Virtual/augmented reality transition system and method

A system, comprising:

• an electronic device displaying a virtual environment, the electronic device operating in and being movable within an ambient environment;
• a tracking device tracking a position and movement of the electronic device in the ambient environment;
• a processor;
• and
• a computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• perform a transition process to transition between the virtual environment displayed by the electronic device and the ambient environment in response to detection of one of a plurality of previously defined transition triggers;
• and
• output an external indicator indicating the performing of the transition process,
• the plurality of previously defined transition triggers including detection of at least one of an external condition or an external input corresponding to one of the plurality of previously defined transition triggers.

A method, comprising:

• tracking, by a tracking device, a position of an electronic device in an ambient environment, the electronic device providing a virtual environment for a user of the electronic device;
• performing a transition process to transition between the virtual environment provided by the electronic device and the ambient environment in response to one of a plurality of previously defined transition triggers;
• and
• generating an external indicator indicating the transition process, including at least one of displaying an external visual indicator that is visible external to the electronic device or outputting an external audible indicator that is audible external to the electronic device,
• the plurality of previously defined transition triggers including:
• detecting a distance between the electronic device and a boundary of the tracking device that is less than or equal to a previously defined threshold distance;
• and
• detecting an external input corresponding to one of the plurality of previously defined transition triggers.