Gaze Navigation Interface for Extended Reality Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user interfaces for interacting with virtual objects in augmented and virtual reality environments are often cumbersome, inefficient, and error-prone, leading to a significant cognitive burden on users and wasting energy in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that communicates with display generation components and input devices, displaying a user interface with multiple gaze targets and detecting a user's gaze to dynamically display corresponding content, thereby reducing the number and complexity of user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional input devices (controllers, joysticks, touch-sensitive surfaces) are used to interact with virtual objects, then the system provides basic interaction capability, but the interface becomes cumbersome and requires multiple inputs to achieve desired outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical input devices (controllers, joysticks, touch surfaces) with an optical system based on eye-tracking technology. The system uses cameras to detect eye movements and gaze direction, substituting mechanical interaction with optical field-based interaction. This eliminates the need for physical controllers and complex input sequences, directly improving ease of operation while reducing interface complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that translates natural eye movements into meaningful navigation and selection commands. The eye-tracking system captures raw gaze data, processes it through algorithms to determine user intent, and converts it into actionable interface commands. This intermediary layer simplifies the interaction model by making the system interpret user intent automatically rather than requiring explicit multi-step inputs.
2Productivity
If multiple input steps are required to interact with virtual objects, then the system ensures precise control, but the interaction time increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously tracking eye gaze position and pre-positioning the virtual cursor or selection indicator at the user's point of regard. The system anticipates user intent by maintaining readiness to execute commands based on gaze duration and position, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate through multiple steps. This preliminary positioning and intent prediction dramatically reduces interaction time while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The eye-tracking system operates continuously, constantly monitoring gaze position and updating the interaction state in real-time. Rather than requiring discrete, interrupted input actions, the system maintains continuous awareness of user intent and enables seamless navigation and selection. This continuous operation eliminates idle time between inputs and reduces overall interaction time while preserving control precision.
3Ease of operation
If conventional input methods are used, then the system maintains simple hardware requirements, but the cognitive burden on users increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The eye-tracking system enables self-service interaction by allowing users to control the interface through their natural line of sight without requiring learning of specialized input techniques. The system automatically interprets gaze direction and duration to determine user intent, eliminating the need for users to cognitively process complex control schemes. This self-service approach reduces cognitive burden while the added hardware complexity is minimal (primarily eye-tracking cameras).
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and user interfaces for interacting with virtual objects using gaze in an extended reality environment.