Physical/digital input methodologies for spatial manipulations and entertainment
First Claim
1. A method for two-dimensional or three-dimensional spatial manipulation or two-dimensional or three-dimensional entertainment, comprising:
- generating one or more interface devices to alter and generate one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual objects, wherein said devices can control N degrees of freedom of said virtual objects;
associating said interface devices in conjunction with each other to alter one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual components;
providing one or more three-dimensional virtual tools to a user for said spatial manipulation or said two-dimensional or said three-dimensional entertainment; and
providing a plurality of video game controllers to said user for said spatial manipulation or said two-dimensional or said three-dimensional entertainment.
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Abstract
The invention provides improved interface tools, both physical and digital for performing two and three-dimensional spatial manipulation and two and three-dimensional gaming using a set of tangible tools. These tools are shaped to specific forms mimicking the tools'"'"' primary function. For example, one of the tools is shaped to resemble a pair of kitchen tongs, which gives the user the immediate perception that they are to be used for grabbing. Two physical or digital input devices can be used in conjunction to alter virtual objects. The invention also presents several novel tools to alter and generate three-dimensional objects, for example using an eraser tool, a deformation tool, a spray-painting tool, a smoothing tool, and a texture creation tool. The invention presents several novel means of interacting with video games using the tools mentioned above as a replacement for the standard joystick.
84 Citations
162 Claims
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1. A method for two-dimensional or three-dimensional spatial manipulation or two-dimensional or three-dimensional entertainment, comprising:
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generating one or more interface devices to alter and generate one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual objects, wherein said devices can control N degrees of freedom of said virtual objects;
associating said interface devices in conjunction with each other to alter one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual components;
providing one or more three-dimensional virtual tools to a user for said spatial manipulation or said two-dimensional or said three-dimensional entertainment; and
providing a plurality of video game controllers to said user for said spatial manipulation or said two-dimensional or said three-dimensional entertainment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162)
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74. A method to draw a virtual object in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space or in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional entertainment environment, comprising:
using two or more physical input devices coincidentally. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A method to assemble and rearrange a virtual molecule in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space or in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional entertainment environment, comprising:
using said grabbing tool in combination with said gripping tool and said pointing tool. - View Dependent Claims (80)
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81. A method to change placement of a virtual object in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space or in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional entertainment environment, comprising:
using two or more of said physical input devices coincidentally. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83)
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84. A method to deform a virtual object in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space or in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional entertainment environment, comprising:
using two or more of said physical input devices coincidentally. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86)
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87. A method to alter a physical input device'"'"'s virtual object in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space or in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional entertainment environment, comprising:
using two or more of said physical input devices coincidentally. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89)
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90. A method to specify a point in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space or in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional entertainment environment, comprising:
using two or more of said physical input devices coincidentally. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93, 94)
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95. A method for altering the spatial relationship between a physical input device and one or more of its two or three-dimensional virtual components, comprising:
using a first physical input device and a second physical input device coincidentally. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97)
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98. A method to map a plurality of virtual components to one physical input device, comprising:
using a virtual menu to map said plurality of virtual components to said physical input device. - View Dependent Claims (99)
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100. A method to change a plurality of virtual components mapped to a physical input device, comprising:
using a virtual menu to change said plurality of virtual components mapped to said physical device. - View Dependent Claims (101)
Specification