Retroreflective Apparel Tracking Marks for Interactive Gaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interactive games that track player movements using cameras or detectors often require cumbersome special devices, limiting natural gameplay experience and restricting the number of simultaneous players due to the availability of tracking devices.
Innovation Solution
Apparel with integrated tracking marks, such as retroreflective materials or distinct designs, allows players to be tracked by cameras without additional equipment, enabling a more natural gameplay experience and supporting multiple players by using cameras and light sources within the observation angle to distinguish tracking marks from the background.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If special tracking devices are used to track player movements, then tracking accuracy is improved, but device complexity and player burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking functionality is merged with everyday apparel items. The tracking marks are integrated directly into clothing, hats, gloves, shoes, or other wearable items that players already use or would naturally wear, eliminating the need for separate specialized tracking devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparel serves dual purposes: it provides everyday utility as normal clothing or accessories while simultaneously functioning as a tracking device through the integrated tracking marks, allowing the same object to fulfill multiple functions.
2Measurement precision
If special tracking devices are required for each player, then tracking precision is improved, but the number of simultaneous players is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system uses universal apparel items that any player can wear, rather than player-specific specialized equipment. This allows unlimited players to participate simultaneously as long as they wear the appropriate apparel with tracking marks.
Solution Approach 2:
Players use their own everyday apparel as the tracking medium, eliminating the need for the system to provide specialized tracking devices for each player. The players' personal items serve the tracking function.
3Reliability
If separate tracking devices are worn, then tracking capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking marks are combined with apparel that players naturally wear or would wear for comfort or style reasons, making the tracking equipment feel natural rather than cumbersome or artificial.
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
Enables a more immersive and natural gameplay experience without the need for separate tracking devices, allowing multiple players to participate simultaneously by using apparel with tracking marks that can be easily recognized by interactive games, enhancing player interaction and game responsiveness.
Implementation Method 1
one or more tracking markers formed with retroreflective material... use a camera and a light source configuration where the camera is located within the observation angle of a player employing retroreflective materials reflecting light from the light source
Data Source
AI summary
Apparel is disclosed that can be worn to assist an interactive game in tracking the movement of the wearer. More particularly, the apparel may include one or more tracking marks formed of designs, patterns, or reflective materials that can be easily tracked by an interactive game employing one or more cameras or other detectors for detecting a change in position of an object. The apparel may take the form of, for example, hats, shirts, jackets, pants, gloves, and shoes. The apparel may use reflective materials, and the interactive game can employ a camera and a light source configuration where the camera is located within the observation angle of a player employing retroreflective materials reflecting light from the light source.