Handheld Device Tracking for 3D Virtual Object Placement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manipulating objects in three-dimensional virtual environments are difficult for casual users and children to learn, as they require understanding a non-trivial mapping between physical device manipulation and virtual environment space, limiting expressiveness and depth of interaction.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a handheld device to track movement and update the position of objects in a virtual environment, allowing users to select, place, and modify objects through intuitive gestures, with sensor data from cameras or sensors on the device creating a mapping between physical and virtual spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mouse gestures and keyboard commands are used for 3D object manipulation, then professional users can achieve precise control, but the interface becomes difficult to learn and unsuitable for casual users and children
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device that captures images of the physical environment and overlays virtual objects onto the captured images. This mediator translates complex 3D spatial operations into simple physical movements of the handheld device, allowing users to manipulate virtual objects by moving the device in the physical world rather than learning complex keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical interaction system (keyboard and mouse) with an optical-based system using a camera and image processing. Instead of requiring users to understand abstract keyboard commands and mouse coordinate systems, the system uses the camera to capture real-world spatial relationships and maps virtual object manipulation directly to physical device movement, substituting mechanical input methods with optical sensing and image-based interaction.
2Ease of operation
If simplified solutions with predefined positions or orientations are used, then 3D object manipulation becomes easier for casual users, but the expressiveness and depth of what is produced are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic interaction system where the camera continuously captures images and the system dynamically overlays and updates virtual objects based on the current camera view and device orientation. This dynamic approach allows users to manipulate objects in real-time with full freedom of position and orientation, rather than being constrained to predefined static positions, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and high expressiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal interaction framework that works for all types of 3D objects and manipulation tasks. The camera-based system can handle any virtual object type, any position, any orientation, and any scale, making the interface universally applicable rather than limited to specific predefined scenarios. This multi-functional approach enables both casual users and professionals to achieve their goals without being restricted by predetermined options.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides an approach for populating a virtual environment with objects. In one embodiment, an editing application may track a handheld device using sensor data from a camera, by following an image displayed on the handheld device's screen. The editing application then updates the position of an object in the virtual environment according to the tracked position of the handheld device. Initially, the handheld device may be placed at a fixed location for calibration purposes, during which the editing application initializes a mapping between the virtual and physical environments. To add an object to the virtual environment, a user may select the object on the handheld device. The user may then place the object at a desired location and orientation in the virtual environment by moving the handheld device in the physical environment.