Virtual Keyboard Gesture Tracking for VR Productivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional VR systems are not well-suited for productivity tasks such as web browsing, email checking, and word processing, lacking effective input methods that hinder user efficiency and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A VR system that includes a gesture tracker and graphics processor to generate virtual input devices, allowing users to interact with virtual keyboards and mice, enhancing input speed and ergonomic comfort by tracking user gestures and mapping them to virtual interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional VR systems use gesture recognition and head movement for input, then the system maintains simplicity and immersion, but user efficiency and comfort for productivity tasks deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical input devices (keyboard, mouse) within the VR environment. These virtual devices replicate the appearance and interaction patterns of their physical counterparts, allowing users to perform productivity tasks using familiar gestures and movements. The virtual keyboard responds to hand gestures as if physically pressed, and the virtual mouse tracks hand movements, enabling efficient data input without requiring users to adapt to entirely new interaction paradigms.
2Speed
If physical input devices are used in VR, then input speed improves, but ergonomic comfort deteriorates due to the need for physical devices outside the virtual environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the input interaction from physical devices and relocates it entirely within the virtual environment. Users perform all input actions using only their hands and gestures within the VR space, eliminating the need to reach for or manipulate physical keyboards and mice. The virtual input devices are positioned in the user's virtual workspace, allowing natural arm and hand movements that maintain ergonomic comfort while achieving fast input speeds through intuitive gesture recognition.
3Ease of operation
If virtual input devices are implemented, then ease of operation improves by allowing interaction within the virtual environment, but device complexity increases due to gesture tracking and virtual rendering requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal gesture recognition system that handles multiple input device functions through a single tracking mechanism. The same gesture tracker that monitors hand position and movement is used to control both virtual keyboard interactions and virtual mouse operations. This multi-functional approach allows the system to provide diverse input capabilities (typing, clicking, scrolling) through unified gesture recognition, reducing the need for separate specialized hardware or software components for each input method.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a graphics apparatus may include an image generator, and a gesture tracker communicatively coupled to the image generator. The image generator may be configured to generate an image of a virtual input device, the gesture tracker may be configured to determine a position of a user's finger relative to the virtual input device, and the image generator may be further configured to generate an image of a virtual finger based on the determined position of the user's finger relative to the virtual input device. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.