Environmental interrupt in a head-mounted display and utilization of non field of view real estate
View Patent ↗A wearable computing device includes a head-mounted display (HMD) that generates a virtual reality environment. Through the generation and tracking of positional data, a the virtual environment may be interrupted or paused. Upon pausing the environment, a user may access a number of ancillary menus and controls not otherwise available during normal operation of the virtual environment.
1. A method for interrupting a virtual environment in a head-mounted display, the method comprising:
storing information in memory regarding at least one control setting that associates a function with a change in position of the head-mounted display;
calibrating the head-mounted display, wherein a start position of the head-mounted display is identified;
generating positional data that tracks movement of the head-mounted display;
determining that a current position of the head-mounted display is indicative of a change from the start position that exceeds the change in position of the control setting;
executing the function associated with the control setting, wherein the function comprises interrupting the virtual environment in the head-mounted display by pausing the environment; and
offering menu functionality in a peripheral vision area once the environment has been paused.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating positional data includes processing data from a gyroscope.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating positional data includes processing data from an accelerometer.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating positional data includes processing data from a magnetometer.
5. A system for interrupting a virtual environment in a head-mounted display, the system comprising:
memory that stores information regarding at least one control setting that associates a function with a change in position of the head-mounted display;
at least one of a gyroscope, magnetometer, and an accelerometer that:
calibrates the head-mounted display, wherein a start position of the head-mounted display is identified, and
generates positional data that tracks movement of the head-mounted display;
a processor that executes instructions stored in memory to:
determine that a current position of the head-mounted display is indicative of a change from the start position that exceeds the change in position of the control setting; and
execute the function associated with the control setting; and
a head-mounted display including at least one lens to display the virtual environment, wherein execution of the function interrupts the environment by pausing the environment; and wherein the head-mounted display further offers menu functionality in a peripheral vision area once the environment has been paused.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein generating positional data includes processing data from the gyroscope.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein generating positional data includes processing data from the accelerometer.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein generating positional data includes processing data from the magnetometer.
9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for interrupting a virtual environment in a head-mounted display, the method comprising:
storing information regarding at least one control setting that associates a function with a change in position of the head-mounted display;
calibrating the head-mounted display, wherein a start position of the head-mounted display is identified;
generating positional data that tracks movement of the head-mounted display;
determining that a current position of the head-mounted display is indicative of a change from the start position that exceeds the change in position of the control setting;
executing the function associated with the control setting, wherein the function comprises interrupting the virtual environment in the head-mounted display by pausing the environment; and
offering menu functionality in a peripheral vision area once the environment has been paused.
10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein generating positional data includes processing data from a gyroscope.
11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein generating positional data includes processing data from an accelerometer.
12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein generating positional data includes processing data from a magnetometer.