FIELD

The present application relates to technically inventive, non-routine solutions that are necessarily rooted in computer technology and that produce concrete technical improvements.

BACKGROUND

As recognized herein, current augmented reality (AR) headsets can provide audible assistance as part of setting up an AR experience. However, as also recognized herein, such audible assistance might be difficult or impossible to hear in relatively loud environments, leading to user frustration as well as an inability to configure the device and/or acclimate the user to proper interfacing with the device as part of the AR experience. There are currently no adequate solutions to the foregoing computer-related, technological problem.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect a headset includes at least one processor, a display accessible to the at least one processor, and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive, at the headset, input from at least one sensor. The instructions are also executable to determine whether a threshold is met based at least in part on the input from the at least one sensor. Responsive to the threshold not being met, the instructions are executable to provide virtual assistance audibly. Responsive to the threshold being met, the instructions are executable to present visual virtual assistance on the display.

In some example implementations, the visual virtual assistance may be presented at least in part using a character presented on the display. For example, the character may be an avatar representing a digital assistant being used to provide the visual virtual assistance.

Additionally, in some example implementations the at least one sensor may include a microphone, the threshold may be a sound threshold, and the instructions may be executable to receive input from the microphone. In these implementations, the instructions may then be executable to, based at least in part on the input from the microphone, determine whether sound indicated in the input from the microphone is above the sound threshold. Responsive to the sound being below the sound threshold, the instructions may be executable to provide the virtual assistance audibly. Responsive to the sound being above the sound threshold, the instructions may be executable to present the visual virtual assistance on the display. Additionally, the sound threshold may be a dynamic sound threshold that varies based on a volume level at which audio is set to be output, based on a type of audio rendering device that is to be used to output audio associated with a function of the headset, and/or based on whether noise cancelling software will be used in conjunction with a function of the headset.

Also in some example implementations, the at least one sensor may include a light sensor, the threshold may be a low light threshold, and the instructions may be executable to receive input from the light sensor. The instructions may also be executable to, based at least in part on the input from the light sensor, determine whether light indicated in the input from the light sensor is above the low light threshold. Responsive to the light indicated in the input being above the low light threshold, the instructions may be executable to provide the virtual assistance audibly. Responsive to the light indicated in the input being below the low light threshold, the instructions may be executable to present the visual virtual assistance on the display.

Additionally, in some example embodiments both the visual instructions and the instructions provided audibly may indicate real-world objects with which a user of the headset is to interact, virtual objects with which the user is to interact, and/or steps the user is to take to configure one or more settings of the headset.

In another aspect, a method includes receiving, at a device, input from at least one sensor. Based at least in part on the input from the at least one sensor, the method includes determining whether a threshold is met. The method also includes providing virtual assistance audibly responsive to the threshold not being met as well as presenting, on a display, visual virtual assistance at least in part using a character presented on the display responsive to the threshold being met.

In certain examples, the character may be an avatar representing a digital assistant being used to provide the visual virtual assistance.

Additionally, in some example implementations the at least one sensor may include a microphone, the threshold may be a sound threshold, and the method may include receiving input from the microphone and then determining, based at least in part on the input from the microphone, whether sound indicated in the input from the microphone is above the sound threshold. In these implementations, the method may include providing the virtual assistance audibly responsive to the sound being below the sound threshold. Additionally, the method may include presenting, on the display, the visual virtual assistance at least in part using the character presented on the display responsive to the sound being above the sound threshold. Still further, in some example embodiments the sound threshold may vary based on a volume level at which audio is set to be output using the device, based on a type of audio rendering device to be used to output audio associated with a function of the device, and/or based on whether noise cancelling software is being used to output sound using the device.

Also in some example implementations, the at least one sensor may include light sensor, the threshold may be a low light threshold, and the method may include receiving input from the light sensor and then determining, based at least in part on the input from the light sensor, whether light indicated in the input from the light sensor is above the low light threshold. Then method may include providing the virtual assistance audibly responsive to the light indicated in the input being above the low light threshold. The method may also include presenting, on the display, the visual virtual assistance at least in part using the character presented on the display responsive to the light indicated in the input being below the low light threshold.

Still further, in certain example implementations both the visual virtual assistance and the virtual assistance provide audibly may be provided as part of an augmented reality experience facilitated by the device.

In still another aspect, at least one computer readable storage medium (CRSM) that is not a transitory signal includes instructions executable by at least one processor to receive input from a sensor accessible to the at least one processor and to, based at least in part on the input from the sensor, determine whether a threshold is met. The instructions are also executable to provide one or more notifications audibly using the at least one processor responsive to the threshold not being met and to present, on a display accessible to the at least one processor, one or more visual notifications at least in part using an animated character responsive to the threshold being met.

In certain examples, the display may be disposed on a device configured to present an augmented reality experience. Additionally, the sensor may be a microphone, the threshold may be a sound threshold, and the sound threshold may vary. For example, the sound threshold may vary based on a volume level at which audio is set to be output using the at least one processor, a type of audio rendering device to be used by the at least one processor to output audio, and/or whether noise cancelling software is to be used to output sound using the at least one processor.

The details of present principles, both as to their structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

