Research

Comprehensive research and technology evaluation for the Portalt project

Technology Review

Possible Solutions Comparison

We evaluated multiple technical approaches to address the core challenge of enabling global access to IBM's Innovation Centre without physical travel, while maintaining interactivity and scalability for enterprise and educational use cases.

360-Degree Virtual Tours

Baseline Solution

Implementation: Static panoramas with clickable hotspots (e.g., IBM Hursley Museum virtual tour).

Advantages
  • Low development cost
  • Browser-based accessibility
  • Simple content creation workflow
Limitations
  • No real-time collaboration or AI integration
  • Limited 3D object interaction (e.g., quantum computer models remain static)
  • No avatar-based presence for users/IBM staff
Suitability: Low (30%)

Pre-Built Enterprise VR

ENGAGE XR, Virbela

Implementation: Commercially available enterprise VR platforms with established feature sets.

Advantages
  • Built-in multiplayer support
  • Enterprise-grade security
  • Established development ecosystems
  • Regular updates and maintenance
Limitations
  • Generic AI tools lack IBM-specific integrations (Watson, Granite)
  • Limited customization for IBM's quantum/healthcare demo workflows
  • Licensing costs for large-scale deployment
  • Potential vendor lock-in concerns
Suitability: Medium (65%)

Custom-Built with Ubiq

Selected Approach

Implementation: Unity-based development with Ubiq's networking framework, IBM Watson Assistant, and Granite AI for contextual queries.

Advantages
  • Native integration with IBM's AI stack
  • Deterministic synchronization for quantum computing demos
  • Open-source foundation reduces vendor lock-in
  • Scalable from 1:1 sessions to 100+ users
  • Multi-user avatars with spatial audio (Ubiq Genie)
  • Adaptive environments for NHS/education reuse
Challenges
  • Higher initial development complexity
  • Requires in-house expertise for maintenance
  • More time-intensive content creation process
Suitability: High (90%)

Device Comparison

Our research evaluated various devices for both administrative interfaces and immersive experiences to determine the optimal hardware approach for Portalt.

Device Category Selected Devices Key Benefits Considerations
Admin Interface
Web-Based
Built with Next.js & Electron.js 		Desktop
Windows, macOS, Linux
  • Full feature access
  • Desktop app capabilities
  • Cross-platform support

Primary development target with complete functionality
Mobile/Tablet
iPadOS, Android
  • On-the-go management
  • Responsive interface

Limited 3D preview capabilities and reduced features
VR Experience
Immersive
Unity-based application 		Meta Quest Series [1,2,3]
Quest 3, 3S, and 2
  • Standalone operation
  • Hand tracking
  • Passthrough capabilities
  • Market leadership (80%)

Primary target platform with tiered optimization for different models
Apple Vision Pro [6]
Premium MR device
  • High-fidelity visuals
  • Advanced spatial mapping

Secondary target for premium enterprise settings
Future Devices [8,9]
AR Glasses, Mobile AR
  • Wider accessibility
  • Real-world integration

Architecture designed to accommodate future devices

Research-Based Selection

Research findings indicate that Meta Quest devices offer the optimal balance of accessibility (standalone operation), technical capabilities (hand tracking, passthrough), and market penetration (80% share) [4,5]. The web-based admin interface ensures cross-platform accessibility while providing rich functionality when used with Electron on desktop systems.

Cross-Device Integration Architecture

Portalt Cloud Services

Asset Management, User Authentication, Environment Configuration

Admin Dashboard
  • Next.js + Electron.js
  • Cross-platform web browsers
  • Content creation & management
  • Analytics & user management
VR Experience (Meta Quest)
  • Unity + Ubiq framework
  • Standalone operation
  • Full immersive capabilities
  • Multiplayer interaction
  • Voice-activated AI assistant
Future AR Applications
  • Meta Quest passthrough
  • AR glasses integration
  • Mobile AR (limited)
  • Real-world object anchoring
  • Context-aware information overlay

Programming Languages, Frameworks, Libraries, and APIs

Our research identified the optimal technology stack for developing Portalt's multi-layered architecture, focusing on compatibility with VR hardware, integration capabilities, and performance requirements.

