Headset Gaze Detection and Adaptive External Visual Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users wearing augmented reality headsets may appear to be looking at a reserved region when they are actually viewing content displayed by the headset, causing confusion to others.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that determines whether a user is looking towards a reserved region and adapts an external visual indication, such as simulated eyes, to either match or mislead the perceived viewing direction based on this determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the headset displays augmented reality content to the user, then the user can view virtual content overlaid on the real world, but others may be confused by the external visual indication showing the user is looking at a region they are not actually looking at
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the external visual indication adaptive rather than static. The visual indication dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time detection of reserved regions and user gaze direction. When the user looks at content within a reserved region, the system dynamically modifies the visual indication to point to a different location, resolving the contradiction between displaying AR content and providing accurate visual indication to others.
2Ease of operation
If the external visual indication accurately reflects the user's actual viewing direction, then social interaction is enhanced, but the user's privacy and control over their viewing information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different zones with different information disclosure properties. Reserved regions are defined where the user's viewing direction information is protected, while other regions allow accurate visual indication. This spatial differentiation of information privacy properties resolves the contradiction between enhancing social interaction through accurate indication and protecting user privacy by selectively obscuring viewing direction in specific regions.
Data Source
Figure 1A~3B
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Figure 7A~10C
AI summary
An apparatus comprising means for: determining whether a user of a headset is looking towards a reserved region; and causing adaptation of an external visual indication produced by the headset in dependence upon the determination.