FocusVR
A hackathon-built VR study space grounded in cognitive science—upload PDFs, annotate them, and remove distractions.
Idea
Studying is distraction-heavy; VR could create a focused environment designed to support attention.
What I built
A VR study space with PDF upload and Leap Motion-based annotation.
Result
Won 1st place overall (Innovation) at Hack UCSC and received funding to continue development.
Overview
FocusVR was built during Hack UCSC, a 72-hour hackathon. Our team created a customizable, distraction-free VR study environment inspired by cognitive science research fundamentals. Users could upload PDFs and annotate them with a Leap Motion tracked “pencil.”
Challenge
Making “productivity VR” work requires readable content, natural writing/annotation, and strong comfort. All of it had to be built end-to-end under a hackathon deadline.
Approach
- Minimal UI and a calm environment to reduce cognitive load.
- Direct manipulation (annotate the document) rather than menus.
- Use cognitive science principles as constraints for design decisions.
Process
- Designed interaction flows for importing and working with documents.
- Built the environment and tuned it for focus and comfort.
- Implemented Leap Motion-based annotation so writing felt direct and intuitive.
- Coordinated across the team to keep scope realistic during the sprint.
Outcome
The prototype won 1st place overall in the Innovation category at Hack UCSC and received funding to continue development.