HMD User Guide for Real-Space Position Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users wearing head-mounted displays (HMDs) may become disoriented and move to unexpected places in real space, leading to inaccuracies or disruptions in information processing and potential collisions, as they are unable to view the outside world.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that includes a position information acquiring section to track the HMD, an information processing section to perform processing based on this information, an output data generating section to display processed images, and a user guide generating section to provide a visual guide indicating the user's position in real space using the acquired HMD position information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the user wears the HMD to immerse themselves in the virtual world, then the user experience and immersion are improved, but the user becomes disoriented and unable to perceive their real-space position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device that captures the user's real-space position and transmits this information to the HMD display. The camera acts as a mediator between the physical environment and the virtual reality system, allowing the user to perceive their real position through the HMD without removing it. This resolves the contradiction by providing real-space awareness through an intermediary channel while maintaining virtual world immersion.
2Ease of operation
If the user moves freely in real space while wearing the HMD, then the ease of operation is improved, but the accuracy of information processing deteriorates due to unexpected movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the camera continuously monitors the user's position and the system provides real-time visual feedback through the HMD display showing the user's current position relative to the camera's field of view. This feedback loop allows the user to move freely while the system maintains awareness of their position, preventing information processing errors by continuously updating the positional relationship between the user and the camera.
3Manufacturing precision
If the camera's field of view is restricted to a narrow angle, then the manufacturing precision and control are improved, but the area of detection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional display to a three-dimensional stereoscopic display that presents the camera's field of view in depth. By utilizing the third dimension (depth perception through stereoscopic imaging), the system can provide comprehensive spatial awareness within the narrow camera angle, effectively expanding the perceived detection area without requiring a wider physical camera angle. This resolves the contradiction by compensating for the narrow field of view through dimensional enhancement of the display.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus provide for acquiring position information about a head-mounted display; acquiring position information about a head-mounted display; performing information processing using the position information about the head-mounted display; generating and outputting data of an image to be displayed as a result of the information processing; and generating and outputting data of an image of a user guide indicating position information about a user in a real space using the position information about the head-mounted display, wherein the image of the user guide represents a state of the real space in which the user is physically located, and wherein the image of the user guide is translucent.