Image Processing Device for Reducing VR Sickness via Avatar Viewpoint Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current measures to reduce VR sickness in virtual reality experiences are insufficient, as users often experience discomfort due to discrepancies between their actual and predicted sensory inputs, particularly when rapid movements of avatars in virtual environments do not align with the user's actual posture and head movements.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device generates an avatar viewpoint image and a secondary presentation image that adjusts based on the detected user posture, ensuring the image displayed aligns more closely with the user's actual posture, thereby reducing the discomfort of VR sickness by smoothing out rapid view changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the avatar viewpoint image is strictly synchronized with the user's actual posture, then the realism of the virtual experience is improved, but the user's discomfort (VR sickness) increases due to sensory conflicts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverealism of virtual experienceVSAvoiduser discomfort and VR sickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a second presentation image as an intermediary between the user's actual posture and the avatar viewpoint image. This intermediate image serves as a buffer that mediates the conflict between visual input and vestibular sensation, allowing gradual transitions rather than direct synchronization, thereby reducing sensory mismatch and VR sickness while maintaining virtual experience quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares compensatory measures in advance by generating a second presentation image that anticipates and cushions against potential sensory conflicts. This pre-buffering approach prevents extreme mismatches between the user's actual posture and the avatar's viewpoint, reducing the likelihood and severity of VR sickness before it occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Speed

If the avatar moves rapidly in the virtual environment, then the responsiveness and immersion of the virtual experience is improved, but the discrepancy between actual and virtual posture increases, causing VR sickness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavatar movement speedVSAvoidposture discrepancy and VR sickness
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the relationship between the first and second presentation images based on the avatar's movement state. When the avatar moves rapidly, the system increases the compensation applied to the second presentation image, creating a dynamic buffer that adapts to movement intensity. This allows rapid avatar movement while maintaining visual comfort by adjusting the degree of synchronization in real-time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3588447B1Image processing device, image processing method, and image system
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3588447B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3588447B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3588447B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4C

AI summary

The present technique relates to an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image system capable of reducing discomfort of a user, such as "VR sickness." An image processing device includes an image generation unit configured to generate an avatar viewpoint image according to a viewpoint of an avatar corresponding to a user in a virtual world as a first presentation image to be presented to the user, and generate a second presentation image different from the avatar viewpoint image in a case in which posture difference occurs between an actual posture of the user based on a result of detecting motion of the user and a posture of the avatar. The present technique is applicable, for example, to an image processing device etc. for generating an image to be displayed on a head mounted display.