3D Virtual Object Manipulation With Gesture Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

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

Innovation Solution

The system employs computer systems with enhanced user interfaces that utilize touch-sensitive displays, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, and gesture recognition to reduce the number and complexity of user inputs, providing intuitive interaction through manipulation indicators, contextual menus, and distance-based object movement, allowing for more natural and efficient manipulation of virtual objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional input methods are used for interacting with virtual objects, then basic manipulation functions are achieved, but user cognitive burden increases and interaction efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoidcognitive burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects hand gestures and performs corresponding operations without requiring explicit command sequences. The interface adapts to user intent by monitoring hand movements and automatically executing appropriate actions, reducing cognitive load while maintaining operational capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Physical hand gestures in three-dimensional space replace traditional mechanical input methods like buttons, menus, and keyboard sequences. The gesture recognition system translates natural hand movements directly into digital commands, eliminating the need for users to learn complex input protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If multiple input steps are required to complete tasks, then precise control is achieved, but interaction time increases and energy consumption rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask completion speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors hand gestures and prepares corresponding operations in advance. When a gesture is detected, the system has already pre-loaded and ready the associated function, enabling immediate execution without requiring multiple sequential input steps, thus reducing both time and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gesture recognition system operates continuously in the background, maintaining readiness to detect and respond to user intentions. This continuous monitoring eliminates idle time between inputs and ensures seamless transition from gesture to action, improving productivity while optimizing energy usage through efficient processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of information

If detailed feedback is provided for each input, then user understanding is improved, but interface complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback sufficiencyVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides contextual feedback that appears only when relevant to the current interaction state. Visual indicators show hand tracking status, gesture recognition progress, and operation confirmation, giving users sufficient information about system state without creating a cluttered or complex interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4575742B1Methods for manipulating objects in an environment
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 APPLE INC
  • EP4575742B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4575742B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4575742B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In some embodiments, an electronic device enhances a two-dimensional drawing. In some embodiments, an electronic device manipulates an object in a three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays a contextual menu or moving an object in a three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, an electronic device moves an object in a three-dimensional environment by an amount based on the distance of the object from the user. In some embodiments, an electronic device scans a real world object. In some embodiments, an electronic device manipulates a distant object.