Virtual reality system and method

Abstract

A method comprises displaying in virtual reality a computer-generated scene; obtaining a movement command from a real-world physical movement of a user, the movement command corresponding to a movement of a virtual body; and adjusting the movement of the virtual body in dependence on an effect of gravity in the computer-generated scene and/or in dependence on the presence of at least one object within the computer-generated scene that inhibits the movement of the virtual body, wherein the adjusting of the movement is such that the adjusted movement of the virtual body does not correspond with the real-world physical movement of the user.

1 . A method comprising:
 displaying in virtual reality a computer-generated scene comprising an interactive virtual object, such that the interactive virtual object appears to be at a distance from a user;   receiving from the user a remote selection of the interactive virtual object;   in response to the remote selection, displaying a virtual manipulation indicator overlaid with or adjacent to the interactive virtual object, wherein the virtual manipulation indicator is indicative of the interactive virtual object being in an active mode in which the interactive virtual object can receive manipulation commands;   receiving a manipulation command from the user; and   in response to the manipulation command from the user, operating or moving the interactive virtual object, such that the interactive virtual object appears to be operated or moved at a distance from the user.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the interactive virtual object comprises at least one of a lighting control, a light switch, a door control, a door handle, a sound control, a window control, a window covering control, a heating control, an air conditioning control. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the virtual manipulation indicator comprises a virtual hand. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating or moving of the interactive virtual object appears to be performed by an action of the virtual manipulation indicator. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote selection is provided by the user by indicating the interactive virtual object using an input device. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the manipulation command is provided by the user using the or an input device. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein an action of the virtual manipulation indicator mimics an action of the input device and/or an action of the user. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote selection is provided by the user by pointing at the interactive virtual object. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein an apparent distance between the user and the interactive virtual object is greater than 1 metre, optionally greater than 5 metres, further optionally greater than 10 metres. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the or a structure represented in the computer-generated scene comprises at least one of an architectural structure, a building, a house, an apartment building, a residential building, a commercial building, an office building. 
     
     
         11 . A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions that are executable by a processor to perform a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising at least one display screen, at least one user input device, and at least one processor configured to:
 display in virtual reality on the at least one display screen a computer-generated scene comprising an interactive virtual object, such that the interactive virtual object appears to be at a distance from a user;   receive from the user via the at least one user input device a remote selection of the interactive virtual object;   in response to the remote selection, display a virtual manipulation indicator overlaid with or adjacent to the interactive virtual object, wherein the virtual manipulation indicator is indicative of the interactive virtual object being in an active mode in which the interactive virtual object can receive manipulation commands;   receive a manipulation command from the user; and   in response to the manipulation command from the user, operate or move the interactive virtual object, such that the interactive virtual object appears to be operated or moved at a distance from the user.