VR Spatial Awareness Using Directional Passthrough Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods of spatial awareness in VR environments disrupt immersion by using virtual boundary walls, which can cause disorientation and risk injury due to late alerts or visibility issues.
Innovation Solution
Provide a directional passthrough view of the real-world environment within the VR environment, adjusting the passthrough view based on the user's movement and field of view to maintain immersion while conveying spatial information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If virtual boundary walls are used to alert users of spatial limits, then user safety is improved, but immersion and user experience deteriorate due to constant visual disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates the boundary wall visualization periodically or intermittently rather than continuously. The boundary wall appears temporarily when triggered by specific conditions (such as approaching the boundary or detecting user confusion) and then disappears, providing safety alerts only when necessary while maintaining immersion during normal usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary wall visualization is applied locally and selectively rather than uniformly across all viewing conditions. Different visualization intensities or appearances are used depending on the user's distance from the boundary, movement speed, or other contextual factors, providing enhanced safety awareness only in critical situations.
2Reliability
If virtual boundary walls are displayed to prevent users from moving too far, then user safety is improved, but user experience worsens due to feelings of enclosure and claustrophobia
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary wall is displayed intermittently rather than continuously, appearing only when the user approaches critical distances or exhibits behaviors suggesting spatial disorientation. This periodic activation provides safety warnings while allowing users to experience open virtual spaces freely during normal exploration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies boundary wall visualization partially - using it only to the extent necessary for safety (when users are at risk) rather than applying it excessively throughout the entire VR session. This partial application minimizes psychological discomfort while maintaining adequate safety protection.
3Reliability
If virtual boundary walls are used to define safe zones, then user safety is improved, but immersion deteriorates when users move backwards and the wall is not visible in time
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates the boundary wall visualization in advance before the user actually reaches the boundary. When sensors detect that the user is approaching the safe zone limit or moving in potentially dangerous directions, the boundary wall appears proactively to warn the user ahead of time, allowing sufficient reaction time to prevent collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary wall visualization serves as immediate visual feedback to the user about their spatial position and movement. When the user approaches the boundary or moves backwards toward potential hazards, the system provides real-time visual feedback through the boundary wall display, enabling the user to adjust their movement promptly.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes rendering, for a VR display device and based on a field of view of a user in a real-world environment, a first output image of a VR environment comprising a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world environment; determining a pose of one or more real-world objects in the real-world environment relative to the user; and rendering, for the VR display device, a second output image comprising the VR environment comprising one or more outline rendered views of the one or more real-world objects, wherein a pose of the one or more outline rendered views of the one or more real-world objects relative to the user corresponds to the pose of the one or more real-world objects.