HMD Content Indication for Collaborative Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collaboration between users wearing head-mounted displays is hindered as it is difficult for others to view the content presented on one user's display, limiting their ability to reference shared content and ensuring all participants are on the same page.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that receive information about the content presented on a second user's head-mounted display and provide an indication to a first user, allowing them to be aware of the content being viewed by the second user, even if it remains private, through comparisons and representations that may include abstractions or obscured portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If content is presented privately on a head mounted display to a second user, then content privacy is maintained, but other participants cannot view the content and collaborate effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary indication mechanism that mediates between the private content on the second user's head mounted display and the other participants. The indication (such as an icon or visual marker) serves as a mediator that conveys information about the content state without revealing the actual private content, enabling collaboration while maintaining privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a simplified copy or representation of the content state through an indication rather than copying the actual content itself. This indication copy contains sufficient information for collaboration (e.g., whether content is being viewed) without containing the sensitive details, thus resolving the contradiction between privacy and collaboration.
2Ease of operation
If content is shared publicly on a computer monitor, then all participants can view and reference the same content, but content privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The indication acts as an intermediary that enables collaboration functionality similar to public sharing without requiring the actual content to be publicly visible. Other participants can see the indication and understand what the second user is viewing, allowing them to reference and discuss the content without compromising its privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the information into two parts: the actual private content (not shared) and the indication of content state (shared). This segmentation allows the collaborative aspect to be separated from the sensitive content, enabling collaboration while maintaining privacy.
3Ease of operation
If head mounted displays are used for private content review, then individual viewing is facilitated, but awareness of what others are reviewing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the head mounted display of the second user provides information back to other participants about what content is being reviewed. The indication serves as feedback that allows others to understand the current review state, enabling them to align their own review activities accordingly while the second user maintains private viewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The indication serves as an intermediary information channel that bridges the isolation of individual head mounted display viewing with the need for group awareness. It conveys necessary awareness information without breaking the private viewing experience.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product provide an indication to a first user as to the content presented to another user by the head mounted display of the other user. In the context of a method, information is received relating to content presented to a second user by a head mounted display of the second user. Based upon the information, the method also includes causing, with a processor, an indication to be presented to a first user identifying the content presented to the second user by the head mounted display of the second user.