect the processing speed of large content files, such as location, device distance from the router, battery level, SD card access, RAM, and CPU load. All of this relied on the network connectivity part that I also developed, using the pre-release version of Unity’s “Netcode for GameObject” at the time of initial development. At that point, there was limited use of this package, but thanks to the clear documentation, I quickly achieved a satisfactory result. This allowed the tablet to connect with the headsets and, with additional plugins and access to Android commands, display the headset visuals, listen, and communicate with them, adjust the volume, turn off the device, launch and manage videos, and more.

Another significant part of my work was creating an intermediary layer between Unity and the hardware. Depending on the device, this layer consisted of numerous utility functions, such as rewriting basic button functions or collecting device status information. These functions were then used in network calls between the tablet and headsets, as well as on the device itself. Given the large amount of data recorded and transmitted, it was structured consistently across the web and Unity, facilitating changes and transmission to the server.

After a test version for the public tender, the first version of the “Evasion” application was completed in two months and was improved, updated, and corrected over two years. Each device had a QR code for initialization in the management system and the customer service system. Thanks to this system, we received weekly indications of potential issues and improvements, whether in design or technical aspects. Through an Android service installed on all devices, we could execute remote updates, which proved very useful for critical bugs or regressions. In conclusion, the Hauts-de-Seine department was very satisfied with the project and rewarded us with new projects, such as the game “Space Padel,” presented at the Hauts-de-Seine Digital Games 2023 event. Personally, I was deeply touched by the feedback from the nursing home residents and how much it brightened their daily lives, whether they were active seniors or bedridden individuals.

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