SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL MENU
Systems and methods allow a user to interact with an augmented reality device. In one implementation, a wearable device for providing a virtual menu to a user includes a display; at least one sensor configured to provide an output indicative of an orientation of a head of the user; and at least one processing device. The at least one processing device is configured to monitor an orientation of the head of the user based on the output of the at least one sensor; determine based on the monitored orientation of the head whether the user is looking upward or downward with respect to a predetermined horizontal threshold; and cause the virtual menu to be shown on the display if the user is determined to be looking upward or downward with respect to the predetermined horizontal threshold.
1 . A wearable device for providing a virtual menu to a user, the wearable device comprising:
a display;
at least one sensor configured to provide an output indicative of an orientation of a head of the user; and
at least one processing device configured to:
monitor an orientation of the head of the user based on the output of the at least one sensor;
determine based on the monitored orientation of the head whether the user is looking upward or downward with respect to a predetermined horizontal threshold; and
cause the virtual menu to be shown on the display if the user is determined to be looking upward or downward with respect to the predetermined horizontal threshold.
2 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further including a frame configured to secure the wearable device to the head of the user.
3 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to change a location at which the virtual menu is shown on the display in response to a sensed change in orientation of the user's head.
4 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing device is configured to cause the virtual menu to be displayed such that the user perceives the virtual menu as located at a predetermined, fixed angle of rise above the predetermined horizontal threshold.
5 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual menu includes one or more selectable elements, and the at least one processing device is configured to determine, based on the output of the at least one sensor, whether the user is looking in a direction intersecting any of the one or more selectable elements and cause a selection of a particular selectable element if the user looks in a direction of the particular selectable element for a time that exceeds a predetermined threshold.
6 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual menu is a nested menu, and the at least one processing device is configured to cause a display of one or more sub-menu elements in response to sensed selection of a higher level menu element.
7 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the display includes lens of a pair of glasses.
8 . The wearable device of claim 7 , wherein the virtual menu is semi-transparent and displayed on the lens.
9 . A method for providing a virtual menu to a user of a wearable device, the method comprising:
monitoring, based on output of at least one sensor, an orientation of a head of the user;
determining based on the monitored orientation of the head whether the user is looking upward or downward with respect to a predetermined horizontal threshold; and
causing the virtual menu to be shown on a display of the wearable device if the user is determined to be looking upward or downward with respect to the predetermined horizontal threshold.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wearable device includes the at least one sensor.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising changing a location at which the virtual menu is shown on the display in response to a sensed change in orientation of the user's head.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising causing the virtual menu to be displayed such that the user perceives the virtual menu as located at a predetermined, fixed angle of rise above the predetermined horizontal threshold.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the virtual menu includes one or more selectable elements, and the method further comprises determining, based on the output of the at least one sensor, whether the user is looking in a direction intersecting any of the one or more selectable elements and cause a selection of a particular selectable element if the user looks in a direction of the particular selectable element for a time that exceeds a predetermined threshold.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the virtual menu is a nested menu, and the at least one processing device is configured to cause a display of one or more sub-menu elements in response to sensed selection of a higher level menu element.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the display includes lens of a pair of glasses.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the virtual menu is semi-transparent and displayed on the lens.
17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions executable by at least one processor to perform a method for providing a virtual menu to a user of a wearable device, the method comprising:
monitoring, based on output of at least one sensor, an orientation of a head of the user;
determining based on the monitored orientation of the head whether the user is looking upward or downward with respect to a predetermined horizontal threshold; and
causing the virtual menu to be shown on a display of the wearable device if the user is determined to be looking upward or downward with respect to the predetermined horizontal threshold.