Individual viewing in a shared space

Abstract

A mixed reality virtual environment is sharable among multiple users through the use of multiple view modes that are selectable by a presenter. Multiple users may wish to view a common virtual object, such as one that is used for educational purposes, such as a piece of art in a museum, automobile, biological specimen, chemical compound, etc. The virtual object may be presented in a virtual room to any number of users. A presentation may be controlled by a presenter (e.g., a teacher of a class of students) that leads multiple participants (e.g., students) through information associated with the virtual object. Use of different viewing modes allows individual users to see different virtual content despite being in a shared viewing space or alternatively, to see the same virtual content in different locations within a shared space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized method, performed by a computing system having one or more hardware computer processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable storage device storing software instructions executable by the computing system to perform the computerized method comprising:
 determining a plurality of wearable systems associated with a virtual environment including a virtual object, the plurality of wearable systems including a plurality of participant wearable systems and a presenter wearable system authorized to update views of the participant wearable systems;   wherein the presenter wearable system depicts, to a presenter a view of the virtual object that includes a panel selection area associated with a panel of multimedia content regarding the virtual object, wherein selection of the panel selection area by the presenter causes display of the panel of multimedia content at a first location with reference to the virtual object;   detecting a view change input from the presenter wearable system; and
 in response to determining that the view change input indicates an individual view mode, transmitting instructions to each of the participant wearable systems to update output of the participant wearable system to display the panel of multimedia content at a second location relative to a current head pose of the respective participant wearable system; or 
 in response to determining that the view change input indicates a group view mode, transmitting instructions to each of the participant wearable systems to update output of the participant wearable system to display the panel of multimedia content at a third location with reference to the virtual object. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein voice input on the presenter wearable system is broadcast to each of the participant wearable systems. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to rotation of the virtual object by the presenter, automatically initiating rotation of the virtual object in displays of the participant wearable systems.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the view change input indicates a classroom view mode, transmitting instructions to each of the participant wearable systems to update output of the participant wearable system to include a plurality of avatars associated with a corresponding plurality of the participant wearable systems.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein locations of the plurality of avatars in the virtual environment are updated in real-time causing the presenter wearable system to display movements of the participant wearable systems. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of avatars are arranged in a pattern in the virtual environment displayed in the presenter wearable systems. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a gaze direction of the avatars is visually indicated in the viewing environment displayed in the presenter wearable system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gaze direction is visually indicated with a marking on the avatar. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gaze direction is visually indicated with a line extending outward from the avatar in the determined gaze direction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating output of the presenter wearable system to display a view menu including selectable options associated with a view change input.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel of multimedia content includes one or more emission markers associated with respective content. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the emission markers are visible as colored circles. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presenter wearable system is configured to allow the presenter to provide inputs to cause the virtual object to rotate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first location with reference to the virtual object is offset away from the virtual object by a first distance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel of multimedia content is enlarged in the group view mode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third location with reference to the virtual object is offset away from the virtual object a second distance that is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third location is above the virtual object. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each participant wearable system that is in the individual view mode displays an individual view of the panel of multimedia content that is viewable only by the individual user. 
     
     
         19 . A computerized method, performed by a computing system having one or more hardware computer processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable storage device storing software instructions executable by the computing system to perform the computerized method comprising:
 determining a plurality of wearable systems associated with a virtual scene including a virtual object, wherein each of the wearable systems depict (i) a shared portion of the virtual scene associated with the virtual object that is the same for each wearable system and (ii) an individual portion of the virtual scene associated with the virtual object that is customizable by the individual users;   wherein at least one of the wearable systems is configured to receive inputs to change a view mode of the virtual scene, wherein the view modes define which portions of the virtual scene are included in one or more of the shared and individual portions; and   electronically communicating with each of the wearable systems virtual scene information in accordance with a currently selected view mode.   
     
     
         20 . A computing system comprising:
 a hardware computer processor;   a non-transitory computer readable medium having software instructions stored thereon, the software instructions executable by the hardware computer processor to cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
 determining a plurality of wearable systems associated with a virtual environment including a virtual object, the plurality of wearable systems including a plurality of participant wearable systems and a presenter wearable system authorized to update views of the participant wearable systems; 
 wherein the presenter wearable system depicts to a presenter a view of the virtual object that includes a panel selection area associated with a panel of multimedia content regarding the virtual object, wherein selection of the panel selection area by the presenter causes display of the panel of multimedia content at a first location with reference to the virtual object; 
 detecting a view change input from the presenter wearable system; and 
 in response to determining that the view change input indicates an individual view mode, transmitting instructions to each of the participant systems to update output of the participant wearable system to display the panel of multimedia content at a second location relative to a current head pose of the respective participant wearable system; or 
 in response to determining that the view change input indicates a group view mode, transmitting instructions to each of the participant wearable systems to update output of the participant wearable system to display the panel of multimedia content at a third location with reference to the virtual object.