Head-Mountable Display Directional Airflow Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head-mountable display (HMD) systems often fail to provide an immersive experience due to the lack of environmental airflow, which can break the illusion of the virtual environment, especially in scenarios like hurricanes where real-world airflow is absent.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a directional airflow unit within the HMD that generates airflow based on control data corresponding to the virtual environment, using fans and vents to simulate wind and other environmental conditions, enhancing the immersion by mimicking real-world airflow patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a head-mountable display obscures the real world to provide virtual reality content, then the virtual reality experience is enhanced, but the user loses awareness of real-world environmental conditions such as airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces airflow generators as an intermediary device that mediates between the virtual environment and the user's physical senses. The airflow generators create artificial airflow patterns that correspond to environmental conditions in the virtual reality scene, allowing the user to perceive wind, weather, and atmospheric conditions through tactile sensation while remaining visually immersed in the virtual environment. This resolves the contradiction by providing real-world environmental awareness through a different sensory modality (tactile) rather than visual.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the HMD completely blocks out the real world view, then immersion in virtual content is improved, but the user cannot perceive real-world airflow and environmental cues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the natural mechanical system of air flow detection (which would normally occur through the user's skin and body) with an artificial mechanical system consisting of airflow generators positioned within or near the HMD. These generators actively produce controlled airflow patterns that simulate environmental conditions, substituting the passive natural airflow detection with an active artificial airflow generation system. This allows the user to maintain complete visual immersion while receiving tactile feedback about environmental conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The directional airflow unit significantly increases the sense of immersion by providing a more realistic airflow experience, simulating conditions like wind, passing vehicles, and temperature changes, thereby enhancing the overall virtual reality experience.
Implementation Method 1
The fan is arranged within the HMD and is operable to move air from the rear of the HMD towards the front of the HMD
Implementation Method 2
The vent is positioned at the front of the HMD and is arranged to direct the airflow generated by the fan towards the face of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mountable display (HMD) for use with a processing device, the HMD comprising a display unit for displaying image content to the user, and a directional airflow unit operable to generate a directional airflow in accordance with control data corresponding to an appropriate airflow for content to be displayed on the HMD.