Abstract: A content exchange server facilitates the identification of potential narrators of content. The content exchange server receives audio samples from narrators and extracts recording features of the narrators from the samples, which can be associated with narrator profiles. A rights holder can submit preferred recording features for a work to the content exchange server. The content exchange server can compare the preferred focal features with the recording features extracted from the voice samples of the potential narrators to identify potential narrators for the work.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for facilitating content consumption and communication among a group of users. A content consumption group may be formed including any number of users, and content may be selected. Group members may consume roughly the same portion of the content at roughly the same time and share the consumption experience regardless of geographic location, user device, content format, on-demand consumption preferences, and the like. Policies may be defined or selected regarding the rate of content consumption, the communications and other inputs that may be submitted by group members, and the like. A shared content consumption management system may receive data from various user devices regarding each group member's current content consumption position, enforce group policies, and distribute group inputs. Group members may also communication in real time through various chats and other interactive features.

Abstract: Items of content may be organized into branched portions. From a current portion of an item of content, a branch may be selected, and the portion of the item of content connected by the selected branch to the current portion of the item of content may be conveyed. In this respect, multiple paths through the item of content may be achieved, each path including one or more portions connected to each other by one or more branches.

Abstract: A computing device may provide an interface that enables a user to playback audio content including supplemental information. The supplemental information may correspond, for example, to endnotes, footnotes, glossaries, appendices, commentary from an author, editor, or other party, or to additional supplemental information. During playback of the audio content, a user may indicate that an item of supplemental information associated with a current playback position of the audio content should be played. In some embodiments, this indication may be in response to an indication to the user that supplemental information is available. The device may then playback the supplemental information associated with the current playback position.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for generating presentations of information about activities of users of personal devices. Any number of personal devices may transmit information about activities performed by users associated with the personal devices. The information can be transmitted to a management component configured to compile the information, supplement the information with information from third-party sources, and generate presentations. The presentations may be based on templates associated with particular users or groups of users. The presentations may include, but are not limited to, visual, audio, and textual content.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for facilitating content presentation and consumption based on input regarding a user's gaze. Gaze tracking or eye tracking information can be obtained from, e.g., a user-facing camera. A content presentation system can determine whether the user's eyes have closed and how long they have closed, whether the user's gaze is directed at the portion of content currently being presented or at some other location, etc. Based on such determinations, presentation of content may be modified. In some cases, a current presentation position may be changed, highlights may be applied, a special bookmark may be generated, etc.

Abstract: An in-vehicle gaming system may be played by a driver alone, or simultaneously or individually by a driver and/or one or more other users. The in-vehicle gaming system may be activated or controlled by, for example, touch, voice, or gesture. Gameplay is dynamically adjusted based at least in part on environmental factors such that the driver is not distracted from driving the vehicle. Game content is generated based at least in part on environmental factors and user data.

Abstract: A computing device may provide a visual cue to items of content (for example, words in a book) synchronized with the playback of companion content (for example, audio content corresponding to the book). Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a content playback synchronization system for use with physical books (or other physical media). In an embodiment, the computing device captures images of the physical book and may display a visual cue (for example, an underline, box, dot, cursor, or the like) to identify a current location in textual content of the captured and displayed images of the physical book corresponding to a current output position of companion audio content. As the audio content is presented (i.e., as it “plays back”), the highlight and/or visual cue may be advanced to maintain synchronization between the output position within the audio content and a corresponding position in the displayed physical textual content.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to one or more configured computing systems identifying when content includes a base content and a translated content that can be synchronously presented. Once a content match is identified, a device to receive synchronization information can also be identified. The synchronization information can enable one or more devices to synchronously present translated content while consuming a base content. For example, an English language audio book may be output synchronously with a Spanish language eBook.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for presenting multiple content items based on one or more rules defining how the multiple content items are to be presented. One content item may be a primary content item and any number of additional content items may be related to or supplement the primary content item in some way. Rules may define which related content items may be presented and, in the case of multimedia content (e.g., content with both audio and video elements), which elements of the primary content may be overridden by or mixed with related content, and which may not. References to related content may be embedded in the primary content item, or references may be accessed at a content management system or service.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for causing aural and/or visual presentation of reference content, such as word definitions, in response to a request regarding a portion of media content during playback. In some embodiments, one or more words may be determined that may be of interest to the user from among words in a content window preceding a current playback position in the content, without the user specifying a specific word of interest. A presentation of reference content corresponding to the determined one or more words may be generated and presented aurally and/or visually in order to provide definitions, encyclopedia information, summary information, and/or other information regarding a portion of media content near the current playback position.

