Physical Device Sensor Integration for Virtual Game Immersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computer games lack the ability to seamlessly integrate with the physical environment, limiting user interaction and immersion, as they primarily confine interactions to the virtual world without effectively incorporating real-world activities or objects.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that establish communication between a computer game and a physical device, configuring the device to detect out-of-game activities based on sensor data, allowing gameplay attributes to be affected by real-world events, thereby extending the virtual world into the physical environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If video games are confined to virtual world interactions only, then device complexity remains low and ease of operation is maintained, but user immersion and interaction depth are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the virtual game world with the physical environment by integrating sensor data from physical devices into the game. The system combines virtual game logic with real-world sensor inputs, allowing game events to be triggered by physical actions. This merging creates a unified experience where virtual and physical domains interact seamlessly, resolving the contradiction between interaction depth and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a physical device as an intermediary between the user and the virtual game world. This device contains sensors that detect physical activities and translate them into game inputs. The intermediary handles the complexity of physical-world interaction, allowing the game system to remain relatively simple while still achieving deep immersion through real-world integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical devices are integrated to detect out-of-game activities, then user immersion and engagement are enhanced, but device complexity and sensor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal physical device that can detect multiple types of physical activities using various sensors. The device is designed to be multi-functional, capable of tracking different out-of-game activities through a suite of sensors including motion, position, and environmental sensors. This universal approach allows the system to handle diverse game integration scenarios without requiring separate specialized devices for each function, thereby enhancing adaptability while managing complexity through standardization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If real-world activities are used to affect gameplay attributes, then user engagement and immersion improve, but measurement precision and activity detection accuracy become critical challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where sensor data from physical activities is continuously monitored and processed to determine when specific out-of-game activities have been completed. The system provides feedback by translating physical actions into game events, allowing users to see the direct impact of their real-world movements on the virtual game state. This feedback loop helps compensate for measurement imprecisions by using multiple sensor inputs and contextual game logic to accurately interpret physical activities.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for creating out-of-game objectives for a computer game. Embodiments include determining user identification information identifying a user account within a computer game. Communications with a first physical device are established. In response to an in-game event within the computer game, embodiments configure the first physical device to detect a first out-of-game activity by configuring the first physical device with one or more conditions that are satisfied when data collected using one or more sensors of the first physical device exceeds a defined threshold value, and that, when satisfied, indicate the first out-of-game activity is completed. Upon receiving, from the first physical device, an indication that the out-of-game activity has been completed, embodiments affect one or more gameplay attributes of the computer game for the user account, based on the completed out-of-game activity.