Immersive displays

Abstract

A method of displaying images on an immersive display. The method includes receiving information from an external sensor or input device of the immersive display, based on the information received, detecting an object that conflicts with a virtual reality space, adjusting at least one dimension of virtual reality space to provide an adjusted virtual reality for display on the immersive display to accommodate for the object, and displaying the adjusted virtual reality on the display of the immersive display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an immersive display, displaying a virtual environment, operably coupled to a memory, and a computing device;   at least one detection device detecting the presence of a real world object located in an apparently unobstructed location within the virtual space;   the immersive display programmed to modify the virtual environment in response to the detecting by increasing at least one dimension of an object within the virtual environment to make the object an apparently obstructive virtual object in a place corresponding to the apparently unobstructed location of the real world object.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the immersive display further coupled to a communications device and further programmed to transmit the modifications to the virtual environment to at least one other secondary immersive display. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the immersive display detects movement of the real world object that obstructs the virtual environment and shortens the at least one dimension of the object within the virtual environment in response to the movement. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising an internal camera coupled to the computing device to identify a direction of view of a user of the immersive display. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the immersive display modifies the at least one dimension of the object at a time when the object is not in the direction of view of the user of the immersive display. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the immersive display accomplishes the detecting, at least in part, by calculating whether any objects in a real environment interfere with predetermined regions of the virtual environment. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the object within the virtual environment is furniture. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an immersive display operably coupled to a memory, a communication device, and a computing device;   at least one detection device detecting the presence of a real world object located at a place that corresponds to a location within the virtual environment;   the immersive display operably coupled to one or more secondary immersive displays;   the immersive display and the one or more secondary immersive displays rendering substantially a same virtual environment;   the virtual environment containing an object (the “interactive object”) that a user of the immersive display and at least one user of one secondary immersive display interact with; and   the immersive display detecting an obstruction that would impair the interaction of the user of the immersive display with the interactive object, and in response to the detecting, moving the interactive object so that the user of the immersive display may interact with the object without the obstruction.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the moving of the interactive object is not displayed on the one or more secondary immersive displays. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the immersive display modifies at least one dimension of at least one other virtual object in conjunction with the moving of the interactive object. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the modifications are displayed on the one or more secondary immersive displays. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the moving of the interactive object is displayed on the one or more secondary immersive displays. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the interactive object is a virtual shared workspace. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the virtual shared workspace is a white board. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein an avatar representing the user of the immersive display is modified on the one or more secondary displays while interacting with the interactive object so that it appears that the avatar is interacting with the interactive object in a location that corresponds to a location of the interactive object on the one or more secondary displays. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an immersive display operably coupled to a memory and a computing device, the computing device providing output for display on the immersive display;   at least one detection device capable of detecting the presence of a real world object located in an apparently unobstructed location within a virtual space;   the immersive display displaying a virtual environment;   the apparatus altering an amount of movement within the virtual environment that corresponds to movement of an operator of the immersive display such that the operator reaches a boundary within the virtual environment before colliding with the real world object.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , where the altering is accompanied by a change in a length of at least one dimension within the virtual environment. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , where the altering is not accompanied by a change in a length of at least one dimension within the virtual environment. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , where the altering is reversed, at least in part, in response to movement of the real world object. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , where the altering is displayed on at least one secondary immersive display.