Teleportation Systems and Methods in a Virtual Environment

• US 20080153591A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
• Inventors: Deligiannidis, Leonidas
• Application Number:
  US11/816,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20080153591A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/012 Walk-in-place systems for allowing a user to walk in a virtual environment while constraining him to a given position in the physical environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for teleportation in a virtual environment. One embodiment of such a system can be implemented as a head mounted display configured to provide an immersive virtual environment and a teleportation device configured to provide navigation in the virtual environment; at least one feedback device configured to provide a user with information corresponding to movement of the teleportation device within the virtual environment. The system also includes a plurality of input devices configured to generate a plurality of input signals in response to inputs from the user and a computing device configured to receive the plurality of input signals and control the at least one feedback device.

Claims

1. A system for teleportation in a virtual environment, comprising:

a head mounted display configured to provide an immersive virtual environment;

a teleportation device configured to provide navigation in the virtual environment;

at least one feedback device configured to provide a user with information corresponding to movement of the teleportation device within the virtual environment;

a plurality of input devices configured to generate a plurality of input signals in response to inputs from the user; and

a computing device configured to receive the plurality of input signals and control the at least one feedback device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the head mounted display comprises:

a video display configured to provide a video signal corresponding to the virtual environment; and

an audio device configured to provide an audio signal corresponding to the virtual environment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one feedback device comprises a fan directed to the user and configured to create a motion sensation.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of fans configured to create the motion sensation in a plurality of directions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one feedback device comprises a speaker configured to generate information in the form of an audio signal and a vibratory signal to the user, the audio and vibratory signals configured to create a motion sensation corresponding to changes in the virtual environment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of user position sensors configured to provide three-dimensional location data corresponding to a plurality of user physiological features.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of user physiological features are selected from the group consisting of:

hands, arms, head, and torso.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein one of the plurality of sensors comprises a teleportation device position sensor configured to provide three dimensional location data corresponding to the teleportation device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of input devices comprises a user interface device configured to trigger an operation within the virtual environment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the user interface device is an electrical switch.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operation is selected from the group consisting of:

flight mode, lights, stop, move up, move down, and jump.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a position interface configured to receive a position sensor input and transmit position and orientation data to the computing device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the teleportation device comprises:

a base configured to support at least a portion of the user; and

a directional input portion coupled to the base using a moveable coupling and configured to simulate a directional input member of a personal vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the moveable coupling comprises a biasing element.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the directional input portion is configured to tilt away from the user to cause upward movement in the virtual environment and wherein the directional input portion is configured to tilt toward the user to cause a downward movement in the virtual environment.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for controlling a plurality of fans with the computing device.

17. A method for providing teleportation in a virtual environment, comprising:

delivering a video signal, corresponding to a virtual environment, to a user;

delivering an audio signal, corresponding to the virtual environment, to the user;

receiving a plurality of inputs corresponding to a three-dimensional position for each of a plurality of user physiological features;

providing a vibratory feedback, corresponding to the virtual environment, to the user; and

directing air towards the user to create a motion sensation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the directing comprises varying a fan output to create the motion sensation corresponding to a plurality of velocities.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving user interface inputs configured to trigger an operation within the virtual environment.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the operation is selected from the group consisting of:

flight mode, lights, stop, move up, move down, and jump.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising supporting a portion of the user in a configuration consistent with a personal vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the personal vehicle comprises a scooter.

23. A system for teleportation in a virtual environment, comprising:

a head mounted display configured to provide a video signal and an audio signal to a user;

a teleportation device configured to support a portion of the user, the teleportation device comprising a base moveably coupled to a directional input component;

a plurality of user position sensors configured to transmit three-dimensional position and orientation data corresponding to a plurality of user physiological features;

a directional input component sensor configured to transmit three-dimensional position and orientation data corresponding to the directional input component of the teleportation device;

a low frequency driver attached to the teleportation device and configured to provide vibratory feedback to the user corresponding to motion in the virtual environment;

a plurality of fans directed at the user and configured to create a motion sensation in a plurality of directions by controlling the output of each of the plurality of fans independently;

a computing device configured to receive a plurality of input signals and generate a plurality of output commands to control a plurality of output devices;

an output device controller, configured to receive a portion of the plurality of output commands and control a portion of the plurality of output devices; and

a position interface device configured to receive signals from the plurality of user position sensors and transmit three-dimensional position and orientation data to the computing device.