Wearable computer with nearby object response

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

causing a head-mountable device (HMD) to display a field of view to a user-interface mapped to a sphere, wherein the field of view is moveable with respect to the user-interface, and wherein the user-interface comprises: (i) a view region, and (ii) a set of selectable content objects arranged in at least a partial ring;

associating a forward-looking head position with a forward-looking location of the field of view on the sphere, wherein a default arrangement of the spherical user-interface both: (i) locates the view region within the forward-looking field of view, and (ii) locates the set of selectable content objects substantially outside the forward-looking field of view, wherein the forward-looking field of view is in a direction that is generally parallel to the ground;

displaying one or more virtual objects in the view region;

using data from one or more first sensors as a basis for determining a distance between the HMD and a physical object; and

using the determined distance between the HMD and the physical object as basis for initiating a collision-avoidance action, wherein the collision-avoidance action de-emphasizes one or more of the displayed virtual objects to provide a less-obstructed view of the physical object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the determined distance as basis for initiating the collision-avoidance action comprises:

determining that the physical object is less than a threshold distance from the HMD; and responsively initiating the collision-avoidance action.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using data from one or more second sensors to determine a relative movement of the physical object with respect to the HMD; and

using the relative movement as a further basis for initiating the collision-avoidance action.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein using the relative movement as a further basis for initiating the collision-avoidance action comprises:

using the relative movement as a basis for determining the threshold distance between the physical object and the HMD; and

determining that the physical object is less than the threshold distance from the HMD and responsively initiating the collision-avoidance action.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein using the relative movement as a further basis for initiating the collision-avoidance action comprises:

using (a) the distance between the physical object and the HMD and (b) the relative movement to determine a time period until collision; and

determining that the time period until collision is less than a threshold time period and responsively initiating the collision-avoidance action.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising, subsequent to initiating the collision-avoidance action:

using data from the one or more second sensors as a basis for determining a subsequent relative movement of the physical object with respect to the HMD;

determining that a direction of the subsequent relative movement of the physical object is directed sufficiently away from the HMD such that collision with the physical object is unlikely; and

in response to determining that the subsequent relative movement of the physical object is directed sufficiently away from the HMD, re-displaying in the view region the at least one virtual object that was de-emphasized in the collision-avoidance action.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using data from one or more third sensors to determine that the HMD is in motion; and

using the determination that the HMD is in motion as a further basis for initiating a collision-avoidance action.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the view region is sufficiently cluttered; and

using the determination that the view region is sufficiently cluttered as a further basis for initiating the collision-avoidance action.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein de-emphasizing at least one of the virtual objects comprises removing at least one of the virtual objects from the view region.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the moving the at least one of said virtual objects comprises efficiently portraying a potential hazard by moving the at least one of said virtual objects quickly from a center point of the view region toward outer edges of the view region.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining a portion of the view region that overlays the physical object;

wherein the at least one of said virtual objects is moved quickly away from the portion of the view region that overlays the physical object.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical object is outside of the field of view provided in the see-through display, and wherein the collision-avoidance action further comprises displaying a visual indication of a direction of the physical object.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collision-avoidance action further comprises presenting an audio alert.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collision-avoidance action further comprises displaying a visual indication that highlights the physical object.

15. A computing system comprising:

at least one processor;

one or more first sensors operable to generate data indicative of distances to physical objects in an environment of a head-mountable device (HMD);

data storage comprising logic executable by the at least one processor to:

cause a display of the HMD to display a field of view to a user-interface mapped to a sphere, wherein the field of view is moveable with respect to the user-interface, and wherein the user-interface comprises: (i) a view region, and (ii) a set of selectable content objects arranged in at least a partial ring;

associate a forward-looking head position with a forward-looking location of the field of view on the sphere, wherein a default arrangement of the spherical user-interface both: (i) locates the view region within the forward-looking field of view, and (ii) locates the set of selectable content objects substantially outside the forward-looking field of view, wherein the forward-looking field of view is in a direction that is generally parallel to the ground;

display one or more virtual objects in the view region;

use data from one or more first sensors as a basis for determining a distance between the HMD and a physical object; and

use the determined distance between the HMD and the physical object as basis to initiate a collision-avoidance action, wherein the collision-avoidance action de-emphasizes one or more of the displayed virtual objects to provide a less-obstructed view of the physical object.

16. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the user-input comprises detection by sensors that the head-mounted display has moved in specified movement pattern.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

causing a head-mountable device (HMD) to display a field of view to a user-interface mapped to a sphere, wherein the field of view is moveable with respect to the user-interface, and wherein the user-interface comprises: (i) a view region, and (ii) a set of selectable content objects arranged in at least a partial ring;

associating a forward-looking head position with a forward-looking location of the field of view on the sphere, wherein a default arrangement of the spherical user-interface both: (i) locates the view region within the forward-looking field of view, and (ii) locates the set of selectable content objects substantially outside the forward-looking field of view, wherein the forward-looking field of view is in a direction that is generally parallel to the ground;

displaying one or more virtual objects in the view region;

using data from one or more first sensors as a basis for determining a distance between the HMD and a physical object; and

using the determined distance between the HMD and the physical object as basis for initiating a collision-avoidance action, wherein the collision-avoidance action de-emphasizes one or more of the displayed virtual objects to provide a less-obstructed view of the physical object.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the functions further comprise:

using data from one or more second sensors to determine a relative movement of the physical object with respect to the HMD; and

using the relative movement as a further basis for initiating the collision-avoidance action.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the functions further comprise subsequent to initiating the collision-avoidance action:

using data from the one or more second sensors as a basis for determining a subsequent relative movement of the physical object with respect to the HMD;

determining that a direction of the subsequent relative movement of the physical object is directed sufficiently away from the HMD such that collision with the physical object is unlikely; and

in response to determining that the subsequent relative movement of the physical object is directed sufficiently away from the HMD, re-displaying in the view region the at least one virtual object that was de-emphasized in the collision-avoidance action.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the moving the at least one of said virtual objects comprises efficiently portraying a potential hazard by moving the at least one of said virtual objects quickly from a center point of the view region toward outer edges of the view region.