Gaze-Driven AR Indicator Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices providing augmented reality often overwhelm users with excessive supplemental information, distracting and obstructing the real-world view by displaying information for all objects in a scene, including objects not of interest to the user.
Innovation Solution
The method involves capturing a field of view, obtaining supplemental information for objects, and using gaze tracking to determine the user's point of regard, displaying indicators only for objects near the point of regard, thereby reducing visual clutter by selectively showing supplemental information based on proximity and user interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If supplemental information is displayed for all objects in the scene, then information completeness is improved, but visual clarity and user focus deteriorate due to excessive information overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the display of supplemental information selective rather than uniform. Indicators are displayed only in specific locations (near objects) when certain conditions are met, such as when the object is within a threshold distance from the center of the field of view or when the object meets specific importance criteria. This creates a non-uniform distribution of information that adapts to the user's viewing context, resolving the contradiction between providing complete information and maintaining visual clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by displaying supplemental information for only a subset of objects rather than all objects in the scene. The system selectively applies the information display function based on criteria such as proximity to the center of the field of view, object importance, or user-defined filters. This partial application of the information display function reduces visual clutter while still providing relevant supplemental information for important objects.
2Loss of information
If supplemental information is displayed for all objects, then information availability is improved, but user attention and real-world view quality worsen due to distractions
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by concentrating supplemental information display in specific regions of the field of view rather than distributing it uniformly. Objects near the center of the field of view or within a defined threshold region are more likely to have indicators displayed, while peripheral objects are excluded. This localized approach ensures that information is available where the user is most likely to notice it without creating distractions in peripheral vision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively enabling the supplemental information display function for only those objects that meet specific criteria, such as being within a threshold distance from the center of the field of view or having high importance. This selective application maintains information availability for relevant objects while preventing attention fragmentation from displaying information for all objects.
3Loss of information
If indicators are displayed for multiple objects, then information accessibility is improved, but visual obstruction of the real-world view worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by restricting indicator display to specific spatial regions within the field of view. Indicators are displayed only near objects that fall within a defined threshold region, typically centered around the middle of the field of view. This spatially selective approach ensures that information remains accessible for important objects while minimizing obstruction of the real-world view in peripheral and distant regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by displaying indicators for only a partial set of objects that meet specific criteria, such as proximity to the center of the field of view or object importance thresholds. This selective display reduces the total number of indicators present in the view, thereby reducing visual obstruction while maintaining information accessibility for the most relevant objects.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system are provided for indicating a presence of supplemental information in augmented reality to a user. The method includes capturing a field of view of a camera, obtaining supplemental information for at least one object in the captured field of view, displaying the captured field of view on a display and tracking a point of regard of the user. The point of regard is indicative of an area on the display at which the gaze of the user is focused. The method also includes, for each object associated with supplemental information, displaying, overlaid the captured field of view, a respective indicator that the supplemental information is associated with the object if one or more criteria are satisfied. The one or more criteria are based on at least a proximity between an image of the object in the captured field of view and the point of regard.