Virtual user input controls in a mixed reality environment

A wearable system for providing a virtual remote control in a mixed reality environment, the wearable system comprising:

• a mixed reality display for presenting a virtual image to a user;
• an outward-facing imaging system configured to image an environment of the user;
• and
• a hardware processor operably coupled to the mixed reality display and to the outward-facing imaging system, the hardware processor programmed to:
• generate a virtual remote associated with a parent device, the virtual remote comprising a plurality of virtual control elements;
• render the virtual remote and the virtual control elements on the mixed reality display;
• determine when the user of the wearable system interacts with one of the virtual control elements of the virtual remote;
• in response to user interaction with the one of the virtual control elements:
• generate the virtual control element that the user has interacted with to move on the mixed reality display;
• when movement of the virtual control element surpasses a threshold condition, generate a focus indicator for that visually indicates the virtual control element that the user has interacted with, the threshold condition comprising at least one of a threshold position, a threshold duration, or a threshold velocity;
• and
• transmit an instruction to the parent device to perform a function associated with the virtual control element that the user has interacted with in conjunction with at least one of movement of the virtual control element or generation of the focus indicator,
• wherein the plurality of virtual control elements comprise a virtual button movable through an active volume of space,
• wherein the virtual button comprises an active surface;
• and
• wherein the hardware processor is programmed to generate the focus indicator when movement of the virtual button exceeds the threshold condition, as taken in a direction normal to the active surface.

A method for interacting with a virtual remote control in a mixed reality environment, the method carried out by a wearable system including a mixed reality display operably coupled to a hardware processor, the method comprising:

• generating a virtual remote associated with a parent device, the virtual remote comprising a plurality of virtual control elements;
• rendering the virtual remote and the virtual control elements on the mixed reality display;
• determining when the user of the wearable system interacts with one of the virtual control elements of the virtual remote;
• in response to user interaction with the one of the virtual control elements:
• generating the virtual control element that a user has interacted with to move on the mixed reality display;
• when movement of the virtual control element surpasses a threshold condition, generating a focus indicator that visually indicates the virtual control element that the user has interacted with, the threshold condition comprising at least one of a threshold position, a threshold duration, or a threshold velocity;
• and
• transmitting an instruction to the parent device to perform a function associated with the virtual control element that the user has interacted with in conjunction with at least one of movement of the virtual control element and generation of the focus indicator,
• wherein the plurality of virtual control elements comprises a virtual button movable through an active volume of space,
• wherein the virtual button comprises an active surface;
• and
• wherein the hardware processor is programmed to generate the focus indicator when movement of the virtual button exceeds the threshold condition, as taken in a direction normal to the active surface.