Augmented Reality Object Selection Using Virtual Lines and Depth Ranges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Augmented reality systems face challenges in accurately selecting physical objects at a distance due to limited control over physical objects and difficulty in distinguishing intended objects from grouped or distant items, leading to user frustration and limited functionality.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies physical objects in a camera feed using object detection techniques, detects user gestures to extrapolate virtual lines from fingers, and performs actions on selected objects by overlaying depth ranges and rendering menus for user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional object selection methods are used in augmented reality, then the system is simple to implement, but the object selection accuracy deteriorates when objects are at a distance or grouped together
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces depth information as an additional dimension to distinguish objects. By overlaying depth ranges and using depth data from the camera, the system can differentiate between objects at different distances, allowing accurate selection even when objects are grouped together or at a distance, thus resolving the object selection accuracy problem without requiring complex additional hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual lines and depth range overlays as intermediary visual elements between the user and physical objects. These intermediaries help the user understand which object will be selected and provide clear visual feedback, improving selection accuracy while maintaining system simplicity through software-based solutions
2Ease of operation
If gesture-based selection is implemented, then user interaction becomes more natural, but the difficulty of detecting intended objects increases due to grouped or distant items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual feedback through virtual lines that extend from the user's finger and depth range overlays that highlight selected objects. This feedback mechanism helps users understand which object their gesture will select, making it easier to detect intended objects among grouped or distant items while maintaining natural gesture-based interaction
Solution Approach 2:
By incorporating depth information displayed through overlaying depth ranges, the system adds a visual dimension that helps users distinguish between objects at different distances. This makes gesture-based selection more reliable when objects are grouped together or at varying distances, reducing the difficulty of detecting intended objects
3Measurement precision
If virtual lines are rendered from fingers, then object selection precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional rendering and gesture processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the camera feed to serve multiple functions: it provides both the visual display for users and the data source for gesture detection and object identification. By processing the same camera input for multiple purposes, the system achieves precise selection through virtual lines without requiring separate sensors or complex additional hardware, thus limiting the increase in device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for physical object selection within an augmented-reality environment is provided. The present invention may include identifying a plurality of physical objects in a camera feed from an augmented reality device; responsive to detecting one or more gestures of a user within the camera feed, rendering one or more virtual lines extrapolating from one or more fingers of the user within the augmented reality environment; and responsive to the user selecting a physical object of the plurality of physical objects, performing one or more actions with respect to the selected physical object.