Apple has filed for a patent (number 20210272367) for a “method and devices for switching between viewing vectors in a synthesized reality setting.” It involves the rumored “Apple Glasses,” an augmented reality/virtual reality head-mounted display (HMD).
About the patent filing
In the patent filing, Apple notes that some devices are capable of generating and presenting synthesized reality settings. (And this would certainly be true of the company’s HDM). Some synthesized reality settings include virtual settings that are simulated replacements of physical settings. Some synthesized reality settings include augmented settings that are modified versions of physical settings.
Some devices that present synthesized reality settings include mobile communication devices such as smartphones, HMDs, eyeglasses, heads-up displays (HUDs), head-mountable enclosures, and optical projection systems. However, Apple says that most previously available devices that present synthesized reality setting are ineffective at presenting representations of certain objects. For example, some previously available devices that present synthesized reality settings are unsuitable for presenting representations of objects that are associated with an action. Apple wants to overcome such limitations with its Apple Glasses.
Summary of the patent filing
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “n some implementations, a method includes: presenting a synthesized reality (SR) setting associated with predetermined content from a first viewing vector at a first time; presenting a navigation timeline for the predetermined content including a plurality of viewing vector affordances at respective times on the navigation timeline, wherein each viewing vector characterizes how the SR content is displayed at the respective times; detecting an input selecting a respective viewing vector affordance on the navigation timeline associated with a second time within the predetermined content; and, in response to detecting the input selecting the respective viewing vector affordance on the navigation timeline, updating the SR setting in order to present the SR setting from a second viewing vector different from the first viewing vector, wherein the second viewing vector characterizes display of the predetermined content at the second times.”
About Apple Glasses
When it comes to Apple Glasses, such a device will arrive in 2022 or 2023, depending on which rumor you believe. 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.”
The accompanying graphic illustrates an example of the patent filing (including Apple Glasses.)
