Virtual object interaction in augmented reality

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium configured to store instructions executable by at least one processor in a computing device, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:

• receive image data comprising two or more virtual objects;
• determine a distance between a user extremity and the two or more virtual objects based on the image data;
• detect a first gesture of the user extremity based on the image data, wherein the first gesture comprises a pinch between a thumb of the user extremity and a finger of the user extremity;
• generate a virtual sphere to be displayed within or on a virtual object of the two or more virtual objects, wherein the virtual sphere binds to each of the two or more virtual objects while being displayed within or on the virtual object;
• determine a position of the virtual sphere to be displayed on or within the virtual object based on a line of direction that corresponds to the thumb of the user extremity and the finger of the user extremity;
• determine that the distance is less than a threshold;
• lock the position of the virtual sphere individually to each of the two or more virtual objects at a position of the user extremity in response to determining that the distance is less than the threshold;
• detect movement of the position of the user extremity based on the image data;
• and
• adjust two or more positions of the two or more virtual objects based on the movement of the position of the virtual sphere and the position of the user extremity, wherein the adjustment of the two or more positions of the two or more virtual objects comprises a rotational movement relative to the virtual sphere.

A system, comprising:

• an image sensor configured to capture image data;
• and
• a processor configured to perform operations comprising:
• receiving the image data from the image sensor;
• generating two or more virtual objects and superimposing the two or more virtual objects on the image data;
• determining a distance between a user extremity and the two or more virtual objects based on the image data;
• detecting a first gesture of the user extremity based on the image data, wherein the first gesture comprises a pinch between a thumb of the user extremity and a finger of the user extremity;
• generating a virtual sphere to be displayed within or on a virtual object of the two or more virtual objects, wherein the virtual sphere binds to each of the two or more virtual objects while being displayed within or on the virtual object;
• determining a position of the virtual sphere to be displayed on or within the virtual object based on a line of direction that corresponds to the thumb of the user extremity and the finger of the user extremity;
• determining that the distance is less than a threshold;
• locking the position of the virtual sphere individually to each of the two or more virtual objects at a position of the user extremity in response to determining that the distance is less than the threshold;
• detecting movement of the position of the user extremity based on the image data;
• and
• adjusting two or more positions of the two or more virtual objects based on the movement of the position of the virtual sphere and the position of the user extremity, wherein the adjustment of the two or more positions of the two or more virtual objects comprises a rotational movement relative to the virtual sphere.