Virtual reality and/or augmented reality viewer having variable transparency
According to one implementation, a dual-mode augmented reality and virtual reality viewer (AR/VR viewer) includes a device configured to provide AR and VR effects, the device including a display screen, a VR shield, and a transparency control unit coupled to the VR shield. The AR/VR viewer also includes a computing platform for generating the AR and VR effects communicatively coupled to the device. The display screen has a user facing first surface for receiving the AR and VR effects, and a second surface opposite the user facing first surface. The display screen or a transmissive layer adjoining the display screen is configured to have a variable transparency. The VR shield is configured to be one of substantially transparent in an AR mode and substantially opaque in a VR mode under the control of the transparency control unit.
1. A dual-mode augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) viewer comprising:
a device configured to provide AR and VR effects, the device including a display screen, and a VR shield, and hardware processor configured to generate the AR and VR effects;
wherein the display screen has a user facing first surface configured to receive the AR and VR effects, and a second surface opposite the user facing first surface;
wherein one of the display screen or a transmissive layer adjoining one of the user facing first surface or the second surface is configured to have a variable transparency;
wherein the VR shield is configured to be one of transparent in an AR mode or opaque in a VR mode; and
wherein the one of the display screen or the transmissive layer comprises an ultraviolet (UV) light sensitive material configured to vary in transparency automatically in response to ambient UV light.
2. The dual-mode AR and VR viewer of claim 1 , wherein the VR shield comprises a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC).
3. The dual-mode AR and VR viewer of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to switch the VR shield between the AR mode and the VR mode based on an input received from a user of the dual-mode AR and VR viewer.
4. The dual-mode AR and VR viewer of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to switch the VR shield between the AR mode and the VR mode based on commands received from the hardware processor.
5. The dual-mode AR and VR viewer of claim 1 , wherein the VR shield is integrated with the display screen, and wherein the VR shield is situated between the UV light sensitive material and the user facing first surface of the display.
6. The dual-mode AR and VR viewer of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to control the variable transparency of the one of the display screen or the transmissive layer.
7. The dual-mode AR and VR viewer of claim 6 , wherein the one of the display screen or the transmissive layer comprises an electrochromic material.
8. The dual-mode AR and VR viewer of claim 6 , further comprising at least one of a photodetector or a front facing camera, wherein the device is configured to adjust the variable transparency of the one of the display screen or the transmissive layer automatically, based on an intensity of the ambient UV light detected by the at least one of the photodetector or the front-facing camera.
9. The dual-mode AR and VR viewer of claim 6 , wherein the device is configured to adjust the variable transparency of the one of the display screen or the transmissive layer based on one of an input received from a user of the AR viewer or a command received from the hardware processor.
10. The dual-mode AR and VR viewer of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is one of a mobile communication device or an integrated component of the device.