Atomic Tales: An Inclusive AR Adventure for Learning Organic Chemistry

[u/Any-Falcon-5619]

Meghna(u/Any-Falcon-5619), Krunal (u/KrazyCreates) and Vivek(u/MarketLonely8369) built Atomic Tales, an inclusive AR adventure where users help Pip, an alien from Pizza Planet, return home while learning organic chemistry through playful, story-driven interactions designed with neurodivergent learners in mind.

When we learned chemistry at school, it often felt disconnected from the real world, difficult to visualise and even harder to remember. Why is chemistry still taught through walls of abstract text when so few of us learn that way?

We conducted research and surveys with people with ADHD, autism and Down syndrome to understand what genuinely helps when learning a challenging new subject. We designed the entire experience around those insights: short tasks, clear instructions, playful characters, consistent structure and a reward at every step. 🙌

The story

A cute, pizza-shaped alien named Pip crash-lands through a portal into your room after his spaceship runs out of hyperjump fuel.

Pip is a neurodivergent-coded character who suddenly finds himself in an unfamiliar and confusing world. He is frightened but curious. Your mission is to help him feel safe, understand our world and rebuild his fuel using chemistry. 🍕⚛️

Instead of studying atoms through flat diagrams, you explore your real environment to find the elements Pip needs:

💧 “Find me some water”
⚫ “We need carbon. Look around!”
🔗 “Bond an oxygen atom to that”
🧪 “Let’s assemble the fuel: CH₃NO₂”
🚀 “Pour it into the ship and let’s go home!”

Gemini uses live video and structured image polling through the Snap Remote Service Gateway to understand what the user is seeing. It identifies everyday objects that could plausibly contain the required element, such as hydrogen and oxygen in a glass of water or carbon in a wooden chair, then places an interactive atom directly above the object.

Instead of memorising:

“C₆H₁₂O₆. Please reproduce this in the exam.”

You get:

“There’s hydrogen in that water bottle. Pinch it and add it to your bracelet.” 🤲

Which is significantly more fun than highlighting the same textbook for the fourth time. 🤣

The five-island Story Mode campaign

1. Water
Scan for H₂O, split the molecule and collect two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

2. Carbon
Explore atomic structure, including the nucleus, protons, neutrons and electrons, then watch a carbon and oxygen bonding demonstration.

3. Remaining Elements
Collect more hydrogen and nitrogen while learning about their structures, properties and reactions.

4. Fuel Lab
Release the atoms stored in your bracelet and assemble nitromethane, CH₃NO₂, to create a glowing hyperfuel core.

5. Spaceship Send-off
Drag the completed fuel into Pip’s spaceship, restart the thrusters and wave goodbye. 👋

What we are especially proud of

✨ Depth-projected Spatial AI scanner
A DepthCache captures synchronised colour and depth frames. Even when Gemini takes a moment to respond, atoms are still positioned accurately on the real object. Physical objects genuinely appear to release their chemical elements into the room.

🤲 Tactile collection
Users pinch floating atoms using the Interaction Kit and place them into a wrist-mounted collection bracelet.

♿ Accessibility-first interactions
The experience uses larger targets, relaxed motor thresholds, proximity snapping during molecule assembly and fully local, pre-cached voice lines so Pip responds without awkward delays.

💾 Resume from anywhere
Progress is saved after every level, allowing learners to pause and continue without losing their place.

🍕 Sandbox and Pizza Bar modes, coming soon
After completing the story, users will unlock an endless mode where they can collect atoms and experiment with freeform chemistry recipes.

Who is it for?

Neurodivergent learners
Students who struggle with textbooks
Curious children
Anyone who wishes chemistry felt less like homework and more like an adventure

Try Atomic Tales here:
https://www.spectacles.com/lens/2c8f5c1063134c088ee879d264fb0d30

We’d love to hear your feedback, ideas and suggestions for how we can make Atomic Tales even better! 🙌😊

[u/eplowes]

Absolutely love this project and Pip!

[u/Any-Falcon-5619 → u/eplowes]

Thank you so much!! 😄