3D Environment Interfaces With Immersion-Based Audio Modes

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Solution Overview

Problem

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

Innovation Solution

A computer system with improved methods and interfaces that adjust visual and audio output modes based on immersion levels and prioritize physical objects of significance, allowing seamless interaction by altering virtual content and providing intuitive feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional input devices and interfaces are used to interact with virtual reality environments, then basic interaction functionality is achieved, but user interaction becomes cumbersome and cognitively burdensome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects physical objects in the environment and presents relevant virtual content without requiring users to manually search or configure settings. The device self-adjusts based on detected context, reducing cognitive burden while maintaining interaction functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-presents virtual content related to detected physical objects before users explicitly request it. By anticipating user needs based on environmental context, the system reduces the number of interaction steps required while maintaining interface simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple input steps are required to achieve desired outcomes in augmented reality environments, then precise control is achieved, but interaction time increases and energy is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteraction speedVSAvoidinteraction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of physical objects and pre-presents relevant virtual content options before users complete their interaction sequence. This anticipatory approach reduces the number of steps users must take while maintaining precise control over the outcome

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate feedback by detecting user intent through physical object interaction and rapidly presenting relevant virtual content. This closed-loop feedback mechanism reduces interaction time by eliminating unnecessary intermediate steps while maintaining control precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If comprehensive virtual content is presented to users, then information completeness is achieved, but cognitive burden increases and user satisfaction decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidcognitive burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system presents virtual content selectively based on the detected physical object and user context. Instead of presenting all possible information uniformly, it tailors the content presentation to the specific local context, maintaining information completeness where needed while reducing cognitive burden in other areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-filters and pre-presents only the most relevant virtual content related to detected physical objects before users need it. This anticipatory filtering maintains information completeness for relevant topics while eliminating unrelated information that would increase cognitive burden

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4196867B1Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for interacting with three-dimensional environments
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 APPLE INC
  • EP4196867B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4196867B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4196867B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computer system, while displaying a three-dimensional computer-generated environment, detects a first event that corresponds to a request to present first computer-generated content, and in response: in accordance with a determination that the first event corresponds to a respective request to present the first computer-generated content with a first level of immersion, the computer system displays the first visual content and outputs the first audio content using a first audio output mode; and in accordance with a determination that the first event corresponds to a respective request to present the first computer-generated content with a second level of immersion different from the first level of immersion, the computer system displays the first visual content and outputs the first audio content using a second audio output mode different from the first, which changes a level of immersion of the first audio content.