Generating a haptic model

A haptic model generator for generating a haptic model including at least one virtual object which can be presented to a user wearing both a visual display device and a haptic device, the visual display device enabling the user to see both real-world objects and the at least one virtual object and the haptic device enabling the user to haptically experience the at least one virtual object, the haptic model generator comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the haptic model generator to,
• obtain information of at least one candidate virtual object, wherein the candidate virtual object includes both a haptic representation and a visual representation,
• determine, for each one of the at least one candidate virtual object, reachability data, indicating whether the candidate virtual object is reachable for the user based on a position of the user and a position of the haptic device in relation to a position of the one of the at least one candidate virtual object, wherein determining the reachability data comprises determining at least one of:
• i) an orientation and position and ii) a direction of movement of a limb of the user, experiencing the haptic device, in relation to the at least one candidate virtual object,
• determine, for each one of the at least one candidate virtual object, visibility data, indicating whether the candidate virtual object is visible for the user based on a position of the user in relation to a position of the one of the at least one candidate virtual object, wherein determining the visibility data comprises determining any candidate virtual object to be not visible when the candidate virtual object is visually blocked by a real-world object situated between the user and a perceived position of the candidate virtual object,
• generate the haptic model containing all virtual objects having haptic representations to be haptically rendered by the haptic device, the haptic model selectively comprising a haptic representation of the at least one candidate virtual object, wherein an inclusion or exclusion of certain virtual objects from the haptic model is based on, for each certain virtual object of the certain virtual objects, reachability data and visibility data of the certain virtual object, wherein generating the haptic model comprises generating a model which excludes all candidate virtual objects which are considered unreachable and which excludes all candidate virtual objects considered to be not visible when the candidate virtual object is visually blocked by the real-world object, and
• provide the haptic model to be rendered by the haptic device, wherein the haptic device haptically renders the haptic representation of the at least one virtual object forming part of the haptic model.