Occluder Transparency Rendering for Collaborative Writing Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for capturing and sharing information on collaborative writing surfaces, such as flipcharts and whiteboards, often hinder creative interaction by obstructing the view during occlusion and fail to provide a seamless record of the interaction that can be accessed and replayed.
Innovation Solution
The system captures and renders collaborative writing surface content by imaging the occluder as partially transparent or a silhouette, allowing prior content to be visible during occlusion, using a virtual-transparency capture controller and occluder tracking to maintain a record of the interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the occluder is captured in the image, then the creative interaction is not hindered, but the view of the writing surface is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the transparency property of the occluder in the rendered image, making it partially transparent or completely transparent. This allows the writing surface content to be visible through the occluder, resolving the contradiction between capturing the occluder for creative interaction and maintaining visibility of the writing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a composite image that combines the captured frame with the prior result image. When an occluder is detected, the system overlays the prior result image in the occluded regions, effectively copying the visible content to replace the obstructed areas, thus maintaining information visibility while preserving the occluder's presence.
2Reliability
If the occluder blocks the view, then the current frame is captured, but the prior content becomes invisible
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains a prior result image that stores the state of the writing surface before occlusion occurs. This preliminary capture of the unoccluded state allows the system to later restore and display the prior content in occluded regions, ensuring that important information is not lost during the interaction process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a composite image generation process that acts as an intermediary between the captured frame and the displayed image. This intermediary process detects occluders and selectively overlays the prior result image in occluded regions, mediating between the need to capture the current state and the need to preserve visibility of prior content.
3Loss of information
If the occluder is made transparent, then the prior content is visible, but the occluder itself becomes less distinct
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different transparency properties to different regions of the image. The occluder regions are made partially or completely transparent to reveal prior content, while non-occluder regions maintain their normal appearance. This local differentiation allows the system to prioritize content visibility in occluded areas while preserving the natural appearance of other elements in the scene.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for capturing, sharing and recording the information on a collaborative writing surface. According to a first aspect of the present invention, currently persistent collaborative-writing-surface content may be imaged during periods of occlusion by an occluder. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the occluder may be imaged as transparent allowing the visibility of the occluded currently persistent collaborative-writing-surface content. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the occluder may be imaged as a silhouette allowing visibility of the occluded currently persistent collaborative-writing-surface content.