Transitioning between mixed, augmented, and/or virtual reality display modes
Systems and methods for transitioning between mixed, augmented, and/or virtual reality display modes. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: identify an event associated with presentation of an image produced by a display coupled to the processor, where the display is visible to a user's eyes, and the user is located in an environment; and control a transparency or translucency of a shutter layer disposed, at least in part, between the display and the environment.
1. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory including program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the IHS to:
detect an event associated with presentation of an image produced by a display coupled to the processor, wherein the display is visible to a user's eyes, and wherein the user is located in an environment; and
in response to the event, control a transparency or translucency of a shutter layer disposed, at least in part, between the display and the environment, wherein the shutter layer comprises a liquid crystal layer, and wherein controlling the transparency or translucency comprises concurrently increasing the transparency or translucency of a first portion of the liquid crystal layer and decreasing the transparency or translucency of a second portion of the liquid crystal layer.
2. The IHS of claim 1 , further comprising a head-mounted device (HMD), wherein the display comprises: an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display comprising one or more flexible sheets of organic electroluminescent material, or a projected display.
3. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the event indicates a transition from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation.
4. The IHS of claim 3 , wherein the first mode of operation is an augmented reality mode, wherein the second mode of operation is a virtual reality mode, and wherein controlling the transparency or translucency includes decreasing the transparency or translucency of the shutter layer to allow less light from the environment to reach the user's eyes.
5. The IHS of claim 3 , wherein the first mode of operation is a virtual reality mode, wherein the second mode of operation is an augmented reality mode, and wherein controlling the transparency or translucency includes increasing the transparency or translucency of the shutter layer to allow more light from the environment to reach the user's eyes.
6. A hardware memory device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by an Information Handling System (IHS), cause the IHS to:
detect an event associated with presentation of an image produced by a display coupled to the processor, wherein the display is visible to a user's eyes, and wherein the user is located in an environment; and
in response to the event, control a transparency or translucency of a shutter layer disposed between the display and the environment, wherein the event comprises a user's physical interaction with a virtual object rendered on the display.
7. The hardware memory of claim 6 , further comprising a Head-Mounted Device (HMD).
8. The hardware memory of claim 6 , wherein the display comprises an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display.
9. The hardware memory of claim 6 , wherein the event indicates a transition from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation, and wherein the first and second modes of operation are selected from the group consisting of: augmented reality, mixed reality, and virtual reality.
10. The hardware memory of claim 9 , wherein the first mode of operation is the augmented reality mode, wherein the second mode of operation is the virtual reality mode, and wherein controlling the transparency or translucency includes decreasing the transparency or translucency of the shutter layer to allow less light from the environment to reach the user's eyes.
11. The hardware memory of claim 9 , wherein the first mode of operation is the virtual reality mode, wherein the second mode of operation is the augmented reality mode, and wherein controlling the transparency or translucency includes increasing the transparency or translucency of the shutter layer to allow more light from the environment to reach the user's eyes.
12. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
detecting an event associated with presentation of an image produced by a display coupled to a processor of an Information Handling System (IHS), wherein the display is visible to a user's eyes, and wherein the user is located in an environment; and
in response to the event, controlling a transparency or translucency of a shutter layer disposed between the display and the environment, wherein the event comprises a user's walking through a virtual portal rendered on the display.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising a Head-Mounted Device (HMD).
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the display comprises an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the event indicates a transition from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation, and wherein the first and second modes of operation are selected from the group consisting of: augmented reality, mixed reality, and virtual reality.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the first mode of operation is the augmented reality mode, wherein the second mode of operation is the virtual reality mode, and wherein controlling the transparency or translucency includes decreasing the transparency or translucency of the shutter layer to allow less light from the environment to reach the user's eyes.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the first mode of operation is the virtual reality mode, wherein the second mode of operation is the augmented reality mode, and wherein controlling the transparency or translucency includes increasing the transparency or translucency of the shutter layer to allow more light from the environment to reach the user's eyes.
18. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the crystal liquid layer is over a first eye of the user and the second portion of the crystal liquid layer is over a second eye of the user.
19. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the crystal liquid layer is over a first portion of the display and the second portion of the crystal liquid layer is a second portion of the display.
20. The IHS of claim 19 , wherein the first portion of the crystal liquid layer comprises a first geometric pattern and wherein the second portion of the crystal liquid layer comprises a second geometric pattern.