3D Selector Depth Adjustment for Visibility in Graphical Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
In three-dimensional graphical environments, selectors such as cursors can become obscured by objects, leading to inaccurate selection due to improper depth perception, where the selector appears behind or is blocked by elements, causing users to inadvertently select hidden items.
Innovation Solution
Adjusting the depth position of the selector to match the element it is aligned with, ensuring it appears in front of or coplanar with objects, and disabling selection functionality when the selector is in an obscured region to prevent incorrect selections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a selector is displayed coplanar with the display screen or background content, then the selector can be rendered simply, but the selector may be obscured by objects appearing in front of the screen, making it invisible to the viewer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning the selector from a two-dimensional coplanar display to a three-dimensional space with adjustable depth positions. The selector is assigned a depth value that allows it to appear in front of, behind, or at the same level as other graphical elements, resolving the visibility issue while maintaining rendering efficiency through depth buffer techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the selector's depth position adjustable and responsive to the spatial relationships with other graphical elements. The system dynamically calculates and updates the selector's depth value based on the positions of objects in the three-dimensional scene, ensuring the selector remains visible without requiring complex manual positioning.
2Loss of information
If a selector is always shown in front of other elements, then the selector remains visible, but this creates an inaccurate depth perception effect that conflicts with the user's three-dimensional perception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the selector's depth parameter dynamically based on the depth values of surrounding graphical elements. Rather than fixing the selector at a constant front position, the system modifies the depth parameter to match or slightly exceed the depth of elements the selector interacts with, maintaining both visibility and accurate depth perception.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different depth positioning strategies to different regions or contexts within the three-dimensional environment. The selector's depth position is locally adjusted based on its relationship with specific graphical elements, allowing it to appear at appropriate depths for accurate interaction while remaining visible to the user.
3Reliability
If objects are displayed with depth positions that project them away from the display screen, then a three-dimensional effect is achieved, but the objects can obscure background content and the selector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by modifying the transparency or alpha channel of graphical elements at different depth positions. Elements that would otherwise obscure background content are rendered with adjusted transparency values, allowing the background to remain visible while maintaining the three-dimensional depth effect and the selector's visibility.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing devices facilitate presentation of selectors in three-dimensional graphical environments. In embodiments, an obscured region being obscured by an element appearing in front of one or more elements within a three-dimensional graphical environment is determined. In cases that a selector (e.g., a cursor) is located within the obscured region, the selector is presented in accordance with a depth position of the element associated with the obscured region. Such a depth position can indicate a distance at which the element is intended to appear relative to a display screen.