2023 Unity VR Basics - Poke Interactor

Summary

This video tutorial introduces 'Poke Interactors' in XR development, focusing on their unique interaction method without traditional triggers like box colliders. It demonstrates creating a Poke Interactor, setting up interaction layers, and attaching it to the index finger for natural interaction. The video also covers creating 'Poke Interactable' objects and shows how the Poke Interactor can be used for UI interactions, suggesting it's particularly effective for UI elements over physics-based interactions.

Takeaways

• 📱 Poke interactors are a new feature in XR development, offering a different way to interact with virtual objects.
• 🔧 To create a poke interactor, you simply add the XR Poke Interactor component to an empty object in Unity.
• 🎯 Unlike other interactors, poke interactors use a sphere collider set to is trigger, which determines the interaction range.
• 👌 The Poke interactor has attributes like interaction layer mask, interaction manager, and attach transform, which are crucial for its functionality.
• 👉 The attach transform is particularly important as it determines where the poke interactor is located on the hand model.
• 🛠️ A custom script is used to set the poke interactor to the correct attach point, such as the index finger tip.
• 🔲 The poke interactor can interact with UI objects and has a 'require poke filter' attribute to ensure it only reacts to objects with a poke filter.
• 🎨 The interaction with objects can be customized, such as changing colors when an object is hovered over or selected.
• 🖼️ The script demonstrates how to make a simple interactable object that changes color based on interaction states.
• 🤖 The poke interactor works seamlessly with UI elements like sliders and buttons, providing a natural interaction method.

Q & A

What is a Poke Interactor in XR development?

A Poke Interactor is a type of interaction component in XR development that allows for interactions without the use of traditional triggers like box colliders. It uses a sphere collider set to 'is trigger' to detect interactions.

How is the Poke Interactor different from other interactors?

The Poke Interactor is unique in that it uses a sphere collider instead of a box collider and does not require additional components like rigidbodies or physics materials. It also has attributes for depth and width that determine the hover and select interactions.

What is the importance of the 'attach transform' in a Poke Interactor?

The 'attach transform' is crucial for the Poke Interactor as it determines the point from which the interaction originates. It should be set to a point that represents the user's index finger for a more natural interaction.

How does the Poke Interactor interact with UI elements?

The Poke Interactor can interact with UI elements directly out of the box, thanks to the 'enable UI interaction' attribute. This allows for intuitive interactions with UI components like sliders and buttons using a finger-like motion.

What is the role of the 'require poke filter' attribute in a Poke Interactor?

The 'require poke filter' attribute ensures that the Poke Interactor will only react to objects that have a Poke Filter component. This filter determines the direction and conditions for hover and select interactions.

Can you explain the function of the script 'set poke to finger attach point' mentioned in the script?

The script 'set poke to finger attach point' is used to correctly position the Poke Interactor to the tip of the index finger in the XR controller. It finds the Poke Interactor component and assigns the correct transform to it for accurate interaction.

How does the Poke Interactor handle hover and select states?

The Poke Interactor handles hover and select states based on the depth and width attributes. The hover state is triggered when the finger is near an object, and the select state is activated when the finger penetrates halfway into the object along the specified axis.

What is a Poke Filter and how does it work?

A Poke Filter is a component that determines how a Poke Interactor interacts with an object. It specifies the axis and direction along which the Poke Interactor must move to trigger hover and select states.

How can the Poke Interactor be used to change object properties like color?

The Poke Interactor can be used to change object properties by using event triggers in the interactable components. For example, color changes can be programmed to occur on hover enter, hover exit, and select enter events.

What are the considerations for using a Poke Interactor with physical objects versus UI?

Using a Poke Interactor with physical objects requires considering the directionality and depth of interaction, which may not always align with natural physical interactions. With UI, the Poke Interactor provides a more intuitive and direct way to interact with elements like sliders and buttons.