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The Totem Compass is designed to bring people together. It is a wearable device that helps you find your friends without cell service, WiFi, or apps required.
To achieve this, Totems harness the power of GNSS, layered with a peer-to-peer communication protocol and our Unity Mesh Network™ that allows you to find your friends by simply following the pretty lights.
The Totem Compass operates on two modes: Compass Mode and Vibe Mode.
This blog will cover everything you need to know about Compass Mode on your Totem. For more information on how the Totem Compass works, check out our blog post all about it!
How does Compass Mode work?
We designed the Totem Compass to know exactly when you are ready to find your friends.
The Totem Compass is equipped with an IMU, or Internal Measurement Unit. An IMU estimates and reports things such as angular velocity, also known as tilt recognition. A popular example of a device with an IMU is the iPhone, which lights up when you tilt it toward your face.
The IMU allows your Totem to know when you tilt it horizontally. To enter Compass Mode, all you have to do is pick up your festival compass and hold it in a horizontal orientation. This is all you have to do to tell your festival compass you are ready to find your friends. It’s that simple!
You’ll know your Totem has entered Compass Mode when your Halo displays your Bond Lights.
Compass Mode after Power Up
When you enter Compass Mode for the first time after powering on your Totem, you may see this animation:
This is the animation that your Totem shows you when it's currently searching for a satellite connection.
Fun fact: this animation is based on the ancient Chinese philosophy of yin and yang with the symbolism of the koi fish, representing the balance and harmony of life, and the journey of personal transformation! ️
Your rave compass uses the power of GNSS satellite connection in order to determine its location – allowing you to navigate to your friends, and for your friends to navigate to you.
GNSS stands for Global Navigation Satellite System. It's an umbrella term that includes GPS and other continental satellite systems worldwide. GNSS is a global constellation of satellites, also called senders, that provide signals from space. The satellites then transmit the data to a receiver in your Totem Compass. The receiver uses that data to determine its exact location on the Earth.
The best way to get a satellite connection is to take your Totem outside with a clear view of the sky. You can speed up this process by putting your Totem in Eco Mode.
You can also wear your Totem horizontally in Vibe Mode and it will continue to search for satellites in the background, so no need to keep your Totem in Compass Mode during this process.
You won't be able to navigate until you have a satellite connection, but you can still do plenty of other things, including:
It should take no more than 10 minutes to establish a satellite connection outdoors. Once the koi fish lights disappear and are replaced by either a singular white light or your Totem Bond lights, you’re good to go!
Bond Lights in Compass Mode
Once your Totem gets a satellite connection, it will show you one of two things.
If you don't have any Bonds yet, you'll see a white light that always points to magnetic North. We call this your North Light. That's right, your Totem can be used just like an old-fashioned compass if you want! 🧭
Once you Bond with your friends, your North Light will disappear and you'll see your bond lights on the Totem instead.
Once you see these lights populated in the Halo, you can begin to navigate with your Totem by rotating your Touch Crystal in the direction of your friends, then following the pretty lights until you find them! 🥰
Unity: The Tie that Binds
The Totem Compass exists to bring people together. Compass Mode is the core feature that makes this possible.
Compass Mode is designed with Unity, one of Totem's four core principles, in mind. By helping you find the people that matter most, Compass Mode allows you to experience real joy alongside the ones you love. To connect on a deeper human level.
Humanity shines brightest when we stand together. A worldwide movement, the kind that Totem is creating, is only possible with allies.
The best experiences in life are shared with the people you love—whether that be a friend, a partner, or someone you just met.
When you are loved, you're never truly alone.
