APlus Playground [Startup Project]

💳 APlus Playground: Bridging Language and Culture through Immersive Technology

📝 Overview:
This project marks my first attempt to commercialize the vision of a non device-centric computing paradigm. My experience teaching English to Japanese students in Zoom workshops organized by the start-up inspired me to initiate an immersive e-learning classroom project, "APlus Playground", that's compatible with both PC and VR. The business direction of this internship project gained the support of the start-up's CEO and largest customer for me to further develop a custom game map on a popular online gaming platform for immersive language learning through a contracted job.

🎨 Roles:
Intern:
1️⃣ Taught English in the start-up's Zoom workshops to Japanese university and high-school students.
2️⃣ Conceptualized an immersive e-learning classroom through market research.
3️⃣ Implemented an immersive e-learning classroom prototype using Spatial.io.
4️⃣ Designed its gamified learning and social functionalities, etc., through a demonstration video using iMovie.
5️⃣ Represented the startup to present the prototype to its largest customer, NTT, via a B2B presentation.

Project Manager:
1️⃣ Created a custom game map for Fortnite using Unreal Engine, for online gathering of language exchangers for the start-up.
2️⃣ Collaborated with Japanese and Singaporean students to build custom 3D models of Japanese architecture for the custom game map.
3️⃣ Hosted the inaugural language exchange session between Japanese and Singaporean students using the completed map on Fortnite at the Kasugai City Anniversary event.

🥽 Extra Mile:
1️⃣ Created a proof-of-concept immersive e-learning prototype that is both PC- and VR-compatible, complete with language learning and social functionalities, catering to both beginner and expert language learners, which was not required for my internship.
2️⃣ Proposed and conducted a B2B presentation with the start-up's largest customer, NTT, to secure further support for expanding in the immersive e-learning direction.
3️⃣ Impressed my employer during the one-month internship, leading to a follow-up contract to realize part of my proposal.
4️⃣ Due to my lack of 3D modeling and architecture experience, I recruited an NUS architecture student to join the project on a sub-contract to form a team with complementary skill sets for the successful completion of the project.

💡 Skills Self-Learnt:
1️⃣ Business Presentation: Consulted with and learned from my employer the essentials of B2B presentation in one week.
2️⃣ Game Engine: Taught myself how to use Unreal Engine to import custom 3D models and create custom maps for the popular video game platform Fortnite in one week.
3️⃣ Architectural Project Management: Collaborated with Japanese students to collect images of historically significant landmarks in Japan, and with an NUS architecture student to incorporate their 3D models into the custom map.

💰 Results:
1️⃣ Market Recognition: Earned commendations and secured further support from NTT, APlus's largest customer, for the strategic direction and innovative approach of the immersive e-learning platform.
2️⃣ Media Coverage: The inaugural language exchange session during the Kasugai City Anniversary event was highly praised, featured in a local news outlet under the title: "Introducing the Charms of Kasugai in English – Online Exchange between Junior and High School Students and Singaporean Students".
3️⃣ Cultural Impact: Fostered cross-cultural understanding between Japanese and Singaporean students and showcased how immersive technology can bridge geographical and linguistic divides.