18193430. INTEROPERABILITY FOR TRANSLATING AND TRAVERSING 3D EXPERIENCES IN AN ACCESSIBILITY ENVIRONMENT simplified abstract (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)

INTEROPERABILITY FOR TRANSLATING AND TRAVERSING 3D EXPERIENCES IN AN ACCESSIBILITY ENVIRONMENT

Organization Name

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Inventor(s)

Brett D. Humphrey of Seattle WA (US)

Kian Chai Ng of Redmond WA (US)

Thomas Matthew Gable of Seattle WA (US)

Amichai Charnoff of Washington DC (US)

Martin Grayson of Redmond WA (US)

Rita Faia Marques of Cambridge (GB)

Cecily Peregrine Borgatti Morrison of Cambridge (GB)

Harshadha Balasubramanian of Hatfield (GB)

INTEROPERABILITY FOR TRANSLATING AND TRAVERSING 3D EXPERIENCES IN AN ACCESSIBILITY ENVIRONMENT - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18193430 titled 'INTEROPERABILITY FOR TRANSLATING AND TRAVERSING 3D EXPERIENCES IN AN ACCESSIBILITY ENVIRONMENT

Simplified Explanation

The techniques disclosed in this patent application aim to improve accessibility for users with disabilities by translating three-dimensional experiences into user-accessible experiences. This is achieved by extracting components from a 3D environment, organizing them into component groups based on shared attributes, and presenting them in an accessibility environment for user interaction.

• Extract components from a three-dimensional environment such as user avatars and furniture.
• Organize components into component groups based on shared attributes.
• Create a flow hierarchy by organizing component groups.
• Present the flow hierarchy in an accessibility environment for user interaction with accessibility tools.
• Enable users with disabilities to fully interact with three-dimensional experiences by selecting component groups and invoking functionality within the 3D environment.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in various industries such as gaming, virtual reality, education, and e-commerce to make their platforms more accessible to users with disabilities.

Problems Solved

This technology addresses the challenge of making three-dimensional experiences accessible to users with disabilities who may have difficulty interacting with complex environments.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved accessibility, empowerment of users with disabilities to engage with 3D experiences, and enhanced usability for a wider range of users.

Potential Commercial Applications

Potential commercial applications of this technology include developing accessible virtual reality games, educational simulations, and e-commerce platforms that cater to users with disabilities.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be the use of screen readers and simplified keyboard inputs for accessibility in digital environments. However, the specific technique of extracting components from a 3D environment and organizing them into component groups for user interaction may be novel.

How does this technology impact the user experience in virtual reality environments?

This article does not delve into the specific user experience enhancements or challenges that may arise when implementing this technology in virtual reality environments.

What are the potential limitations or drawbacks of this technology in real-world applications?

The article does not address any potential limitations or drawbacks that may be associated with implementing this technology in practical, real-world scenarios.

Original Abstract Submitted

The techniques disclosed herein enable systems to translate three-dimensional experiences into user accessible experiences to improve accessibility for users with disabilities. This is accomplished by extracting components from a three-dimensional environment such as user avatars and furniture. The components are organized into component groups based on shared attributes. The component groups are subsequently organized into a flow hierarchy. The flow hierarchy is then presented to the user in an accessibility environment that enables interoperability with various accessibility tools such as screen readers, simplified keyboard inputs, and the like. Selecting a component group, and subsequently, a component through the accessibility environment accordingly invokes functionality within the three-dimensional environment. In this way, users with disabilities are empowered to fully interact with three-dimensional experiences.