Avatar customization for optimal gaze discrimination

Abstract

Examples of systems and methods for rendering an avatar in a mixed reality environment are disclosed. The systems and methods may be configured to automatically select avatar characteristics that optimize gaze perception by the user, based on context parameters associated with the virtual environment.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 one or more hardware computer processors;   one or more non-transitory computer readable storage device storing software instructions executable by the one or more hardware processors to perform operations comprising:   determining one or more context parameters associated with a virtual reality environment that is configured to render a virtual avatar on a wearable device of a user;   determining, based on the one or more context parameters, one or more avatar characteristics associated with the virtual avatar; and   causing the wearable device of the user to render the virtual avatar having the determined avatar characteristics.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the avatar characteristics are determined by optimizing a gaze discrimination by the user based on the context parameters. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein determining one or more avatar characteristics comprises determining a photorealism value for the avatar. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the photorealism value for the avatar is selected from among a high avatar photorealism value and a low avatar photorealism value. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more context parameters include an environmental lighting value associated with the virtual reality environment. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more context parameters include a capability of the wearable device. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the capability of the wearable device includes a rendering capability of the wearable device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the capability of the wearable device includes an eye-tracking accuracy of the wearable device. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the operations comprise determining, based on the avatar characteristics, one or more of a shading of portions of the virtual avatar, a ratio of visible iris to sclera, or an eye movement of the virtual avatar. 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 determining one or more context parameters associated with a virtual reality environment that is configured to render a virtual avatar on a wearable device of a user;   determining, based on the one or more context parameters, one or more avatar characteristics associated with the virtual avatar; and   causing the wearable device of the user to render the virtual avatar having the determined avatar characteristics.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the avatar characteristics are determined by optimizing a gaze discrimination by the user based on the context parameters. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein determining one or more avatar characteristics comprises determining a photorealism value for the avatar. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the photorealism value for the avatar is selected from among a high avatar photorealism value and a low avatar photorealism value. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more context parameters include an environmental lighting value associated with the virtual reality environment. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more context parameters include a capability of the wearable device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the capability of the wearable device includes a rendering capability of the wearable device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the capability of the wearable device includes an eye-tracking accuracy of the wearable device. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising determining, based on the avatar characteristics, one or more of a shading of portions of the virtual avatar, a ratio of visible iris to sclera, or an eye movement of the virtual avatar. 
     
     
         37 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more data processing apparatus, cause the one or more data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 determining one or more context parameters associated with a virtual reality environment that is configured to render a virtual avatar on a wearable device of a user;   determining, based on the one or more context parameters, one or more avatar characteristics associated with the virtual avatar; and   causing the wearable device of the user to render the virtual avatar having the determined avatar characteristics.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the avatar characteristics are determined by optimizing a gaze discrimination by the user based on the context parameters.