Virtual Space Cropping for VR Play Area Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual reality systems often present virtual spaces that exceed the physical boundaries of the user's play area, leading to objects being partially or entirely outside the interactable space, limiting user interaction.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method to identify likely interaction objects within the virtual space and modify the space to ensure these objects are presented substantially within the user's real-world play area by techniques such as cropping, scaling, or repositioning, using heat maps to prioritize interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the virtual space is presented in its original size, then the complete virtual environment is displayed, but objects may be positioned outside the real-world play area, limiting user interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual space is segmented into multiple regions: a first region containing objects likely to be interacted with (positioned within the crop area), and a second region containing other objects (positioned outside the crop area). This segmentation allows the system to prioritize interaction-critical objects while maintaining the overall virtual space structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and prioritizes objects that are likely to be interacted with by users, separating them from the rest of the virtual space objects. These extracted objects are then ensured to be positioned within the interactable area through cropping or repositioning operations.
2Ease of operation
If the virtual space is cropped to fit the play area, then all objects are guaranteed to be within the interactable space, but the overall virtual space environment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the virtual space are treated differently: the first region containing interaction-critical objects is ensured to be within the crop area for maximum accessibility, while the second region containing other objects can extend beyond the crop area. This local differentiation optimizes both interaction accessibility and virtual space preservation.
3Ease of operation
If objects are repositioned to ensure they are within the play area, then user interaction is improved, but the original spatial relationships in the virtual space are altered
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether to crop the virtual space or reposition objects based on the identified interaction-critical objects and the available play area. This dynamic approach allows flexible adjustment of the virtual space presentation while maintaining the relative spatial relationships among objects as much as possible.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method and computer program for virtual space modification are disclosed. The method may comprise identifying one or more objects of a virtual space which a user is likely to interact with, wherein the one or more objects have respective positions in the virtual space, determining that the virtual space is larger than a real-world play area in which the user consumes or will consume the virtual space, wherein a respective position of at least one object of the identified one or more objects is such that at least part of said at least one object will be presented outside of the real-world play area, and modifying at least part of the virtual space such that the identified one or more objects, including said at least one object, will be presented substantially inside of the real-world play area.