Dynamic surfaces for virtual reality applications

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for dynamic structure and surface environment are described. A columnar structure that may include a tiled surface may be used to create or adjust a surface of physical structure to allow for dynamic columns to provide an augmented physical environment. In some examples, a first plurality of columns may be configured to adjust in a first direction from a first position to a second position, an actuator in contact with some of the columns may be configured to cause the columns to adjust in the first direction from the first position to the second position; and a controller configured to receive information associated with position information of some of the columns and may communicate with the actuator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for adjusting an environment, comprising:
 generating a physical topography within a physical room using a plurality of columns;   identifying a first location of a user physically within the physical room at a first time;   identifying a second location of the user physically within the physical room at a second time after the first time; and   adjusting a position of a subset of the plurality of columns to change the physical topography within the physical room and exert a response on the user based at least in part on the first location and the second location of the user physically within the physical room.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining to adjust the position of the subset of the plurality of columns based at least in part on the first location of the user physically within the physical room and the position of the subset of the plurality of columns, wherein adjusting the position of the subset of the plurality of columns is based at least in part on the determination.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving sensor data associated with the physical room, wherein identifying the first location of the user physically within the physical room is based at least in part on the sensor data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor data comprises data associated with a sensor in contact with a column of the plurality of columns, or data associated with a sensor isolated from the plurality of columns, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the sensor data comprises video data, audio data, global positioning system (GPS) data, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a parameter associated with the user physically within the physical room based at least in part on the first location and the second location, the parameter comprising a speed, a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, or a combination thereof, wherein adjusting the position of the subset of the plurality of columns is based at least in part on the determination.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the position of the subset of the plurality of columns comprises:
 adjusting a first column to a first height in a first direction; and   adjusting a second column to a second height different from the first height in the first direction, wherein adjusting the first column overlaps with adjusting the second column.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying an action of the user physically within the physical room relative to a column of the subset of the plurality of columns based at least in part on the first location of the user physically within the physical room or sensor data, wherein adjusting the position of the column of the subset of the plurality of columns is based at least in part on identifying the action.   
     
     
         9 . A columnar apparatus for a physical room, comprising:
 a first plurality of columns having a length in a first direction, a first cross sectional area, a first subset of the first plurality of columns configured to adjust in the first direction from a first position to a second position;   an actuator in contact with the first subset of the first plurality of columns, the actuator configured to cause the first subset of the first plurality of columns to adjust in the first direction from the first position to the second position based at least in part on a first location of a user physically within the physical room at a first time, a second location of the user physically within the physical room at a second time after the first time, and the first position of the first subset of the first plurality of columns; and   a controller configured to receive information associated with position information of the first subset of the first plurality of columns and communicate with the actuator to change a physical topography within the physical room using the first subset of the first plurality of columns and exert a response on the user physically within the physical room based at least in part on the first location and the second location of the user physically within the physical room.   
     
     
         10 . The columnar apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second plurality of columns extending in the first direction, wherein a second subset of the second plurality of columns is positioned below the first plurality of columns and is configured to adjust the first subset of the first plurality of columns in the first direction based at least in part on adjusting in the first direction.   
     
     
         11 . The columnar apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first subset of the first plurality of columns is configured to oscillate. 
     
     
         12 . The columnar apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a second cross sectional area of the second subset of the second plurality of columns is greater than the first cross sectional area of a column in the first plurality of columns. 
     
     
         13 . The columnar apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a first column of the first plurality of columns comprises a first tile on a first end of the first column, wherein a second column of the first plurality of columns comprises a second tile on a first end of the second column, wherein a characteristic of the first tile is different from a characteristic of the second tile. 
     
     
         14 . The columnar apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the characteristic comprises: an orientation, a shape, a texture, a position relative to the first direction, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The columnar apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to communicate with the actuator based at least in part on the received position information associated with the user physically within the physical room. 
     
     
         16 . The columnar apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the information associated with the position information comprises: virtual reality environment information, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to communicate an instruction to the actuator to adjust the first subset of the first plurality of columns based at least in part on the virtual reality environment information. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for adjusting an environment, comprising:
 a processor;   memory coupled with the processor; and   instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
 generate a physical topography within a physical room using a plurality of columns; 
 identify a first location of a user physically within the physical room at a first time; 
 identify a second location of the user physically within the physical room at a second time after the first time; and 
 adjust a position of a subset of the plurality of columns to change the physical topography within the physical room and exert a response on the user based at least in part on the first location and the second location of the user physically within the physical room. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause to apparatus to:
 determine to adjust the position of the subset of the plurality of columns based at least in part on the first location of the user physically within the physical room and the position of the subset of the plurality of columns, wherein adjusting the position of the subset of the plurality of columns is based at least in part on the determination.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause to apparatus to:
 receive sensor data associated with the physical room, wherein identifying the first location of the user physically within the physical room is based at least in part on the sensor data.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause to apparatus to:
 determine a parameter associated with the user physically within the physical room based at least in part on the first location and the second location, the parameter comprising a speed, a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, or a combination thereof, wherein adjusting the position of the subset of the plurality of columns is based at least in part on the determination.