Abstract: A selective synchronization service may facilitate the synchronous presentation of corresponding audio content and textual content. Corresponding words in companion items of audio and textual content may be selected for synchronous presentation. A corresponding word may be selected for synchronous audible and textual presentation according to any of a number of criteria. Further, a corresponding word may be selected for a modified synchronous presentation, in which the audible and/or textual presentation of the corresponding word is modified. Alternately, a corresponding word may be selected for an audible presentation without a textual presentation, or a textual presentation without an audible presentation.

Abstract: An in-vehicle gaming system may be played by a driver alone, or simultaneously or individually by a driver and/or one or more other users. The in-vehicle gaming system may be activated or controlled by, for example, touch, voice, or gesture. Gameplay is dynamically adjusted based at least in part on environmental factors such that the driver is not distracted from driving the vehicle. Game content is generated based at least in part on environmental factors and user data.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for facilitating content consumption and communication among a group of users. A content consumption group may be formed including any number of users, and content may be selected. Group members may consume roughly the same portion of the content at roughly the same time and share the consumption experience regardless of geographic location, user device, content format, on-demand consumption preferences, and the like. Policies may be defined or selected regarding the rate of content consumption, the communications and other inputs that may be submitted by group members, and the like. A shared content consumption management system may receive data from various user devices regarding each group member's current content consumption position, enforce group policies, and distribute group inputs. Group members may also communication in real time through various chats and other interactive features.

Abstract: Items of content may be available in any of a number of versions. Major aspects of each content version, such as overall plot and major characters, may generally overlap. However, minor aspects, such as level of description, minor characters, or sub-plots may vary between versions. Accordingly, systems and methods are provided for managing playback of multiple content versions, and enabling users to switch between such content versions. In some embodiments, a playback path including portions of multiple content versions may be provided, such that a user may consume only desired portions of each content version. In other embodiments, a determined playback path may be utilized to create a customized content version, which may be provided to a user.

Abstract: A system is provided that identifies a device associated with a person who does not satisfy a threshold age. The system scans the digital media content of a content data store associated with the device and estimates an age threshold value of the files of the digital media content. Based on the estimated age threshold value of the files, the system determines that the device is used by a person who does not satisfy a threshold age and applies one or more content rules to a presentation of the digital media content. The content rules cause an alteration of the presentation of the digital media content.

Abstract: A presentation analysis service may obtain presentation information from one or more computing devices that are presenting the item of content. The presentation information may be used to generate recommendations to be provided to a user that is consuming the item of content and/or to a provider of items of content. Further, the presentation information may be used to adapt a presentation of the item of content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a presentation associated with primary audio content. In some embodiments, companion content associated with the audio content may be retrieved from one or more data stores. The companion content may include textual content corresponding to the audio content. One or more keywords associated with at least a portion of the companion content may then be determined. Additional content associated with the one or more keywords may be retrieved from one or more data stores, where the additional content may include at least one image. At least one of the one or more images may then be presented for display during playback of the audio content, such that each of the one or more images is presented for display during playback of a corresponding portion of the audio content.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for facilitating content consumption and communication among a group of users. A content consumption group may be formed including any number of users, and content may be selected. Group members may consume roughly the same portion of the content at roughly the same time and share the consumption experience regardless of geographic location, user device, content format, on-demand consumption preferences, and the like. Policies may be defined or selected regarding the rate of content consumption, the communications and other inputs that may be submitted by group members, and the like. A shared content consumption management system may receive data from various user devices regarding each group member's current content consumption position, enforce group policies, and distribute group inputs. Group members may also communication in real time through various chats and other interactive features.

Abstract: A system is provided that during a presentation of digital media content on a media presentation device automatically determines that a person within a predetermined area does not satisfy a threshold age. Based on the determination, the system applies one or more content rules to the presentation of the digital media content on the media presentation device. The content rules cause an alteration of the presentation of the digital media content. The system can also scan the digital media content of a content data store and estimate an age threshold value of the files of the digital media content. Based on the estimated age threshold value of the files, the system can determine that the device is used by a person who does not satisfy a threshold age and applies one or more content rules to a presentation of the digital media content.