Virtual Contact Notification in Mixed Reality Avatars
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual reality and mixed reality technologies do not effectively utilize avatar contact as a communication tool, as users are not adequately notified of contact events, leading to insufficient recognition and response in virtual environments.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that detects virtual contact between users in a three-dimensional space and notifies the contacted user of the contact position and intensity, enabling natural communication through visual, auditory, or haptic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If contact detection between avatars is implemented, then communication functionality is improved, but notification completeness deteriorates because the contacted person cannot recognize the contact
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by notifying the contacted person of avatar contact events. The notification system provides real-time information to the contacted user when their avatar is contacted by another user's avatar, enabling them to recognize and respond to the contact. This resolves the information loss by ensuring both parties receive appropriate feedback about the interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system acts as an intermediary between the contact detection mechanism and the contacted user. It receives contact detection data and transforms it into user-friendly notifications that convey the contact information to the contacted person, bridging the gap between system-level detection and user-level awareness.
2Ease of operation
If avatar contact is used as communication trigger, then interaction simplicity is improved, but communication sufficiency deteriorates due to lack of detailed contact information
Solution Approach 1:
The contact notification is segmented into distinct information elements: contact detection status, contacted user identification, and contact position information. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple interaction triggers while providing comprehensive contact details through structured notifications, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a new dimension of information delivery by providing spatial/positional data about the contact event. The notification includes not just the fact of contact but also where on the avatar the contact occurred, transforming a simple binary contact signal into a multi-dimensional information package that enhances communication without complicating the interaction mechanism.
3Reliability
If contact notification system is added, then communication effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system is designed to be universal and multi-functional, serving multiple communication purposes within a single framework. It can notify users of various contact events, provide positional information, and potentially trigger different responses based on contact type, all through a unified notification mechanism. This reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple functions into one versatile subsystem.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a processor; and a memory storing a program which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to detect virtual contact of a second user with respect to a first user in a three-dimensional space that is a virtual space or a mixed reality space; and perform control such that, in a case where the virtual contact has occurred, the first user is notified of information about a position of the contact.