Hi! Welcome!

In 2017, after journeying to the moon and back in the incredible Apollo 11 VR experience by our friends at Engage, I left inspired to pursue ideas at the intersection of spatial computing and education. That exploration led to the creation of a VR science sandbox prototype known today as Tablecraft, from which this studio then emerged.

🚧 This page is work-in-progress. 🚧

Rafael Brochado

Co-Founder

Tablecraft is a VR mad science sandbox. Craft stuff out of the atoms, experiment on your test subjects, fulfil visitor requests and rediscover the entire Periodic Table!

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VR in the classroom

First Attempts

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Not Suspicious reportedly plotting Classroom heists

Nov 16, 2018

Not Suspicious allegedly in cahoots with Uncle Sam

Jun 25, 2019

1. Only one student in VR at a time, excluding most of the class ⛔

2. Tethered VR, allowing for higher fidelity experiences, but at the expense of a cumbersome setup ⛔

3. Big screen can mirror the view of the student in VR, while everyone else can simply watch (eventually getting bored & distracted) ⛔

4. The teacher can't directly interact with the student in VR, so they mostly just watch and comment from the sidelines ⛔

1. Expensive computer running tethered VR ⛔

2. External sensors for VR tracking (Oculus Rift CV1) ⛔

3. Cables from each computer to class screens allow the teacher and students to view VR activities, but add tripping hazards ⛔

4. Static play area, because it's not easy to change the VR setup ⛔

Second Attempts

Imagine a classroom where every student is provided with a VR headset. Would it be possible to engage the entire class in VR activities?

Our findings revealed the inherent likelihood of a persistent handful of students reluctant or unable to use VR, even in this hypothetical scenario where there is a surplus of headsets. Concurrent with earlier experiments, when these non-participating students remain observers, their engagement wanes, leading to distractions.

Not Suspicious reportedly plotting Classroom heists

Nov 16, 2018

Not Suspicious allegedly in cahoots with Uncle Sam

Jun 25, 2019

1. Arbitrary numbers of students can use standalone VR devices ✅

2. Students can broadcast their headset screen(s) over Wi-Fi to the classroom's Chromecast-enabled big screen(s) ✅

3. Students reluctant or unable to use VR have no means of engaging in the VR activities, and thus are more likely to get distracted ⛔

4. The teacher can't directly interact with or manage the students in VR, so they mostly just watch and comment from the sidelines ⛔

1. Students in VR using standalone (Meta Quest) headsets ✅

2. Students who are reluctant or unable to use VR can't engage in the class VR activities, and thus get distracted on their mobile devices ⛔

3. A teacher struggles to interact with a student in VR (off-screen) as they can't see the student's activities. ⛔

Engaging the whole class

By late 2019, we understood that to ensure whole-class participation in VR-centric activities, we'd have to find engaging ways for students who are not in VR to interact with the students that are in VR. So we asked ourselves: what if we turned the most engaging (and distracting) tools students already have access to (i.e. their phones and laptops) into the tools with which they can participate in the classroom VR activities?

We decided to test a brand new hypothesis that we had never seen tested in the classroom: asymmetric local VR multiplayer.

Accomplices help Not Suspicious infiltrate Florida Classrooms

Dec 31, 2019

Accomplices help Not Suspicious infiltrate California Classrooms

Aug 30, 2023

1. Arbitrary numbers of students can use standalone VR devices ✅

2. Students can broadcast their headset screen(s) over Wi-Fi to the classroom's Chromecast-enabled big screen(s) ✅

3. Students who are reluctant or unable to use VR can join the VR labs of their peers with non-VR devices, to spectate or collaborate ✅

4. Teachers can guide & monitor VR activities using non-VR devices ✅

1. A group of 8 students in VR using untethered (Meta Quest) headsets in seated conditions, with minimal space requirements ✅

2. The rest of the class using traditional mobile devices to connect, interact and collaborate with their peers in VR ✅

3. A happy teacher ✅

companion app

Tablecraft's free companion app, designed for traditional desktops and mobile devices, allows users on non-VR devices to seamlessly connect with VR labs on the same Wi-Fi network through local peer-to-peer, so no actual internet connection required! In the classroom, this allows educators to not only monitor and guide the students in VR, but also include the rest of the class in the VR activities.

Non-VR participants can navigate and interact with each VR lab by embodying a virtual drone, which VR users can also see and interact with. This fosters a sense of communal engagement, reducing the feeling of VR isolation and promoting collaborative play.

Join VR Labs with non-VR devices

With the Lab Editor, educators and students can tailor or focus the experience by designing and uploading personalized VR labs and activities, ensuring alignment with specific curriculum objectives.

Tailor the learning experience

alleged accomplices

In the 30 years I've been teaching, I've taught 6th and 8th grade science. I believe Tablecraft is effective at engaging students who aren't passionate about the classroom environment. I tried to make sure that all of my less-engaged students gave the game a try, so they could get a different perspective on the subject matter. Of particular note was the effect on a couple of students who at first were apprehensive about trying the game but then could not stop playing it, and afterwards asked for a further explanation of some of the concepts they had just been exposed to in virtual reality.
My students who have learning disabilities and the ones who are normally hardest to motivate were especially engaged. They clearly felt included, and I heard them talking about wanting to buy Tablecraft and play it at home, which to me was amazing... after all, they were talking about a science program! I think Tablecraft can offer a lot of value. Even if it was just a monthly reward type of activity to motivate the students, or to reinforce the concepts, I think it would be fantastic. I can't wait to have my students use Tablecraft again!
As an 8th grade science teacher, one of the universal challenges I see in my field is engaging 100% of the class in the subject matter. Students are reluctant to learn concepts in science, like the Periodic Table, as it seems confusing and irrelevant to them. Remarkably, when my students got to play Tablecraft, many of my least engaged students were as excited as those whose attention I never have trouble with! Days after the game testing session, students are still talking about Tablecraft and commenting on their experiences. Bottom line, we want Tablecraft in our curriculum!

