VIRTUAL ART ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110276891A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marc Ecko
• Original Assignee: Marc Ecko
• Inventors: Ecko, Marc
• Application Number:
  US12/775,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276891A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/739
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device

Abstract

Computer-based methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for presenting a first virtual art canvas at a graphical user interface; receiving instructions from a remote control unit to apply one or more markings to the virtual art canvas, where the one or more markings are applied according to the remote control unit'"'"'s movements relative to a stationary sensor; and displaying one or more indicators on the virtual canvas to guide a user'"'"'s movement of the remote control unit to create a virtual piece of art on the first virtual art canvas based, at least in part, on movements of the remote control unit.

Claims

1. A computer-based method comprising:

presenting a first virtual art canvas at a user interface;

receiving instructions from a remote control unit to apply one or more markings to the virtual art canvas,

wherein the one or more markings are applied according to the remote control unit'"'"'s movements relative to a stationary sensor; and

displaying one or more indicators on the virtual canvas to guide a user'"'"'s movement of the remote control unit to create a virtual piece of art on the first virtual art canvas based, at least in part, on movements of the remote control unit.

2. The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring the user to manipulate the remote control unit in a manner that mimics the movements that would be required if the user were applying non-virtual art medium to a non-virtual art canvas to create a non-virtual piece of art that corresponds to the virtual piece of art.

3. The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising:

revealing discrete sections of the one or more indicators in a sequential manner as one or more of the markings are applied to the virtual canvas at locations that correspond to one or more of the previously-revealed indicators.

4. The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically assessing, with a computer processing unit, a quality of the one or more markings applied to the virtual canvas based on one or more of the following criteria;

how closely the movements of the remote control and application of the one or more markings correspond to the one or more indicators; and

how quickly the applied markings have been applied; and

presenting an indication of the assessed quality at the user interface.

5. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the one or more indicators are revealed on the virtual canvas in a manner that guides the user to create the virtual piece of art work in a series of discrete stages,

wherein each discrete stage corresponds to a particular aspect of the virtual piece of art work.

6. The computer-based method of claim 5 wherein, upon completion of each discrete stage, a visual representation of the completed stages is presented on the virtual canvas, and

wherein the physical appearance of each visually represented stage corresponds to an assessed quality of the applied markings in the stage.

7. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein a virtual medium is used to apply the one or more markings and wherein a supply of the virtual medium gradually becomes depleted or otherwise compromised as the one or more markings are applied.

8. The computer-based method of claim 7 further comprising:

enabling a user to replenish or otherwise restore the supply of virtual medium by manipulating the remote control unit so that markings can continue being applied to the virtual canvas.

9. The computer-based method of claim 7 further comprising:

presenting on the user interface a real-time visual indication of the degree to which the virtual medium being applied to create the one or more markings has been depleted or otherwise compromised.

10. The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing one or more virtual pieces of art in an electronic database; and

enabling the user to access the electronic database over a network and to select among the stored virtual pieces of art one of the virtual pieces of art to create.

11. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the remote control unit is shaped substantially like a spray paint can and has a nozzle at a top of the can that can be depressed to apply the one or more markings to the virtual canvas as a virtual spray paint.

12. The computer-based method of claim 11 wherein a spray pattern thickness associated with the one or more markings is related to the remote control unit'"'"'s distance from the stationary sensor as the one or more markings are being applied to the virtual canvas, wherein

a greater distance produces a wider pattern;

and

a closer distance produces a narrower pattern.

13. The computer-based method of claim 11 further comprising:

creating an appearance of dripping paint on the virtual canvas in response to a user applying an amount of the virtual spray paint to a location on the virtual canvas that exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.

14. The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting a second virtual art canvas at the user interface;

receiving instructions from the remote control unit to apply one or more markings to the second virtual art canvas, wherein the one or more markings are applied according to the remote control unit'"'"'s movements relative to the stationary sensor; and

enabling the user to create an original piece of virtual art work without the guidance of indicators being displayed on the second virtual canvas as the original piece of virtual art work is being created.

15. The computer-based method of claim 14 further comprising:

enabling the user to upload the original piece of virtual art work to an electronic database over a network; and

enabling users at different physical locations to access the electronic database and view the original piece of art work.

16. The computer-based method of claim 15 further comprising:

creating a map of indicators based on the original piece of virtual art work,

wherein the map of indicators relate to original piece of virtual art work in such a manner that the indicators can guide other users to create substantial copies of the original piece of virtual art work.

17. The computer-based method of claim 16 further comprising:

enabling users at different physical locations to access the electronic database and select the original piece of art work from the electronic database,

wherein selecting the original piece of virtual art work causes the mapped indicators to be presented at the a selecting user'"'"'s user interface in such a manner that the selecting user is guided by the mapped indicators to create a copy of the original piece of virtual art work on a virtual art canvas.

18. A computer-based method comprising:

presenting a virtual art canvas at a user interface;

receiving instructions from a remote control unit to apply one or more markings to the virtual art canvas and thereby create an original piece of virtual art work on the virtual art canvas,

wherein the one or more markings are applied according to the remote control unit'"'"'s movements relative to a stationary sensor;

creating a map of indicators based on the original piece of virtual art work; and

enabling users at different physical locations to be guided by the mapped indicators to create a copy of the original piece of virtual art work.