Three-dimensional workspace interactive display having browsing viewpoints for navigation and work viewpoints for user-object interactive non-navigational work functions with automatic switching to browsing viewpoints upon completion of work functions

摘要

A system, method and computer program are provided for facilitating viewer navigation within a virtual reality three- dimensional workspace containing functional three-dimensional objects. The viewer has the capability of navigating towards such three- dimensional functional objects and interacting with them functionally in specific tasks. Such specific tasks often require a fairly narrow viewpoint to provide close viewer interaction with the object in the specific task. The present invention provides a means for facilitating the viewer's navigation along his desired or planned path after he has completed a specific task relationship with a particular selected object. Means are provided for monitoring the task specific relationship of the viewer with the object and as soon as a determination is made that the viewer has completed his task, the system automatically changes the viewpoint of the viewer from the task specific viewpoint to the optimum browsing or navigation viewpoint with respect to the viewer's current viewpoint so that the viewer can proceed further in his navigation.