VR Safety Boundary Adjustment Using Direction Indicator Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems may collide with real-world obstacles due to lack of awareness of their environment, despite immersive features that can cause them to forget important aspects of the real world.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows users to modify virtual boundaries in their real-world environment using a direction indicator, such as a hand-held controller, to prevent collisions by displaying a virtual boundary on the floor, which is adjusted based on the user's orientation and the real-world environment's plane, and provides visual feedback to ensure safe navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If immersive VR features are enhanced to provide more engaging virtual experiences, then user engagement and virtual experience quality improve, but user awareness of the real-world environment deteriorates, leading to increased collision risk with obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual boundary as an intermediary element between the user and the real-world environment. This boundary is projected into the user's field of view through the HMD, serving as a mediator that alerts the user to obstacles without breaking the immersive experience. The virtual boundary acts as a safety mechanism that operates within the virtual reality interface rather than requiring the user to look away from the HMD.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by providing real-time visual information about the real-world environment through the virtual boundary projection. When obstacles are detected by external cameras or sensors, the system feeds this information back to the user by rendering the virtual boundary at appropriate locations in the virtual scene, allowing the user to adjust their movement to avoid collisions while maintaining immersion.
2Reliability
If traditional boundary definition methods are used, then collision avoidance is achieved, but the boundary modification process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining boundary templates based on common room layouts and obstacle configurations. These templates are prepared in advance and can be quickly applied to typical environments, eliminating the need for users to manually define every boundary point. The system may also pre-process environment data to identify potential collision zones before the user even enters the virtual reality experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing dynamic adjustment of boundary characteristics such as transparency, color, and position based on real-time conditions. The virtual boundary is not a fixed static element but can be modified on-the-fly by changing its rendering parameters in response to user movement, obstacle detection, and environmental factors, making the boundary system both quick to set up and adaptable to different situations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed computer-implemented method may include receiving an indication of a reference elevation representing a plane of a real-world environment and establishing, with respect to the reference elevation, a virtual boundary for a virtual-world environment. The method may include receiving a request from a user to modify the virtual boundary and in response to the request from the user, monitoring an orientation of a direction indicator to generate orientation data. The method may also include modifying the virtual boundary based on the reference elevation and the orientation data. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.