Technical Roadmap
Building Kin City is a progressive journey. We are evolving from accessible prototypes to a fully immersive, custom-built web and AR ecosystem.
Core Technology Stack
Front-End Framework
Built with Next.js (React). This ensures server-side rendering for speed, dynamic routing for the "city" navigation, and broad accessibility across devices.
Mapping & Visualization
Mapbox GL provides the foundational coordinate system and 2D/2.5D layers, allowing us to style the "city" distinctly from standard geographic maps.
3D Engine
WebGL & Three.js power the in-browser 3D experiences, handling models, lighting, and textures directly in the web client without heavy downloads.
Augmented Reality
Future integration using ARKit (iOS) and ARCore (Android) to overlay Kin City elements onto physical spaces using device LiDAR.
Development Phases
Phase 0: The Roblox Prototype
Immediate Pre-Alpha
A gamified, rapid-prototype version of Kin City hosted on Roblox. This allows early community engagement and testing of the "city as interface" concept before the custom web platform is fully built.
Phase 1: 2D Interactive Map
Foundation
A functional 2D map built with Next.js and Mapbox. Users can view the city layout, click on specific zones (Districts), and seamlessly navigate to the traditional web interfaces for each module.
- Custom "City Skin" over map tiles
- Clickable zones triggering navigation
- Mobile-responsive design
Phase 2: 2.5D & Basic 3D
Depth & Perspective
The flat map gains depth. Buildings extrude upward and 2D icons are replaced with simple 3D models. Users can toggle a "3D view" to tilt the map and explore the cityscape isometrically.
- 3D building extrusions via Mapbox GL
- Isometric camera controls
- Immersive module previews (e.g., 3D courtroom for Ethikos)
Phase 3: Full Immersive City
The Web Metaverse
Kin City becomes a continuous 3D world. Users explore via avatars (first or third person). Boundaries between "pages" dissolve—walking into the library seamlessly loads the educational content stream.
- Full WebGL rendering
- Avatar-based navigation
- Real-time multi-user presence
Phase 4: AR & Mixed Reality
Bridging Worlds
Kin City extends into the physical world. Using mobile AR, users can project a miniature city onto their table, or overlay specific modules (like a virtual classroom) into their real-world environment.
Ready to see where we started?
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