Project Background

This project was a collaboration between Cisco and Indiana University, where we worked closely with 6 Cisco mentors and the IU network engineering team. Our goal was to leverage AI and mixed reality to enhance cybersecurity collaboration among diverse teams.

Problem Statement

This project explores enhancing cybersecurity collaborations through AI, mixed reality, and Cisco's Webex platform. Current practices involve fragmented teamwork across teams using traditional methods like ticketing systems and meetings, which can be inefficient. Cisco aims to streamline and enrich these interactions by designing a user-friendly, context-aware system that integrates diverse artifacts and information sources. The goal is to foster more effective and engaging security collaborations among teams by leveraging advanced technologies and a cohesive design strategy.

Layout

Why Webex?

We focused on leveraging Cisco's Webex platform due to its robust capabilities in video conferencing and collaboration tools, making it an ideal foundation for integrating AI and mixed reality.

Main

Challenges

Siloed communication and inefficient collaboration across teams.

Difficulty in managing and interpreting complex cybersecurity data.

Limited engagement and interaction among team members using traditional methods.

Existing Market in VR

Focus: New Offering to Existing Users

Our goal is to introduce a VR-enhanced Webex tool that improves collaboration efficiency and user engagement among existing Cisco Webex users. This aligns with our focus on enhancing cybersecurity practices through immersive technologies.

Possible Opportunities

Turning 2D into a 2D Space

Cybersecurity teams grapple with vast amounts of complex data, making it challenging to manage, interpret, and act upon efficiently. A VR headset will create an immersive view of the dashboard that they work on.

Introducing a Collaborative space

A space where all the cybersecs will meet and collaborate with each other through a gamified medium.

Solution Design

This is the main landing page for users when they log into Webex. We maintained the familiar layout to ensure a seamless user experience.

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This screen allows users to create and manage teams within Webex. The layout remains consistent with the existing design for ease of use.

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Users can include members for the meeting on this screen. The process of adding team members remains unchanged to ensure familiarity.

A "Switch to VR" button was included in the meeting room controls, allowing users to transition to a VR environment seamlessly during meetings.

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This is the new VR-enhanced meeting space where users can collaborate in a more immersive environment.

Features:

• Realistic Avatars: Users are represented by customizable avatars.

• Virtual Whiteboards: Interactive whiteboards for brainstorming and note-taking.

• 3D Interaction: Users can manipulate 3D models and data visualizations.

Feedback

"The virtual whiteboards and 3D interaction features are innovative and could be very useful for brainstorming and data visualization. It’s important to ensure these features are intuitive and easy to use so that they enhance, rather than complicate, our meetings."

"The proposed VR features in Webex seem like they could significantly enhance our team’s efficiency. Creating and managing teams with an option to switch to VR meetings could streamline our workflow."

"It’s important to ensure that the VR interface is intuitive and that the new features don't overwhelm users. Providing training or tutorials could help users get accustomed to the new environment and make the most out of the VR features."

Takeaway

Working on this project with Cisco and Indiana University has been an incredible learning experience, revealing the complexities of cybersecurity collaboration and the transformative potential of immersive technologies like VR. Collaborating closely with industry mentors and a multidisciplinary team emphasized the crucial role of seamless communication tools in cybersecurity operations.

Through iterative design and stakeholder feedback, I learned a lot about user-centric design principles and the challenges of integrating AI and mixed reality into established platforms like Webex. This experience not only honed my technical skills in UX design and prototyping but also enriched my understanding of agile methodologies and effective project management in a dynamic, collaborative setting.