Echolocation Engine for Virtual Environment Accessibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Visually impaired individuals face challenges in navigating and interacting with virtual environments, as existing technologies do not effectively utilize echolocation principles to provide immersive experiences similar to those in physical environments.

Innovation Solution

A data processing system with an echolocation engine that receives graphical information from virtual environments, analyzes it to detect virtual objects, and generates audio outputs that emulate echoes based on object characteristics and relative locations, allowing visually impaired users to navigate and interact through audio cues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If visual representations are used in virtual environments, then information presentation is clear and immersive, but visually impaired users cannot access the environment

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility to visually impaired usersVSAvoidLoss of environmental information for visually impaired users

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces visual information delivery with acoustic echolocation signals. The system emits sound waves that reflect off virtual objects and returns echoes to the user, substituting the visual mechanism with an acoustic one to make the virtual environment accessible to visually impaired users while preserving spatial and object information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an echolocation engine as an intermediary that converts graphical information about virtual objects into acoustic echo signals. This mediator translates visual environment data into audible formats, enabling visually impaired users to perceive virtual objects through sound reflections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If traditional audio cues are used in virtual environments, then implementation is simple, but immersion and spatial understanding are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSimplicity of audio output systemVSAvoidLoss of spatial and object characteristics information

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies acoustic signal parameters (timing, frequency, intensity) based on virtual object characteristics such as distance, size, and material properties. By changing these acoustic parameters dynamically, the system provides rich spatial and object information without requiring complex hardware, using only standard audio output devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If echolocation is implemented in virtual environments, then accessibility for visually impaired users is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility to visually impaired usersVSAvoidComplexity of echolocation engine

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements the echolocation engine as a software component that can operate across different virtual environment platforms and devices. By creating a universal solution that works with standard graphical and audio interfaces, the system achieves high accessibility without requiring specialized hardware, thereby limiting the increase in practical system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the accessibility and immersion of visually impaired users in virtual environments by providing audio-based echolocation, enabling them to understand object positions and characteristics, thus improving their interaction and navigation capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

Echolocation is a process by which sound waves are used to assist with navigation. A sound source emits a sound wave and measures the reflected sound wave that reflects off of objects to thereby identify the presence, size, shape, and relative location of objects within a physical environment.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEcholocation: Echo

Data Source

PatentUS10534082B2Accessibility of virtual environments via echolocation

Publication Date: 2020.01.14 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Mechanisms are provided to implement an echolocation functionality within a virtual environment. The mechanisms receive graphical information for a virtual environment, and analyzes the graphical information to detect a virtual object present in the virtual environment. One or more characteristics of the detected virtual object are identified, which may include a relative location of the virtual object to a virtual representation of a user in the virtual environment. Echo data is generated that defines characteristics of an audio output that represents the virtual object in a manner emulating an echo of a sound emitted from the virtual representation of the user in the virtual environment. Output of the audio output by the one or more audio output devices is controlled based on the generated echo data.