An 180 page patent application from Magic Leap represents the first detailed depiction of how a virtual reality company believes we'll use their mind-bending hardware. Here, a toy creature leaps off a shelf.

Physically, Magic Leap will consist of a lightweight head-mounted device that will house a tiny projector comprised of bespoke prisms and lenses that will beam images onto the user’s retinas creating a "dynamic digitized light field signal."

Magic Leap believes the future of user interface will come in the form of ordinary objects imbued with virtual, interactive powers, like this app launching "key chain."

Magic Leap's patent application describes how the system might work: "The totem may simply provide a physical surface, and the AR system may render a user interface so as to appear to a user to be on one or more surfaces of the totem. For instance, the AR system may render a virtual computer keyboard and virtual trackpad to appear on a surface of a thin rectangular plate of aluminum which serves as a totem."

Described as "Totems," these are tangible objects that combine physical craftsmanship and computational projection.

Some of the embodiments are surprisingly low tech, like a cube where each face has a popular website overlaid on it. The user would switch between apps by rotating this cube.

Hand gestures, like those popularized by Leap Motion, are also viable interaction methods.

A dozen illustrations show a guy in his basement interacting with a football game in novel ways.

Another illustration from the patent document shows a keyboard made from a soft rubber that would deform and provide haptic feedback while the head mounted display overlaid images of the characters on it in the user's eye.

Many of the concepts have a commercial focus.

The patent illustrates a series of motions that could turn any flat surface into an ad hoc workspace,

Most of the drawings in the patent application make Magic Leap look like a fancy replacement for universal remote controls.

A ghostly avatar of Toucan Sam would personally greet kids by name in the cereal aisle, rather than some off-brand spokesanimal.

A bracelet launches apps when a user caresses a charm emblazoned with the app's logo.

Heads Up Displays (HUDs), long used by pilots, could be ported to automobiles.

From the patent application: "The user may, for example, perform a two finger gesture, for instance an expanding pinch gesture, dragging outward from a center point to locations where an upper left and a lower right corner of the virtual work portal or construct should be located."

When the "screen" is in your eye, TV sizes scale to the size of a room.

Grocery shoppers would be treated to a virtual representation of Mario Batali, not some stock art chef.

With Magic Leap UI buttons are in the eye of the beholder.

The presence of the registered trademark "Sensorywear®" in the application, used to describe augmented reality devices, suggests that Magic Leap believes wearables will be a big part of the future of their product line.

There is the de rigueur drawing of augmented reality being used in surgery.

Other hardware concepts seem to be pushing into the world of concept art, like a piece of hardware that's shaped like a lotus and presumably treats each petal as an input method.

When entire rooms become playgrounds for UI, the designer's imaginations can scale to fit the space.

Shopping lists will materialize in the consumer's eye.

The totems don't even need to by physical objects—even hands could work as totems in a pinch.

Gamer's have no reason to fear, it appears that traditional game controllers will also be supported.

One of the more interesting ideas: The concept of gamifying everyday labor, as seen with this road worker whose tasks take on elements of a racing simulator.

Recuperating in a hospital could be made more pleasant by overlaying a tropical scene on a room.

Exercise bikes will be made more interactive by creating a virtual Tour de France.

Copious images of gloves, watches, and rings in the patent drawings back up that conjecture.

Any surface or object could conceivably become a user interface.

An idea for an exercise class augmented with instructional overlays.