Abstract: A system and method of operating an audio visual system generating a virtual immersive experience may include an electronic user device in communication with a tracking device that may track a user's physical movement in a real world space and translate the tracked physical movement into corresponding movement in the virtual world generated by the user device. The system may detect when a user and the user device are approaching a boundary of a tracking area and automatically initiate a transition out of the virtual world and into the real world. A smooth, or graceful, transition between the virtual world and the real world as the user encounters this boundary may avoid disorientation which may occur as a user continues to move in the real world, while motion appears to have stopped upon reaching the tracking boundary.

Abstract: In a system for intelligent placement and sizing of virtual objects in a three dimensional virtual model of an ambient environment, the system may collect image information and feature information of the ambient environment, and may process the collected information to render the three dimensional virtual model. From the collected information, the system may define a plurality of drop target areas in the virtual model, each of the drop target areas having associated dimensional, textural, and orientation parameters. When placing a virtual object in the virtual model, or placing a virtual window for launching an application in the virtual model, the system may select a placement for the virtual object or virtual window, and set a sizing for the virtual object or virtual window, based on the parameters associated with the plurality of drop targets.

Abstract: A computing device comprises at least one processor, and at least one module operable by the at least one processor to designate a particular computing device from a plurality of computing devices to process audio input, wherein the computing device comprises a first computing device from the plurality of computing devices. The at least one module may be further operable by the at least one processor to, if the particular computing device is not the first computing device, cease processing of audio input, and if the particular computing device is the first computing device, receive first audio input and process the first audio input to determine whether the first audio input includes a predetermined audio command.

Abstract: A system and method of operating an audio visual system generating a virtual immersive experience may include an electronic user device in communication with a tracking device that may track a user's physical movement in a real world space and translate the tracked physical movement into corresponding movement in the virtual world generated by the user device. The system may detect when a user and the user device are approaching a boundary of a tracking area and automatically initiate a transition out of the virtual world and into the real world. A smooth, or graceful, transition between the virtual world and the real world as the user encounters this boundary may avoid disorientation which may occur as a user continues to move in the real world, while motion appears to have stopped upon reaching the tracking boundary.

Abstract: An example technique may include performing, by a virtual reality application provided on a computing device, video rendering at a first video rendering rate based on updating an entire image on a screen of the computing device at a first update rate, determining that a performance of the video rendering is less than a threshold, performing, based on the determining, video rendering at a second video rendering rate by updating a first portion of the image at the first update rate, and by updating a second portion of the image at a second update rate that is less than the first update rate. Another example technique may include shifting, during an eye blinking period, one or both of a left eye image and a right eye image to reduce a disparity between a left viewed object and a right viewed object.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus using gestures to share private windows in shared virtual environments are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting a gesture of a user in a virtual environment associated with a private window in the virtual environment, the private window associated with the user, determining whether the gesture represents a signal to share the private window with another, and, when the gesture represents a signal to share the private window, changing the status of the private window to a shared window.

Abstract: A system and method of operating an audio visual system generating an immersive virtual experience may detect when a user approaches a physical boundary of a real world space, and may generate an alert indicating the proximity of the physical boundary. Activity in and interaction with the immersive virtual experience may be temporarily paused as the user completes a physical re-orientation in the real world space in response to the alert. Upon detection of completion of the physical re-orientation in the real world space, activity in and interaction with the immersive virtual experience may resume at the point at which activity was temporarily paused. This may provide for relatively continuous movement in the immersive virtual experience within the boundaries of the real world space.

