Eclipse Cursor Rendering to Prevent Mixed Reality Object Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cursors in virtual, augmented, or mixed reality environments often occlude objects and distract users by emphasizing themselves over the target object, leading to a less immersive experience, especially in 3D environments where depth differences cause accommodation disparities.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an eclipse cursor that renders behind target objects and uses focus indicators, such as halos or shading, to emphasize the objects, providing visual cues and maintaining user focus on the interaction target.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a conventional cursor is rendered in front of objects in the environment, then the cursor is clearly visible and provides positional feedback to the user, but the cursor occludes the target object and emphasizes the cursor itself over the target object, reducing user immersion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional rendering approach by rendering the cursor behind the target object instead of in front. This inversion allows the target object to remain visible and visually prominent while the cursor provides positional feedback through focus indicators. The cursor is rendered at a depth behind the object, eliminating occlusion while maintaining cursor functionality through alternative visual cues such as halos or shading around the target object.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional cursor is rendered in front of objects, then the cursor provides clear visual feedback, but it creates accommodation disparities in 3D environments and distracts users from the environment's content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the rendering depth relationship between cursor and target objects. By placing the cursor behind the object in the depth buffer, the system eliminates accommodation disparities that occur when the cursor is rendered in front. This inversion allows both the cursor and target object to be accommodated at the same depth plane, removing visual strain while maintaining ease of operation through focus indicators that provide clear visual feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces focus indicators such as halos, shading, or highlighting as intermediary visual elements. These indicators serve as mediators between the cursor and the target object, providing visual feedback to the user without requiring the cursor itself to be prominently displayed in front of the object. The focus indicators convey cursor proximity and selection state while maintaining the inverted rendering arrangement that eliminates accommodation disparities.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for displaying a cursor and a focus indicator associated with real or virtual objects in a virtual, augmented, or mixed reality environment by a wearable display device are disclosed. The system can determine a spatial relationship between a user-movable cursor and a target object within the environment. The system may render a focus indicator (e.g., a halo, shading, or highlighting) around or adjacent objects that are near the cursor. When the cursor overlaps with a target object, the system can render the object in front of the cursor (or not render the cursor at all), so the object is not occluded by the cursor. The object can be rendered closer to the user than the cursor. A group of virtual objects can be scrolled, and a virtual control panel can be displayed indicating objects that are upcoming in the scroll.