Integrated input/output (I/O) for a three-dimensional (3D) environment

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform or control performance of operations for a three-dimensional (3D) environment, wherein the operations comprise:
• receive a first input signal from a first user, and use the first input signal for animation of a first avatar representative of the first user in the 3D environment, wherein the animation of the first avatar is based at least in part on a first input mode through which the first input signal is received from the first user;
• present the 3D environment to the first user and to a second user during a 3D session, wherein presentation of the 3D environment during the 3D session to the first user and to the second user is based on respective first output modes selected by the first user and by the second user, wherein a first appearance of the first avatar during the 3D session is based on a setting chosen by the first user for presentation of the first avatar in the 3D environment to the second user, and wherein the first output mode selected by the second user overrides the setting chosen by the first user for presentation of the first avatar, so as to present the first avatar to the second user with a second appearance during the 3D session that is different from the first appearance;
• in response to a change in a physical location of the first user, change an input mode of the first user from the first input mode to a second input mode;
• in response to the change in the physical location of the first user, change the first output mode selected by the first user from the first output mode to a second output mode that is usable in the changed physical location while the first output mode is disabled;
• and
• in response to a change in a physical location of the second user, changing the first output mode selected by the second user from the first output mode selected by the second user to some other output mode that is usable in the changed physical location of the second user and further based on capabilities of a device of the second user.

A method to operate a three-dimensional (3D) environment, the method comprising:

• receiving a first input signal from a first user, and using the first input signal for animation of a first avatar representative of the first user in the 3D environment, wherein the animation of the first avatar is based at least in part on a first input mode through which the first input signal is received from the first user;
• presenting the 3D environment to the first user and to second, third, and fourth users at runtime during a 3D session, wherein the runtime presentation of the 3D environment during the 3D session to the first user and to the second, third, and fourth users is based on respective first output modes selected by the first user and by the second, third, and fourth users,
• wherein a first appearance of the first avatar during the 3D session is based on a setting chosen by the first user for presentation of the first avatar in the 3D environment to the second, third, and fourth users,
• wherein the first output mode selected by the second user overrides the setting chosen by the first user for presentation of the first avatar, so as to present the first avatar to the second user with a second appearance during the 3D session that is different from the first appearance,
• wherein the first output mode selected by the third user overrides the setting chosen by the first user for presentation of the first avatar, so as to present the first avatar to the third user with a third appearance during the 3D session that is different from the first and second appearances,
• wherein the first output mode selected by the fourth user presents the first avatar to the fourth user with the first appearance during the 3D session, and
• wherein the first, second, and third appearances of the first avatar are presented concurrently, in the runtime presentation of the 3D environment during the 3D session, to the fourth, second, and third users, respectively;
• in response to a change in a location of the first user, changing an input mode of the first user from the first input mode to a second input mode;
• in response to the change in the location of the first user, changing the first output mode selected by the first user from the first output mode to a second output mode that is usable in the changed location while the first output mode is disabled;
• and
• in response to a change in a location of the second user, changing the first output mode selected by the second user from the first output mode selected by the second user to some other output mode that is usable in the changed location of the second user and further based on capabilities of a device of the second user.