Abstract: In a system for dynamic switching and merging of head, gesture and touch input in virtual reality, a virtual object may be selected by a user in response to a first input implementing one of a number of different input modes. Once selected, with focus established on the first object by the first input, the first object may be manipulated in the virtual world in response to a second input implementing another of the different input modes. In response to a third input, another object may be selected, and focus may be shifted from the first object to the second object in response to a third input if, for example, a priority value of the third input is higher than a priority value of the first input that established focus on the first object. If the priority value of the third input is less than the priority value of the first input that established focus on the first object, focus may remain on the first object.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method and system are described for receiving input for a virtual user in a virtual environment. The input may be based on a plurality of movements performed by a user accessing the virtual environment. Based on the plurality of movements, the method and system can include detecting that at least one portion of the virtual user is within a threshold distance of a collision zone, the collision zone being associated with at least one virtual object. The method and system can also include selecting a collision mode for the virtual user based on the at least one portion and the at least one virtual object and dynamically modifying the virtual user based on the selected collision mode.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a system can generate, for a virtual environment, a plurality of non-contact targets, the plurality of non-contact targets each including interactive functionality associated with a virtual object. The system can additionally detect a first non-contact input and a second non-contact input and determine whether the first non-contact input satisfies a predefined threshold associated with at least one non-contact target, and upon determining that the first non-contact input satisfies the predefined threshold, provide for display in a head mounted display, the at least one non-contact target at the location. In response to detecting a second non-contact input at the location, the system can execute, in the virtual environment, the interactive functionality associated with the at least one non-contact target.

Abstract: A system for tracking a first electronic device, such as a handheld smartphone, in a virtual reality environment generated by a second electronic device, such as a head mounted display may include detection, by a camera included in one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device, of at least one visual marker included on the other of the first electronic device or the second electronic device. Features detected within the field of view corresponding to known features of the visual markers may be used to locate and track movement of the first electronic device relative to the second electronic device, so that movement of the second electronic device may be translated into an interaction in a virtual experience generated by the second electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method of operating an audio visual system generating a virtual immersive experience may include an electronic user device in communication with a tracking device that may track a user's physical movement in a real world space and translate the tracked physical movement into corresponding movement in the virtual world generated by the user device. The system may detect when a user and the user device are approaching a boundary of a tracking area and automatically initiate a transition out of the virtual world and into the real world. A smooth, or graceful, transition between the virtual world and the real world as the user encounters this boundary may avoid disorientation which may occur as a user continues to move in the real world, while motion appears to have stopped upon reaching the tracking boundary.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a system for providing a virtual reality (VR) space can include a mobile computing device, and a VR headset operatively coupled to the mobile computing device and including a screen. The mobile computing device can be configured to execute a VR application, and provide content for display on the screen of the VR headset in the VR space.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an intuitive preview of upcoming navigational instructions are provided. One example method for providing navigational instruction includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices, navigational information describing a sequence of navigational maneuvers associated with a route. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a distance between each navigational maneuver and the previous sequential navigational maneuver. The method includes displaying, by the one or more computing devices, a user interface providing a sequence of indicators respectively representing the sequence of navigational maneuvers. A space between each indicator and the previous sequential indicator is proportional to the distance between the navigational maneuver represented by such indicator and the navigational maneuver represented by the previous sequential indicator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an intuitive preview of upcoming navigational instructions are provided. One example method for providing navigational instruction includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices, navigational information describing a sequence of navigational maneuvers associated with a route. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a distance between each navigational maneuver and the previous sequential navigational maneuver. The method includes displaying, by the one or more computing devices, a user interface providing a sequence of indicators respectively representing the sequence of navigational maneuvers. A space between each indicator and the previous sequential indicator is proportional to the distance between the navigational maneuver represented by such indicator and the navigational maneuver represented by the previous sequential indicator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an intuitive preview of upcoming navigational instructions are provided. One example method for providing navigational instruction includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices, navigational information describing a sequence of navigational maneuvers associated with a route. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a distance between each navigational maneuver and the previous sequential navigational maneuver. The method includes displaying, by the one or more computing devices, a user interface providing a sequence of indicators respectively representing the sequence of navigational maneuvers. A space between each indicator and the previous sequential indicator is proportional to the distance between the navigational maneuver represented by such indicator and the navigational maneuver represented by the previous sequential indicator.

Abstract: In an example implementation of the disclosed technology, a method includes setting a command entry timer based on a predetermined command entry threshold. The method also includes receiving an indication of user input to prompt receipt of an audio command and, responsive to determining that the command entry timer has expired since receiving the indication of user input, outputting, for display, at least one indicator associated with at least one supported audio command that is associated with at least one function of the computing device. The method also includes receiving a plurality of audio input samples and updating the command entry threshold based on plurality of audio input samples.