Apple has filed for two more patents for “Apple Glasses.” That’s the moniker attributed to the rumored augmented reality/virtual reality head-mounted display (HMD).
Synthesized reality user interface
Patent filing number 20210208688 is for a “method and device for presenting a synthesized reality (SR) user interface.” It involves an user interface that allows a use to move data in the interface, regroup items data, select groups of data, and play audio files represented by onscreen data.
Apple wants Apple Glasses wearers to be able to easily and directly interact with and/or sense physical settings. Interestingly, the tech giant lists “tough, sight, smell, hearing and taste” as means of interactivity. However, it seems highly unlikely that an HMD would offer any sort of hearing and taste elements.
Apple’s idea is that, in SR, a subset of an individual’s movements is monitored, and response to the attributes of one or more virtual objects in a SR setting. The responses are changed in a manner that conforms with one or more physical laws. For example, a SR system may detect an individual walking a few paces forward and, responsive thereto, adjust graphics and audio presented to the individual in a manner similar to how such scenery and sounds would change in a physical setting. Modifications to attribute(s) of virtual object(s) in a SR setting also may be made responsive to representations of movement (e.g., audio instructions).
Generating a 3D model
Patent filing number 20210208405 is for “a scene camera.” It involves stereoscopic scenes that could be viewed via Apple Glasses. The idea is for the HMD to provide stereoscopic scenes to users. This would create an illusion of depth, and a computer may adjust the scene content in real-time to provide the illusion of the user moving within the scene.
When the user views images through a VR system, he/she should feel as if he/she is moving within the scenes from a first-person point of view. Mixed reality (MR) covers a spectrum from augmented reality (AR) systems that combine computer generated information (referred to as virtual content) with views of the real world. This is used to augment, or add virtual content to, a user’s view of their real environment to AV systems that combine representations of real world objects with views of a computer generated 3D virtual world.
Apple says the simulated environments of virtual reality systems and/or the mixed environments of mixed reality systems may be utilized to provide an interactive user experience for multiple applications. Among them are applications that add virtual content to a real-time view of the viewer’s environment, applications that generate 3D virtual worlds, interacting with virtual training environments, gaming, remotely controlling drones or other mechanical systems, viewing digital media content, interacting with the Internet, exploring virtual landscapes or environments, or the like.
About Apple Glasses
When it comes to Apple Glasses, such a device will arrive this year or 2022, depending on which rumor you believe. The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) thinks Apple will at least preview it before the end of the year.
It will be a head-mounted display. Or may have a design like “normal” glasses. Or it may be eventually be available in both. The Apple Glasses may or may not have to be tethered to an iPhone to work. Other rumors say that Apple Glasses could have a custom-build Apple chip and a dedicated operating system dubbed “rOS” for “reality operating system.”
