Online Shopping and e-commerce have become synonymous with the modern-day shopping experience but they come with their own set of concerns that an innovation is ready to address. The lack of first-hand product experience in online shopping often leaves customers dissatisfied, resulting in high volumes of product replacements and returns — a recurrent problem that the e-commerce industry has been facing for a long time. Three engineering students from Gujarat has joined hands to solve this problem with their innovative AR (Augmented Reality) solution.
Rajan Dhariyaparmar from Rajkot, Yash Kankoshiya from Surat, and Kaushal Dhragad from Bhavnagar, aim to make Augmented Reality simple and accessible enough to be experienced without any other application using just your phone or laptop. All three are in the fourth year of BE Computer Engineering at LDRP Institute of Technology and Research.
Rooted in XR Creator Hackathon, Virtual Vortex used Augmented Reality to provide customers with first-hand product experience by providing them with elements like 3D Model Viewer which gives users the option to see and rotate their product of choice in 3D, AR Integration to provide the possibility of placing products in the real world to see, a QR Code Access by entering AR mode by scanning a QR code, without the need for any other application besides a website-ready NPM package that can easily integrate AR. The XR Creator Hackathon is an initiative by Wavelaps, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the WAVES program.
It was a much-needed national platform that celebrates innovators and gives them national-level recognition.
“Thanks to India’s leading XR Communities BharatXR and XDG, teams like Virtual Vortex receive strong expert mentorship and guidance. This strengthens India’s ability in XR technologies and is a big step towards making India a world innovation hub,” said Rajan on his innovative idea. Virtual Vortex is now ready for the Grand Finale scheduled to be held from May 1 to 4, 2025, at the Jio World Convention Center, Mumbai, where the team will compete with other XR innovators from across the country.
Virtual Vortex has proven that when given access to the right platform and guidance, talent from the remotest corners rises to meet global standards and make the nation proud. “My parents see the growing potential of the XR industry, especially with initiatives like this hackathon bringing it into the spotlight. While they may not fully grasp the technical side, they recognise its importance and are proud that I’m part of such an innovative field. They believe that XR becoming a mainstream movement creates exciting opportunities for future and motivates me to contribute to its growth. Their encouragement strengthens my confidence to be part of this transformation,” remarked Kaushal Dhrangad on his feat which is scheduled to create waves in Mumbai WAVES summit.
When asked what larger picture do he see with this project, Yash Kankoshiya told the Pioneer that it will help transform education, healthcare, and retail through XR, making these services more accessible.
In India and globally, I aim to create immersive experiences that enhance everyday life and empower individuals. My goal is to use XR to bridge gaps and connect people to new possibilities in the digital world.
