Patent ID: 6222465
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of manipulating a virtual object in a three dimensional virtual environment implemented in a computer system having a display unit for displaying the virtual environment and a video gesture recognition subsystem that monitors a predefined identification zone, said method manipulating the virtual object in response to predetermined hand gestures and movements made by a user's hand within the identification zone and identified by the video gesture recognition subsystem, comprising the steps of:(a) generating, by the computer system, a first gripper element having a first end portion and a second gripper element having a second end portion for display on the display unit in the virtual environment, wherein said first and second gripper elements are positioned in substantially parallel relation to align said first and said second end portions with one another, wherein said first gripper element corresponds to and is operatively moved and oriented in accordance with a first finger of the user's hand, wherein said second gripper element corresponds to and is operatively moved and oriented in accordance with a second finger of the user's hand, wherein said first and second grippers are moved in accordance with movement of the user's hand within the identification zone, and wherein said first gripper element is moved with respect to said second gripper element corresponding to movement of the user's first finger with respect to the user's second finger;(b) grasping, by user movement of the user's first and second fingers, the virtual object by aligning said first and second gripper elements with the virtual object and moving said first and said second gripper elements into proximity with one another until said first and said second end portions intersect with the virtual object; and(c) manipulating, by user movement of the user's hand and the user's first and second fingers, the grasped virtual object.