Directionally Oriented Keyboard Interface for Immersive VR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual reality interfaces are inefficient for selecting keys in virtual environments, as they often require users to visually locate and click on keys, which can be cumbersome and not intuitive, especially in immersive VR settings.
Innovation Solution
A directionally oriented keyboard interface where virtual keys are mapped to pre-determined directions, using thumbstick input devices to generate directional information, allowing users to select keys without needing to visually focus on a keyboard layout, with haptic feedback for sensory confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional virtual reality interfaces use point-and-click interaction with visual keyboard layout, then users can select keys with visual confirmation, but the operation becomes cumbersome and requires continuous visual attention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical visual-pointing-action system with a directional audio-spatial system. Instead of visually locating and clicking keys, users receive directional audio cues from a reference object that guide them to press corresponding keys on their physical keyboard. This substitution eliminates the need for visual attention during typing while maintaining intuitive key selection through spatial audio feedback.
2Measurement precision
If conventional virtual reality interfaces require visual localization of keys, then users can accurately identify key positions, but the interface becomes less immersive and more cognitively demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference object as an intermediary between the user and the keyboard. This reference object emits directional audio signals that encode key position information. Instead of directly visualizing key positions, users interact with the reference object's audio cues, which mediate the translation of spatial direction into key selection. This intermediary approach maintains precision while improving ease of operation through more natural spatial interaction.
3Reliability
If virtual reality keyboards are made visible and interactive, then users can see and click keys for confirmation, but the complexity of the interface increases and immersion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the visual keyboard interface from the virtual reality environment and replaces it with a physical keyboard in the user's hands. The visual confirmation element is removed from the VR space, leaving only the essential key selection function. Users press physical keys while receiving directional audio feedback, eliminating the need for complex virtual keyboard graphics and click-to-select mechanisms, thereby reducing interface complexity while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to directionally oriented keyboards for interfacing with a virtual workspace, including applications executing therein, and related systems, methods, and devices. A selectable object of an invoked directionally oriented keyboard may be selected responsive to directional information. Directional information may be provided by a user input device such as a thumbstick device or video capture device. A selectable object and/or information associated with the selectable object may be provided to a business application that is associated with an invoked directionally oriented keyboard.