Patent attributes
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to setting a display mode for a virtual object based on a display mode timer that is controlled by context factors. An artificial reality system can associate one or more virtual objects with a corresponding display mode timer. Various ranges on the display mode timer can be mapped to different display modes that the virtual object can assume. The display mode timer can be adjusted to add time based on a determination of a user focusing on the virtual object or other context factors. Display mode timers can also have rules for setting other display mode timer properties, such as how quickly the display mode timer runs down, that are evaluated based on context factors.