I created a salsa-dancing AR bunny and placed it in a driveway halfway around the world, all to make a one-year-old smile.
The launch of Google Geospatial promised to redefine our perception of reality. In a world where Augmented Reality (AR) experiences tethered to real-world locations were becoming commonplace, I found myself grappling with a personal challenge: How could I bridge the emotional and physical distance separating me from my family?
The Emotional Backdrop
Global pandemics strain familial bonds in unexpected ways. My mother's fight with cancer, coinciding with the joy of my nephew Nikos' birth, epitomized this tumultuous period. A hasty relocation from Australia to Colombia to support my ailing mother culminated in her passing, tragically, before she could meet her grandson. And there I was, thousands of miles away from the new light of our family, Nikos, yearning to be more than a digital whisper on a screen.
Inspiration Strikes
Given early access to the Geospatial platform, I envisioned a digital gesture that would resonate with Nikos and help him feel my presence. An exact AR replica of me might be too abstract for a toddler, leading to the creation of a character reflecting my essence.
Enter the salsa-dancing pink bunny.
This choice wasn't whimsical but steeped in family lore. On my first day at a previous job, I humorously found myself in a pink bunny outfit, an image that had since become iconic within my circles. Coupled with Nikos' joy in watching me dance, especially given his parents' shared love for salsa, the character was the perfect nostalgic touch.
Crafting the Experience
Starting with a detailed sketch to pique Nikos' curiosity, my team and I breathed life into the bunny using Blender and shaped the AR atmosphere with Adobe Aero. The final touch was placing this digital marvel right outside Nikos' home through Google Geospatial.
The magic moment? Watching Nikos' elation upon encountering a piece of his Uncle Guille, even from continents away.
Beyond Technology: The Human Touch
While the potential of platforms like Geospatial is vast in terms of corporate branding and marketing, my journey with Nikos' Gift underscores a vital insight: At its very essence, technology's greatest gift is its power to deepen our human connections.