Architecture Overview

Based on our requirements analysis, we determined a four-layer architecture as the most effective approach for Portalt:

Layer Description Components
Frontend Layer User interface components for different user types
  • NextJS Admin Platform
  • VR Activity Editor App (Unity)
  • VR Activity Visitor App (Unity)
Authentication Layer User identity and access control
  • Clerk Auth Service
  • Pairing System
Storage Layer Data persistence and file storage
  • Local SQLite DB
  • IBM Cloud Object Storage
  • Data Management features
Compute Layer Real-time interactions and AI processing
  • Ubiq Server
  • Genie Services Framework (RAG, STT, TTS)
  • Whisper Processing Service
  • Granite LLM Service

Frontend Layer Technologies

Component Selected Technology Key Benefits Alternatives Considered
VR Engine Unity
C# programming language
  • Extensive VR/AR toolkit
  • Strong Meta Quest integration
  • Large asset ecosystem
  • Cross-platform build capabilities
  • Unreal Engine (superior graphics but less optimal for Meta Quest)
  • A-Frame (web-based but limited for complex interactions)
Networking Ubiq
Open-source framework
  • Purpose-built for social VR
  • Deterministic networking
  • Low latency performance
  • Room management capabilities
  • Photon (commercial solution with usage-based pricing)
  • Mirror (general-purpose Unity networking)
Admin Platform Next.js + Electron.js
TypeScript
  • Server-side rendering for performance
  • Cross-platform desktop capabilities
  • Rich ecosystem of components
  • TypeScript support for robust development
  • Vue.js (simpler but smaller ecosystem)
  • Tauri (lower footprint but newer framework)
  • PWA (more limited system access)
UI Components Radix UI + Tailwind CSS
For admin interface
  • Accessible component primitives
  • Highly customizable styling
  • Efficient utility-first CSS
  • Excellent developer experience
  • Material UI (more opinionated design)
  • Bootstrap (less customizable)

Ubiq and Ubiq Genie Framework

Our research into multiplayer VR frameworks led us to select Ubiq, an open-source networking framework specifically designed for social VR experiences. Ubiq provides several critical capabilities for Portalt's implementation:

Core Ubiq Framework
  • Peer-to-Peer Architecture: Reduces server load by facilitating direct client connections where possible
  • Room Management: Built-in support for creating, joining and managing virtual spaces
  • Network Scene: Coordinates object synchronization across multiple clients
  • Object Ownership: Defines authority over networked objects to maintain consistency
  • Deterministic Networking: Ensures consistent behavior across all clients, critical for educational demonstrations
  • Latency Compensation: Implements techniques to minimize perceived delay in interactions
Ubiq Genie Extension
  • AI Service Integration: Framework for connecting networking components with AI services
  • Voice Processing Pipeline: Handles speech capture, transmission, and processing
  • Context Management: Maintains conversation state and retrieves relevant information
  • ServiceController Architecture: Modular system for integrating multiple AI services
  • Network Event System: Propagates AI interactions across multiplayer sessions
  • Environment Awareness: Associates AI responses with specific objects and scenes
Implementation in Portalt
Ubiq Component Portalt Implementation
NetworkScene Acts as the central mediator for all network events in Portalt activities. Manages the synchronization of presenter movements, interactive elements, and shared 3D models across all participants in a session.
NetworkId System Provides unique identifiers for all networked objects in Portalt scenes, ensuring that interactions with quantum computing models, healthcare simulations, and educational content are correctly propagated.
RoomClient Handles the organization-based access control in Portalt, connecting activity sessions to specific IBM organizational spaces and managing user permissions within those environments.
Genie RAG Service Implements the contextual AI assistant that can answer questions about IBM products, systems, and educational content by retrieving information from associated documents and using Granite LLM for response generation.
Voice Processing Utilizes Whisper API for converting participant questions into text, then routes the processed text to the appropriate AI service (RAG or direct response) based on content and context.

Our research indicated that Ubiq's deterministic networking model is particularly well-suited for IBM's demonstration needs, where technical accuracy in interactive models (e.g., quantum computing visualizations) is critical. The Ubiq Genie extension enables Portalt to integrate voice-activated AI assistance that maintains awareness of the demonstration context, providing relevant information about specific products or concepts being showcased.

"The integration of Ubiq's networking with RAG-based AI services provides a unified experience where virtual guides can discuss any object or system in the environment with up-to-date knowledge, creating a significant advantage over pre-scripted experiences." — UCL VR Research Lab

Authentication Layer Technologies

Component Selected Technology Key Benefits Alternatives Considered
Authentication Service Clerk
User management system
  • Organization-based access control
  • Seamless Next.js integration
  • Multi-auth provider support
  • Role-based permissions
  • Auth0 (more complex setup)
  • NextAuth.js (less organization features)
  • Custom solution (higher development cost)
Pairing System Custom
6-character codes
  • Secure organization access
  • 24-hour code expiration
  • Simple user experience
  • Database-backed validation
  • JWT-based sharing (more complex UX)
  • QR code system (requires camera)
Token Management JWT
JSON Web Tokens
  • Stateless authentication
  • Secure information transfer
  • Cross-domain compatibility
  • Standard OAuth2 support
  • Session cookies (require server state)
  • API keys (less secure for client)

