MakAR (AR tool) for Cornell Tech's MakerLAB
MakAR is an AR system purpose-built for the MakerLAB community at Cornell Tech, designed for seamless use with Meta Orion Smart Glasses. Targeting makers, like students or general neophytes, who have completed orientation but lack experience with advanced equipment, MakAR Lab serves as an always-available, personal guide to working with more advanced equipment. Users will wear the smart glasses to receive real-time, contextual, step-by-step instructions overlaid onto their view of the equipment. The system also includes an adaptive admin dashboard, empowering SuperMakers to upload and manage machinery protocols, streamlining day-to-day operations and enhancing oversight. We anticipate that this AR experience will offload some burden on in-person staff while supporting safe, independent operation.
MakAR Lab’s core attraction is its unobtrusive, transparent interface, leveraging Orion’s wide field of view to minimize visual obstruction and cognitive load. The design vision is to instill confidence in new users on advanced machinery with simple, easy-to-follow guidelines, as posited by staff and Supermakers.