3D Environment Interaction Controls for Low-Burden AR/VR Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for interacting with augmented and virtual reality environments are cumbersome, inefficient, and create a significant cognitive burden on users, requiring multiple inputs and lacking sufficient feedback, leading to energy wastage, particularly in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing computer systems with improved interfaces that reduce the number and nature of user inputs by providing intuitive interactions through touch-sensitive displays, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, and tactile output generators, along with immersion, volume, and focus mode controls, enhancing user understanding of input-device responses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional input methods (cameras, controllers, joysticks, touch-sensitive surfaces) are used to interact with virtual/augmented reality environments, then user interaction capability is provided, but the interaction becomes cumbersome, inefficient, and creates significant cognitive burden

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoidinput device requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects and tracks eye movements, hand gestures, and head positions without requiring explicit user commands. The computational system processes sensor data to determine user intent and executes actions autonomously, reducing the cognitive burden of manual control while maintaining interaction capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Physical input devices like controllers and joysticks are replaced with optical and sensor-based detection systems. Eye-tracking cameras, hand-tracking sensors, and motion detectors capture user input through non-contact methods, eliminating mechanical interfaces and simplifying the interaction model

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple inputs are required to achieve desired outcomes in augmented reality environments, then precise control is achieved, but the number of inputs increases and energy consumption rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously pre-processes sensor data from cameras and motion detectors to anticipate user intent before explicit actions are required. By maintaining real-time tracking of eye position, hand gestures, and head orientation, the system reduces the number of discrete input commands needed while preserving control precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous visual feedback through the augmented reality display, showing users what actions are detected and what outcomes will occur. This feedback loop allows users to achieve desired outcomes with fewer inputs by observing system responses and making minimal adjustments, thereby reducing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex manipulation of virtual objects is implemented, then interaction capability is enhanced, but the process becomes tedious and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual object manipulation capabilityVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds temporal dimension to object manipulation by tracking continuous eye movements and hand gestures over time. Instead of requiring precise point-and-click actions, users can manipulate virtual objects through sustained gaze combined with gesture sequences, making complex manipulations more intuitive and less error-prone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediate recognition layer that translates complex sensor data from multiple sources into simplified user intent. This intermediary processing layer interprets combinations of eye tracking, hand tracking, and head motion to determine desired actions, reducing the complexity of direct object manipulation while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12608115B2Methods for controlling and interacting with a three-dimensional environment

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 APPLE INC

AI summary

A computer system displays an immersion control, a volume control, an element configured to permit or restrict breakthrough in different modes of operation of the computer system, and/or an option selectable to cause initiation of display of a representation of content from a second computer system via a display generation component of the computer system. While a second computer system is displaying content, a first computer system detects an input corresponding to a request to display a representation of the content from the second computer system via a display generation component of the first computer system, and in response, initiates a process to display the representation of content and to de-emphasize the content displayed by the second computer system. A first computer system facilitates disambiguation of a second computer system from a plurality of computer systems for display of a representation of content from the second computer system.