Adaptive Gesture Input Mapping for Reliable VR/AR Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gesture-based inputs in computing systems face challenges due to lack of constraint, inconsistency between users, and the burden of remembering numerous gestures, particularly in virtual reality and augmented reality applications.

Innovation Solution

A dynamically updating input system that generates gesture mappings in real-time based on user interactions, considering user context, preferences, and environmental factors, without requiring predefined mappings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If gesture-based inputs are used to enable intuitive interactions in VR/AR applications, then user immersion and interaction naturalness are improved, but the lack of constraint and consistency between users causes reliability and usability degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteraction naturalnessVSAvoidinput consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts gesture mappings based on real-time user behavior patterns and context rather than using static predefined mappings. The gesture recognition system learns and adjusts to individual user capabilities, making the input method flexible and adaptive to user variations while maintaining consistency through algorithmic adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system modifies gesture parameters such as sensitivity thresholds, recognition criteria, and mapping assignments based on detected user capabilities and context. By changing these parameters dynamically, the system maintains input consistency across different users while preserving natural interaction patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of possible gestures is increased to provide more input options, then input versatility is improved, but the burden for users to remember each gesture increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput versatilityVSAvoidgesture memorization burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a small set of universal base gestures that can be dynamically mapped to multiple functions based on context and user behavior patterns. Rather than requiring users to learn many separate gestures for different functions, the same gesture can serve different purposes depending on the application context, reducing memorization burden while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically learns and infers user intent from behavior patterns, eliminating the need for users to explicitly memorize gesture-to-function mappings. The system self-adjusts the mapping between gestures and functions based on observed user preferences and contextual information, making the interaction more intuitive and reducing cognitive load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If predefined gesture mappings are used to simplify input processing, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to individual user capabilities and contexts is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput system complexityVSAvoiduser-specific adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static predefined gesture mappings to dynamic adaptive mappings that adjust in real-time based on user behavior patterns, context, and detected capabilities. This allows the system to maintain relatively simple processing architecture while achieving high adaptability through algorithmic dynamic adjustment of gesture interpretations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4428658B1Dynamically updating input system and method
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP4428658B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4428658B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4428658B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An input generation system for generating inputs in dependence upon gestures made by a user, the system comprising a user tracking unit configured to track a user's motion, a gesture identification unit configured to identify one or more gestures made by a user in dependence upon the tracked motion, an input generation unit configured to generate an input representative of the identified gesture, the input being used to provide an interaction with an application being executed by a processing device, wherein if no predefined mapping of the identified gesture to an input exists, the input generation unit is configured to generate the input in dependence upon a prediction of the user's intended interaction.