The biggest difference I've observed in the most recent Tablecraft demo was how the addition of the iPads to interact with the kids in VR created a whole new level of excitement, where the entire class was engaged. In previous times when we've had VR demos at Creekside, when some of the kids were playing, all the ones not in VR were idle, due to the limited number of headsets. This is a concern even with more traditional teaching. If the kids are engaged in one activity, but all the kids can't be engaged in that same activity simultaneously, what are you doing with the other kids? I think you've made tremendous strides in fixing this issue for VR.
I personally am a big believer in the potential of VR as an education tool. We have recently equipped one of our labs with virtual reality capability, and we will be investing a lot more in VR in the future. With standalone VR headsets now becoming so much cheaper, we are planning to buy several of those headsets to support an entire classroom of students in VR, and Tablecraft is definitely one of the experiences we would love to have our students play.
Tablecraft has been one of the most popular and engaging exhibitors at Otronicon. Our volunteers often report particularly long lines of both adults and children interested in playing it. We love the way you've turned the elements of the Periodic Table into something that's tangible, fun and interactive for students and visitors. Your work aligns excellently with our own ongoing efforts and mission to inspire science learning for life. The Science Center is proud to have such a wonderful community partner that is enhancing STEM learning in our community. Thank you for supporting STEM education!

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witness testimonials

Cady Brewer

Science Educator

As an 8th grade science teacher, one of the universal challenges I see in my field is engaging 100% of the class in the subject matter. Students are reluctant to learn concepts in science, like the Periodic Table, as it seems confusing and irrelevant to them. Remarkably, when my students got to play Tablecraft, many of my least engaged students were as excited as those whose attention I never have trouble with! Days after the game testing session, students are still talking about Tablecraft and commenting on their experiences. Bottom line, we want Tablecraft in our curriculum!

Martin Ingoldsby

Science Educator

In the 30 years I've been teaching, I've taught 6th and 8th grade science. I believe Tablecraft is effective at engaging students who aren't passionate about the classroom environment. I tried to make sure that all of my less-engaged students gave the game a try, so they could get a different perspective on the subject matter. Of particular note was the effect on a couple of students who at first were apprehensive about trying the game but then could not stop playing it, and afterwards asked for a further explanation of some of the concepts they had just been exposed to in VR.

Rachel Bogdanoff

Science Educator

My students who have learning disabilities and the ones who are normally hardest to motivate were especially engaged. They clearly felt included, and I heard them talking about wanting to get Tablecraft and play it at home, which to me was amazing... after all, they were talking about a science program! I think Tablecraft can offer a lot of value. Even if it was just a monthly reward type of activity to motivate the students, or to reinforce the concepts, I think it would be fantastic. I can't wait to have my students play Tablecraft again!

John Cash

School Principal

The addition of the iPads to interact with the kids in VR created a whole new level of excitement, where the entire class was engaged. In previous times when we've had VR demos at Creekside, when some of the kids were playing, all the ones not in VR were idle, due to the limited number of headsets. This is a concern even with more traditional teaching. If the kids are engaged in one activity, but they can't all be engaged in that same activity simultaneously, what are you doing with the other kids? I think you've made tremendous strides in fixing this issue for VR.

Nona Tyler

Grants Director

Tablecraft has been one of the most popular and engaging exhibitors at Otronicon. Our volunteers often report particularly long lines of both adults and children interested in playing it. We love the way you've turned the Periodic Table into something that's tangible, fun and interactive for students and visitors. Your work aligns excellently with our own ongoing efforts and mission to inspire science learning for life. The Orlando Science Center is proud to have such a wonderful partner that is enhancing STEM learning in our community. Thank you for supporting STEM education!

latest shenanigans

player impressions

I Became a SCIENTIST in VR...

February 7, 2025

Tablecraft: The game of Elements

January 27, 2025

Legalize Nuclear Bombs...

January 25, 2025

presskit

Florida Man Hacks Reality

In 2017, while studying at the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, Fulbright scholar Rafael Brochado began exploring ideas at the intersection of spatial computing and education. This pursuit led to the creation of a VR science sandbox now known as Tablecraft, from which Not Suspicious then emerged in 2018.

Press Coverage

2025, Jan 23: Tablecraft Dev Talks Building Toward Apple Vision Pro
2025, Jan 14: Tablecraft Promises 'Mad Science' VR This Week On Quest
2021, Sep 1: FIEA Alumni Awarded $1 Million Grant for Upcoming Game
2020, Jul 31: Introducing The 2019 Oculus Launch Pad Grant Recipients
2019, Nov 5: Who Says Learning Is Boring?
2019, May 22: Startup Turns Learning The Elements Into VR Game
2019, Jan 23: Expo Highlights the Rise of VR in Educational Game Design
2019, Jan 9: Expo Highlights Benefits of Video Games in Education
2018, Dec 4: Not Suspicious steals award at Military Tech Conference