This repo is the IOS backend in Swift handling the displaying of widgets and other associated pieces of software for the associated AR/VR glasses (hardware agnostic) for the Insight project, created for the CalHacks 2025' hackathon.
We all like augmented reality hardware, but find the user experience to be lacking, the designs unappealing, and the utility to be near non-existent. We decided to create a platform to address these criticisms of the augmented reality landscape.
Many "smart glasses" overly emphasize AI-first features, while neglecting the fundementals. Thus, we decided to implement software ourselves.
Project InSight is a pair of understated augmented reality glasses that are designed to operate without an internal computer and interface, either wired or wireless, with a tethered device. This allows us to achieve better battery life, comfort, energy efficiency, and at a lower cost. Alongside the head mounted display, the InSight software allows for an unmatched degree of user customization with a near infinite number of information displayable, the separation between your minds eye and reality is non-existent.
We first began spec'ing out the hardware we were going to use to demo the software. We went with a pair of Sony μ-OLED displays originally designated for automotive applications, a series of custom ribbon cables and a small driver board to allow them to be interfaced with via Type-C Display Port. That display port connection is either used to connect internally to a SBC performing a P2P connection with an external computer or as a direct connection to a pocket computer such as a smartphone. After settling on the hardware we spent the vast majority of the hackathon chipping away at the software.
We designed a custom frame that we were going to 3D print, but because of the internet issues plaguing Calhacks we were unable to do so. As a result, we were unable to create a dual-screen implementation of our test hardware that had a satisfactory user experience because of display alignment issues. The lack of custom frames was the root cause of numerous packaging issues that ultimately lead us to abandon our wireless prototype in favor of a lighter, tethered approach.
We were able to produce both custom hardware and software in less than two days, despite numerous roadblocks.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.
The world may never know...
