Translucent Telepointer for Document Occlusion in Telepresence
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Solution Overview
Problem
During remote synchronous meetings, participants face difficulties in following discussions about documents due to the challenges of visualizing which parts of the document are being referenced, as existing systems either obscure document content with a telepointer or lack intuitive interaction.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for capturing and processing image data of a document and an object (like a hand or pointer) to generate a combined image signal, where the object is rendered translucent based on proximity to the document, emphasizing relevant document content and reducing occlusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a telepointer is made larger to be more visible for listeners, then visibility is improved, but the telepointer occludes or hides too much of the document content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pointer cursor translucent rather than fully opaque, allowing it to dynamically adjust its visibility. The pointer maintains sufficient visibility for listeners while simultaneously allowing document content to show through, resolving the contradiction between being visible and not obscuring content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color and transparency changes by rendering the pointer cursor with varying levels of translucency. This allows the pointer to be visually distinguishable from the document background while still permitting underlying content to be perceived, thus maintaining both pointer visibility and document content visibility.
2Ease of operation
If a graphical cursor is used for pointing, then interaction control is provided, but the interaction is not as intuitive as using a finger or object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary by capturing image data of physical objects (hands, pens, or other pointing instruments) that users naturally hold during presentation. This intermediary approach bridges the gap between natural physical pointing and digital display, making the interaction more intuitive while eliminating the need for separate mouse control devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies copying by capturing the visual appearance of physical pointing objects and rendering them as overlays on the document display. This creates a visual copy of the natural pointing gesture in the digital domain, maintaining intuitiveness without requiring abstract mouse operations.
3Loss of information
If the telepointer is made smaller to reduce occlusion of document content, then document visibility is improved, but the telepointer becomes difficult for listeners to see
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the pointer dynamically translucent rather than fixed opacity. The pointer maintains adequate visual presence for listeners while allowing sufficient document content to show through, eliminating the need to choose between small size for visibility and large size for occlusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of opacity/translucency of the pointer cursor. By adjusting this parameter, the system achieves both visibility of the pointer and visibility of underlying document content simultaneously, resolving the trade-off between pointer size and document visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of sharing documents is provided. The method includes capturing first image data associated with a document, detecting content of the document based on the captured first image data, capturing second image data associated with an object controlled by a user moved relative to the document, determining a relative position between the document and the object, combining a portion of the second image data with the first image data based on the determined relative position to generate a combined image signal that is displayed, and emphasizing a portion of the content in the displayed combined image signal, based on the relative position.