Imagine being able to interact with the lights in your room as if they were tangible, magical elements. Orb-It takes inspiration from the Deluminator in Harry Potter and transforms it into a real-world system using Apple Vision Pro, Philips Hue light bulbs, and the power of Mixed Reality. This project brings immersive, intuitive light control to life, merging fantasy with cutting-edge technology.
How Orb-It Works
The Deluminator Effect
Using a Deluminator-styled prop, Orb-It allows you to “suck in” all the lights in a room in real-time. As the lights dim and gather into a glowing virtual orb within your Vision Pro headset, the physical space darkens, creating an uncanny blend of the magical and the real.
The effect is fully synchronized with Philips Hue bulbs, making the interaction feel both fantastical and grounded in reality.
Direct Light Manipulation with Gestures
The real magic of Orb-It lies in its gesture-based interactions. Using Vision Pro’s precise hand tracking, you can:
Pinch and Pluck Lights: Select individual light sources in your mixed-reality environment by “plucking” them with a pinch gesture.
Change Colors and Brightness: Once a light is selected, adjust its color, brightness, or even create dynamic effects—all visualized in the mixed-reality space and applied to the physical lights in real time.
Reposition Lights: Virtually move light sources to different parts of the room for creative or practical layouts.
Real-Time Feedback
As you interact, the changes are instantly reflected in both the virtual and physical environments, ensuring a seamless experience.
The Design Philosophy
At its core, Orb-It is about making interactions with technology feel intuitive and delightful. Light control is often limited to apps, remotes, or voice commands, which, while functional, lack the tactile and immersive quality that Orb-It introduces. By combining spatial computing with IoT, Orb-It transforms lighting into a canvas for creativity, play, and personalization.
Applications and Future Potential
Entertainment: Imagine setting the mood for a party or movie night by physically “grabbing” and customizing the lights around you.
Accessibility: For users who may find traditional control methods cumbersome, gesture-based control offers an intuitive alternative.
Design and Productivity: Interior designers and artists can experiment with lighting layouts and effects in real time, making the tool both playful and practical.
Why Orb-It Matters
Orb-It isn’t just about controlling lights—it’s about rethinking how we interact with our environments. By combining the tangible and the digital, it demonstrates the potential of Mixed Reality to turn everyday tasks into magical, engaging experiences. It’s a glimpse into a future where the boundaries between physical and virtual worlds dissolve, making our interactions with technology as seamless and enchanting as a flick of the wrist.