Gamified Panoramic Capture System Using Augmented Video Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Panoramic photography is often time-consuming and tedious, leading to low-quality images due to user disinterest and lack of motivation, as well as challenges in capturing images at the correct velocity and steadiness required for stitching into a panoramic image.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses an augmented video stream to guide users in capturing panoramic images by generating targets, monitoring device position, and displaying quality indicators to ensure proper positioning and image quality, allowing for dynamic adjustment of quality thresholds based on historical data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If users manually capture panoramic images using traditional methods, then the panoramic image can be obtained, but the process is time-consuming and tedious leading to user disinterest and low motivation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanoramic image capture efficiencyVSAvoidtime required for panoramic capture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback through quality indicators displayed in the augmented video stream, showing users whether their device positioning and movement velocity are appropriate for capturing high-quality panoramic images. This immediate feedback motivates users to maintain proper capture techniques without requiring extensive learning or repeated attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The augmented video stream acts as an intermediary between the user and the panoramic capture process, providing visual guidance overlays, quality indicators, and real-time feedback. This intermediary layer simplifies the complex capture process by translating technical requirements into intuitive visual cues that users can easily understand and follow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If users are motivated to learn and execute panoramic capture properly, then image quality improves, but the process remains tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanoramic image qualityVSAvoidease of panoramic capture

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-assessment of capture quality by automatically analyzing device velocity, positioning accuracy, and image characteristics. The quality indicators are generated automatically without requiring user judgment or manual evaluation, allowing the system to guide itself toward optimal capture conditions while simplifying the user's role to following visual cues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts quality thresholds and feedback parameters based on historical quality data and user performance. By changing the parameters of quality evaluation and feedback presentation, the system adapts to different users and conditions, maintaining high image quality standards while adjusting the ease of operation to match user skill levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the system provides detailed guidance and monitoring, then image quality improves, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanoramic image qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The augmented video stream serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides real-time quality feedback, displays guidance overlays, monitors device positioning, and presents motivational indicators. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single integrated interface, the system achieves high image quality control without proportionally increasing perceived complexity for the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If users capture images at correct velocity and positioning, then stitching quality improves, but users lack motivation to maintain proper technique throughout the capture process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestitching qualityVSAvoidcapture process duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides periodic quality indicators and feedback during the capture process, creating a rhythm of affirmation and guidance. Rather than continuous complex monitoring, the system delivers periodic quality assessments that maintain user motivation throughout the extended capture duration, ensuring proper technique is sustained without overwhelming the user with constant data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10165179B2Method, system, and computer program product for gamifying the process of obtaining panoramic images

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer readable mediums are provided to generate a number of targets for a panoramic image, each of the targets defining a portion of the panoramic image, monitor a position of a user device with respect to a current target, responsive to determining that the user device is properly positioned with respect to the current target, capture a first image for the current target using a camera of the user device, monitor the position of the user device with respect to a next target, responsive to determining that the user device is properly positioned with respect to the next target, capture a second image for the next target using the camera of the user device; and generate the panoramic image using the first image and the second image.