Dual-Pointer Mouse View and Point Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual environment navigation systems, such as first-person and third-person shooter games, limit users to a single focal point and view plane, restricting navigation and control capabilities, as hands must remain positioned on the mouse and keyboard to maintain focus and navigate, hindering efficient interaction with multiple geometric planes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes dual-pointer mice and keyboards to independently control and modify views on different geometric planes within a virtual environment, allowing concurrent manipulation of focal points and views using separate input directives, enabling enhanced navigation without repositioning hands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mouse and keyboard input devices are used for navigation and aiming in first-person or third-person shooter games, then the focal point of interest remains tied to the existing view, but the user cannot independently control multiple views and focal points simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the input device into two independent pointers (first pointer and second pointer), each capable of independently controlling different aspects of the virtual environment. The first pointer controls the view plane while the second pointer controls the focal point of interest, allowing simultaneous independent manipulation of multiple parameters without hand repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-pointer device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls both view navigation and focal point positioning, and can switch between controlling different geometric planes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices or hand repositioning while maintaining comprehensive control over the virtual environment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the focal point of interest is inexorably tied to the existing view through conventional mouse and keyboard control, then navigation is limited to three dimensions, but the user cannot manage point of focus independently across multiple geometric planes
Solution Approach 1:
The input device is segmented into two independent pointers that can be assigned to control different geometric planes. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple views and focal points simultaneously, enabling control across multiple geometric planes without increasing physical device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends control from three-dimensional navigation to four-dimensional control by adding independent focal point management across multiple geometric planes. The dual-pointer system enables users to navigate in 3D space while simultaneously controlling the focal point in a separate dimension, effectively adding another degree of freedom to the interaction.
3Productivity
If hands must remain positioned on the mouse and keyboard to maintain focus and navigate, then control precision is maintained, but navigation efficiency and interaction performance are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the input device into two independent pointers, the system allows both hands to remain on the device while each pointer handles different control tasks. This segmentation maintains control precision for both view navigation and focal point positioning simultaneously, eliminating the trade-off between precision and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-pointer configuration enables continuous useful action by allowing simultaneous control of multiple parameters (view plane and focal point) without requiring hand repositioning or interrupting the gaming flow. Both pointers can operate continuously and independently, maximizing navigation efficiency while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for simultaneous view and point navigation. In a first embodiment of the invention, a single virtual environment interaction method can include maintaining first and second independent views corresponding to respectively different geometric planes in a single virtual environment, such as a flight simulator, first-person or third-person shooter game or avatar-driven adventure game. The method also can include independently changing the first view responsive to a first input directive from a first input device while concurrently changing the second view responsive to a second input directive from a second input device. Thereafter, the method further can include modifying a point of interest in one of the views responsive to a third input directive from one of the first and second input devices. Optionally, the devices can include an under-mouse sensor and trackpoint included as part of a dual-pointer mouse.