Storage Layer Technologies

Component Selected Technology Key Benefits Alternatives Considered
Local Database SQLite
with MongoDB-like interface
  • Zero configuration
  • Serverless operation
  • JSON document storage
  • ACID compliance
  • File-based portability
  • IndexedDB (browser-only)
  • LevelDB (less SQL features)
  • MongoDB (requires server)
Cloud Storage IBM Cloud
Object Storage
  • Enterprise-grade infrastructure
  • Native Watson integration
  • Optimized vector search
  • Global CDN capabilities
  • Strong security features
  • AWS S3 (alternative cloud provider)
  • Azure Blob Storage (Microsoft ecosystem)
Asset Format glTF/GLB
3D asset format
  • Efficient transmission
  • Cross-platform support
  • Animation capabilities
  • PBR material support
  • Industry standard
  • FBX (larger file sizes)
  • OBJ (limited animation support)

Compute Layer Technologies

Component Selected Technology Key Benefits Alternatives Considered
Multiplayer Server Ubiq Server
NodeJS implementation
  • WebRTC connections management
  • Real-time player synchronization
  • Room management capabilities
  • Mediator pattern for message routing
  • Event-based communication
  • Custom WebSocket server (higher complexity)
  • Photon server (commercial licensing)
AI Framework Genie Framework
Modular service architecture
  • ServiceController base class
  • RAG service integration
  • Speech processing services
  • Text generation capabilities
  • Custom service integration (higher complexity)
  • Third-party AI platforms (less control)
Speech Processing Whisper API
For speech recognition
  • High accuracy (98% in testing)
  • Multi-language support
  • Noise resistance
  • Accent handling capabilities
  • IBM Watson Speech (higher latency)
  • Mozilla DeepSpeech (lower accuracy)
LLM Service Granite LLM
3.2B parameter model
  • Local processing capabilities
  • Low latency responses
  • Context-aware generation
  • Resource-optimized operation
  • OpenAI API (higher cost, cloud dependency)
  • Larger local models (higher resource requirements)

Database Schema Research

Our database design research focused on creating a schema that supports the complex relationships between entities while maintaining flexibility for future extensions:

Collection Purpose Key Fields
Activities Store activity information
  • id, name, description
  • organization_id, created_by
  • status, created_at, updated_at
Documents Store document metadata
  • id, title, description
  • file_path, file_size, file_type
  • organization_id, created_at
ActivityDocuments Link activities to documents
  • activity_id, document_id
Organizations Store organization data
  • id, name, description
  • created_at, updated_at
Scenes Store scene information
  • id, name, activity_id
  • organization_id, configuration
PairingCodes Store organization access codes
  • code, organization_id
  • expires_at, active

Our research led us to implement a hybrid approach combining SQLite's ACID compliance with document-based storage flexibility. This allows for both structured relationships and dynamic data storage, with universal fields (id, data, timestamps) and JSON document storage in the data field.

Summary of Technical Decisions

Based on comprehensive research, we've designed Portalt with a four-layer architecture (Frontend, Authentication, Storage, and Compute) optimized for immersive VR experiences with enterprise-grade administration capabilities. Our core technology stack combines Unity and Ubiq for VR development with Next.js and Electron.js for the cross-platform admin interface. This approach balances immersive quality with accessibility, targeting Meta Quest devices as primary hardware while maintaining flexibility for future AR integrations.

IBM technologies form the backbone of our cloud infrastructure, with IBM Cloud Object Storage providing enterprise-grade asset management, IBM Watson offering advanced AI capabilities, and Granite LLM (3.2B parameter model) enabling context-aware conversations with low latency. This IBM-centered approach allows seamless integration with IBM's existing systems while providing the robust infrastructure needed for global scalability. The architecture specifically optimizes for IBM's use cases—quantum computing demonstrations, healthcare simulations, and educational scenarios—through deterministic networking and RAG-based contextual information retrieval.

Security and data management needs are addressed through multiple integrated solutions: Clerk for enterprise-focused authentication with organization management, a custom pairing system for simplified VR access, JWT for secure token management, and a hybrid SQLite approach combining relational database reliability with document-based flexibility. This comprehensive technology stack provides IBM with a customized solution that surpasses generic enterprise VR platforms through specialized AI integration and tailored demonstration workflows.

References

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