High resolution perception of content in a wide field of view of a head-mounted display

A head-mounted device configured to present regionally-focused digital content that mimics a user's natural high-resolution and low-resolution fields of view, the head-mounted device comprising:

• a supportive frame;
• an optical display surface coupled to the supportive frame;
• an image display system configured to project digital content onto the optical display surface;
• a first sensor coupled to the supportive frame and configured to continuously track a focal point of the user's gaze in real time;
• a second sensor coupled to the supportive frame and configured to continuously monitor speed, direction, or both of the user's head movement;
• a third sensor coupled to the supportive frame and configured to detect gestures performed by the user;
• a processor communicatively coupled to the image display system and operable to execute instructions stored in a memory;
• and
• the memory, which includes specific instructions for regionally modifying a resolution of digital images shown on the optical display surface, wherein execution of the specific instructions prompts the processor to:
• cause a first digital image to be displayed on the optical display surface;
• continuously track the focal point of the user's gaze within the bounds of the first digital image;
• determine where the focal point is located at a first point in time;
• identify a first area of the first digital image that includes the focal point of the user's gaze at the first point in time,
• where a size of the first area is based on the speed of the user's eye movement, the speed of the user's head movement, or a combination thereof;
• increase resolution of the first area of the first digital image;
• identify a second area of the first digital image that does not include the focal point of the user's gaze but is predicted to include the focal point of the user's gaze at a second point in time,
• where the second area is entirely distinct from the first area,
• where a size of the second area is based on the speed of the user's eye movement, the speed of the user's head movement, or a combination thereof;
• and
• decrease resolution of the second area of the first digital image,
• where the decrease in resolution of the second area of the first digital image is proportional to the speed of the user's eye movement,
• where the resolutions of the first area and the second area are modified substantially simultaneously, and
• where the changes in resolution mimic a high-resolution viewing field and a low-resolution viewing field naturally experienced by the user when viewing real-world content.

A method for regionally modifying a resolution of digital content that is presented to a user of a head-mounted device to create a viewing experience that more accurately mimics the user's natural high-resolution and low-resolution fields of view, the method comprising:

• causing a digital image to be displayed by a head-mounted device;
• determining where a focal point of a user's gaze is located at a first point in time, the focal point being somewhere within the bounds of the digital image;
• identifying a first area of the digital image that includes the focal point of the user's gaze;
• increasing resolution of the first area of the digital image;
• identifying a second area of the digital image that is determined to likely become the focal point of the user's gaze at a second point in time using a predictive algorithm;
• monitoring a speed of the user's eye movement and head movement;
• determining that the focal point of the user's gaze has begun to move toward the second area of the digital image;
• increasing resolution of the second area of the digital image;
• identifying a third area of the digital image located between the first area and the second idea of the digital image;
• and
• decreasing resolution of the third area of the digital image,
• where the resolutions of the first area, the second area, and the third area are modified substantially simultaneously as the focal point moves toward the second area of the digital image,
• wherein a size of the first area and a size of the second area are based on the speed of the user's eye movement, the speed of the user's head movement, or a combination thereof, and
• where the decrease in resolution of the third area of the digital image is proportional to the speed of the user's eye movement, the speed of the user's head movement, or both.