Facilitating interaction between users and their environments using a headset having input mechanisms

1. A system comprising:

a headset configured to present audio information to a user as the user interacts with a space; and

one or more processing devices provided on the headset or on a separate computing device,

the headset comprising a set of input mechanisms configured to receive commands from the user invoking respective space-interaction-related functions to be performed by the one or more processing devices,

one or more processing being configured to:

when instructed by a specific command received from the user, enter an explore mode;

while in the explore mode:

identify an orientation of the headset;

based at least on the orientation of the headset, identify a subspace to which the user is currently directing attention;

identify specific items of interest within the subspace to which the user is currently directing attention; and

cause the headset to generate corresponding sounds for the specific items of interest;

when instructed by another specific command received from the user, enter an orientation mode; and

while in the orientation mode:

identify vertically-arranged items of interest outside of the subspace to which the user is currently directing attention;

based at least on vertical relationships among the vertically-arranged items of interest, determine a specific order in which to announce the vertically-arranged items of interest; and

cause the headset to generate, in the specific order, other corresponding sounds for the vertically-arranged items of interest.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the headset uses a bone conducting mechanism to deliver the audio information to the user.

3. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:

receive a further command instructing the system to start a listening mode;

enter the listening mode responsive to the further command; and

while in the listening mode, receive and follow instructions that are verbalized by the user.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:

receive a further command instructing the system to stop delivering the audio information; and

stop delivering the audio information responsive to the further command.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:

receive a further command instructing the system to repeat one or more prior-delivered items of audio information; and

repeat the one or more prior-delivered items of audio information responsive to the further command.

6. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the sounds include a first three-dimensional sound identifying a first item of interest within the subspace and a second three-dimensional sound identifying a second item of interest within the subspace.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vertically-arranged items of interest are on different floors of a building.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:

specify that the vertically-arranged items of interest are announced on a floor-by-floor basis.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to:

specify that the vertically-arranged items of interest are announced starting from a vertically lowest item of interest to progressively higher items of interest.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are provided on the headset.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the headset further includes:

a headset orientation determination mechanism configured to determine the orientation of the headset.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises at least one user computing device that includes the one or more processing devices.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the user computing device and the headset are configured to communicate using short-range wireless radio transmission.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the user computing device comprises a smartphone or a tablet-type computing device.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the specific items of interest include a physical item of interest and a virtual item of interest.

16. A method comprising:

identifying an orientation of a headset worn by a user;

based at least on the orientation of the headset, identifying a search volume of interest to the user;

delivering audio information, via the headset, which identifies at least two different items of interest present in the search volume of interest to the user;

identifying vertically-arranged items of interest outside of the search volume;

based at least on vertical relationships among the vertically-arranged items of interest, determining a specific order in which to announce the vertically-arranged items of interest; and

delivering, via the headset and in the specific order, other audio information that identifies the vertically-arranged items of interest.

17. The method of claim 16 , performed by the headset.

18. The method of claim 16 , performed by a separate user computing device which is communicatively coupled to the headset.

19. A system comprising:

a wearable device having an audio output mechanism;

a processing device; and

logic which, when executed by the processing device, causes the processing device to:

determine an orientation of the wearable device;

based at least on the orientation of the wearable device, identify a search volume around the wearable device;

identify an item of interest that is located within the search volume;

cause the audio output mechanism of the wearable device to output a sound indicating that the item of interest is present in the search volume;

identify vertically-arranged items of interest outside of the search volume;

based at least on vertical relationships among the vertically-arranged items of interest, determine as specific order in which to announce the vertically-arranged items of interest; and

cause the audio output mechanism of the wearable device to output, in the specific order, other sounds identifying the vertically-arranged items of interest.

20. The system of claim 19 , the search volume comprising an angular swath of less than 180 degrees.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the logic, when executed by the processing device, causes the processing device to:

identify a cylindrical volume around the system, the cylindrical volume including an area not encompassed by the search volume; and

identify the vertically-arranged items of interest within the cylindrical volume.