GB2574899A

GB2574899A - Mixed reality handsfree motion

Info

Publication number: GB2574899A
Application number: GB201810349A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hussenot-Desenonges Alexandra
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-06-24
Filing date: 2018-06-24
Publication date: 2019-12-25
Also published as: GB201810349D0

Abstract

A mixed reality software that enables hands free object motion such as rotation or scrolling and dive in (or zoom in). The software includes a motion controller 2, a master object 1 and at least one sub object 3 for the immersion to be possible. When the user’s gaze is on edge of the controller the image moves or rotates. When the user focuses on a data pin 4 then the image of that object is enlarged. The system may be used with 3D images such as models of the Earth. It is also necessary to be equipped with a hardware device such as a head mount and a smartphone or a head mounted display that enables to control the environment using the head to focus.

Description

Handsfree Earth diving in Mixed Reality

This invention relates to the ability for a user to travel the earth, totally handsfree, on a Mixed Reality software and be offered relevant information concerning the selected destination.

Mixed Reality (XR) software enables users to overlay digital information to reality (Augmented Reality or AR) or to immerse the users into fully man made digital environments (Virtual Reality or VR). VR environments could themselves onboard a number of real or virtual assets such as 360 videos, games, data. It is about revolutionizing the way we think and create digital user experiences. Today AR experiences are mainly brought to consumers by using a smartphone to augment the real environment. In Virtual Reality, specific VR Head-Mounted displays or Headmounts combined with a Smartphone are necessary to enter the experiences. We are also seeing emerge standalone Mixed Reality headsets. Most high quality interactive experiences require an expensive VR Head-Mounted display and VR controllers or gamepads. We believe this is one of the reasons why the VR market is taking time to take off. By offering end users the ability to use a simple Headmount, without controller, for a high quality interactive experience we can make VR more affordable, easier to use and mobile. This is the reason why we have worked on creating an experience where users could immerse into an interactive VR or XR world to travel the earth and dive into geo located information just using their head as control.

The main object of the experience is a 3D earth object. The core of the invention is the ability to manage on the one hand the motion and on the other hand the zooming in of the 3D earth object using the head only as control. In the specific application we developed, the earth is the object but managing motion and zooming in any object hands-free is a user interface function that could have numerous applications in XR in the near future as it allows for multitasking and mobility.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows the initial field of view and position of the different objects with no particular focus point by the user

Figure 2 shows the point on which the user is focusing on with his head

Figure 3 shows the effect of figure 2

Figure 4 shows the point on which the user is focusing on with his head

Figure 5 shows the effect of figure 3

In figure 1 we see the master object (1) surrounded by a handsfree motion controller (2). Inside the master object (1) there is a sub object (3) which is a first level dependent on the master object. Within sub object (3) there is a data pin (4) which indicates the availability of data or content related to that part of the master object. We see the user point of focus (5) which is not pointing at any specific functional area (hard line black areas of the drawing). Then (6) represents an example of an imaginary axis and there is an infinite amount of such axis passing by the centre of the central point of the master object. Our total Field of view FoV is outlined in the dotted line area (7).

In figure 2, when the user focuses on point (5) on an area of the handsfree motion controller (2), the master object rotates backwards in the direction of the focus point along the imaginary axis (6). The result of this action is represented in figure 3.

In figure 3, the sub object (3) and pin (4) have moved from their initial position in figure 2 to a new position in figure 3. If the user continuously focuses on that same area of the handsfree motion controller, sub object (3) and data pin (4) would disappear at the back of the visible area of the master object. The software display to the user information that is a match with what he has in his field of view.

In figure 4, when the user focuses (5) on the data pin (4), it zooms in the selected area and the sub object (3) becomes the main object in the Field of View (7 ) as per figure 5.

Sub object 3 in figure 5 has the same functionalities as master object (1) (rotation and display of information).

Claims

1. The ability for a mixed reality software user to move or rotate a master object or its sub objects by focusing his head on the motion controller surrounding the object in a specific direction. For example the user could rotate an earth object to the left by turning his head in that direction so as to select the motion controller in that part of the environment to indicate the rotation way. By proceeding as is the user can rotate the object in any preferred direction, totally handsfree, and be offered relevant information concerning the selected destination in return.

2. The ability for a mixed reality software user to zoom into an object, totally hand free, by focusing one's head on a sub object. For example the user could dive from an earth object to a specific region sub object and further on to a specific country sub object (and so on...) and be offered relevant information concerning the selected destination in return.

3. The ability to perform any of the actions according to any of the preceding claims with the use of a high-resolution 3D earth object at the heart of the mixed reality software experience.