Collaborative Workspaces With HMD Private Information Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for managing access to information in collaborative workspaces based on roles, responsibilities, and clearance levels are cumbersome, leading to complex user experiences, informational clutter, and confusion when multiple users with different jobs or responsibilities view shared content.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing head-mounted displays (HMDs) to overlay private virtual objects on a common display, where each user sees public content along with tier-specific private content based on their assigned access level, enabling secure and efficient collaboration among users with varying clearance levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional methods are used to manage access to information in collaborative workspaces, then security and efficiency are maintained, but user experience becomes complex and disjointed, leading to informational clutter and confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments information display by creating separate visual layers: a common display visible to all users and private virtual objects displayed only to authorized users through HMDs. This segmentation allows security requirements to be met while preventing informational clutter, as each user sees only relevant information in their private layer while sharing the common layer with others.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to information display by introducing private virtual objects in three-dimensional space above or near the common display. Users interact with information in multiple dimensions - the two-dimensional common display and the three-dimensional private virtual objects - allowing secure information delivery without cluttering the shared workspace.
2Reliability
If separate systems or environments are provided for different clearance levels, then access control is maintained, but system complexity increases and collaboration becomes disjointed
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple access control environments into a single collaborative workspace. Users with different clearance levels work together in the same physical space, viewing the same common display, while private virtual objects delivered through HMDs provide role-specific information. This eliminates the need for separate rooms or systems while maintaining access control integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The common display serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a shared information source for all users, a base layer for private virtual objects, and a collaboration surface. The HMD system provides universal access to private objects for any authorized user without requiring separate hardware or software environments for different clearance levels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all users view all information on a common display, then collaboration is facilitated, but informational clutter and confusion increase when users have different responsibilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by making information visibility user-specific through private virtual objects. While the common display maintains uniform content for all users, each user receives customized information in their private virtual object layer based on their role, responsibilities, and clearance level. This allows collaboration on shared content while maintaining information clarity for individual users.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to collaborative workspaces using head-mounted displays (HMDs). Collaborative workspaces enable multiple users to collaborate together in a common environment while also viewing content specific to each user using HMDs.