Virtual World Emissive Surface Layouts for Mind-State Transitions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing enterprise spaces fail to provide personalized environments that optimize both work and rejuvenation activities for employees, leading to sub-optimal mind states due to unpredictable sensory stimuli and separate spaces that hinder effective utilization and employee well-being.

Innovation Solution

A virtual world system with emissive surfaces and a 3D virtual world engine that provides immersive, personalized visual and audio stimuli to foster desired mind states, allowing employees to transition smoothly between work and rejuvenation activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate spaces are provided for work and rejuvenation activities, then employees can have dedicated areas for each activity, but employees cannot effectively utilize these spaces and transition between mind states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental adaptabilityVSAvoidspace utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines work and rejuvenation activities into a single enterprise space by using a virtual world system that can dynamically transform the environmental characteristics. Instead of providing separate physical spaces, the system merges both functional requirements into one adaptable environment that can switch between work-mode and rejuvenation-mode configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic environmental transformation through the virtual world system that can实时 adjust visual, auditory, and other sensory characteristics. The system dynamically changes the space properties based on the current activity mode, allowing seamless transition between work and rejuvenation states without requiring physical movement between spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional enterprise spaces are used, then the physical environment is simple and stable, but unpredictable sensory stimuli disrupt employee focus and mind state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental stabilityVSAvoidsensory distractions

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a virtual world system as an intermediary layer between employees and the physical environment. This virtual layer filters and controls sensory stimuli, blocking harmful distractions while maintaining necessary information flow. The system acts as a mediator that transforms the raw physical environment into a controlled, optimized sensory experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the enterprise space by overlaying a virtual world that modifies visual, auditory, and other sensory parameters. The system adjusts these parameters dynamically based on the current activity mode, transforming the environmental characteristics without changing the physical structure, thereby maintaining stability while eliminating distractions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If employees work in conventional spaces, then the setup is simple and cost-effective, but employee efficiency and effectiveness are reduced due to environmental distractions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemployee efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical environmental modifications with a software-based virtual world system. Instead of mechanically altering the physical space through walls, partitions, or separate rooms, the system uses digital visualization and sensory control to achieve the same productivity-enhancing effects, thereby reducing physical complexity while maintaining or improving employee efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If separate rejuvenation spaces are provided, then employees have designated areas for relaxation, but the transition between work and rejuvenation mind states is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactivity supportVSAvoidtransition time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares the environmental conditions in advance for the desired activity mode. When an employee needs to transition to rejuvenation, the virtual world system has already configured the appropriate sensory parameters, eliminating the lag time associated with physical movement and environmental adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12368817B1Virtual world method and system for affecting mind state

Publication Date: 2025.07.22 STEELCASE INC

AI summary

A system and method for creating a virtual world conferencing experience wherein a first set of real world emissive surfaces and content thereon is replicated on virtual world emissive surfaces where the virtual world emissive surfaces are juxtaposed in a virtual world instance at locations and in orientations that replicate the juxtapositions in the real world arrangement and where the virtual world instance is presented on a second set of real world emissive surfaces at a virtual world workstation where the second set of emissive surfaces are arranged differently than the first set of real world surfaces.