Mediated Reality Location Mapping and Disassociation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mediated reality technologies require users to physically move in real space to explore virtual spaces, which can be restrictive and tiring, limiting user interaction and exploration within virtual environments.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that map virtual spaces to real spaces, allowing users to associate real locations with virtual locations, enabling changes in virtual locations based on user input, history of virtual location and viewpoint, and tracked virtual objects, allowing for disassociation of real and virtual locations to facilitate unrestricted exploration and interaction within virtual environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If user's real location is associated with virtual location to enable first-person perspective mediation, then user can explore virtual space through real movement, but user exploration becomes restrictive and tiring
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: (1) real location tracking mode where virtual location follows real location for immersive exploration, and (2) disassociated mode where virtual location can be changed without real movement for rest periods. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by allowing users to alternate between active exploration and passive viewing, reducing fatigue while maintaining exploration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary tracking of user location and point of view during the associated mode to build a history database. This preliminary action enables the system to later automatically reposition the user to locations of interest without requiring real physical movement, thus reducing fatigue while maintaining exploration effectiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If user's real location is disassociated from virtual location to enable unrestricted exploration, then user can change virtual location without physical movement, but loss of first-person perspective mediation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the degree of association between real and virtual locations based on user needs. During exploration phases, full association maintains first-person perspective. During viewing phases, disassociation provides location flexibility. The system transitions smoothly between these states, maintaining both adaptability and ease of operation at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves multiple functions through a single unified framework: it provides both first-person perspective mediation (when associated) and unrestricted location flexibility (when disassociated). This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable to different user needs without requiring separate systems.
3Loss of information
If system tracks user's virtual location over time to form history, then system can identify portions of particular interest, but increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically tracking user location and point of view, analyzing the collected data to identify locations of interest, and then autonomously repositioning the user to these locations. This self-service approach minimizes the need for complex external control systems while effectively capturing and utilizing user interest information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where user location and point of view data are continuously collected, analyzed to determine user interest, and then used to automatically adjust virtual location. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain user interest information effectively while using straightforward tracking and analysis procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method and computer instructions are provided. The apparatus comprises means for: mapping a virtual space to a real space; associating a user's real location in the real space with a virtual location of the user in the virtual space, such that a change in the user's real location causes a corresponding change in the user's virtual location; disassociating the user's real location with the user's virtual location, based at least in part on at least one user input; and changing, following disassociation of the user's real location with the user's virtual location, the user's virtual location without a corresponding change in the user's real location.