Abstract: A spherical input device 105 for navigating a virtual environment 102 is activated for touch sensitivity at any point on its surface 801 by a capacitive touch sensor 709 that includes first and second capacitance-sensing elements 710 and 711. A first variable capacitance 806 is formed between a first capacitance-sensing element and a first area of the user's hands through a first hemisphere 802. A second variable capacitance 807 is formed between a second capacitance-sensing element and a second area of the user's hands through the second hemisphere 803. A touch-responsive capacitance 805 includes the first variable capacitance in series with the second variable capacitance. Gestural data is derived from the touch-responsive capacitance and device rotations, and transmitted in gestural radio signals 108 to a receiver 109. One or both of the capacitance-sensing elements is configured to minimize attenuation of the gestural radio signals passing through the surface.

Abstract: A spherical input device 105 for navigating a virtual environment 102 is activated for touch sensitivity at any point on its surface 801 by a capacitive touch sensor 709 that includes first and second capacitance-sensing elements 710 and 711. A first variable capacitance 806 is formed between a first capacitance-sensing element and a first area of the user's hands through a first hemisphere 802. A second variable capacitance 807 is formed between a second capacitance-sensing element and a second area of the user's hands through the second hemisphere 803. A touch-responsive capacitance 805 includes the first variable capacitance in series with the second variable capacitance. Gestural data is derived from the touch-responsive capacitance and device rotations, and transmitted in gestural radio signals 108 to a receiver 109. One or both of the capacitance-sensing elements is configured to minimize attenuation of the gestural radio signals passing through the surface.

Abstract: A substantially spherical hand-held input device which provides manual data input for navigating a virtual environment and other kinds of user interface, includes a capacitive touch sensor responsive to touch events anywhere on its surface, the touch sensor including a propagation-enhancing portion so that gestural radio signals can be transmitted through the touch-sensitive surface of the input device to a computer system during use, the propagation-enhancing portion being in the form of a spiral-shaped conductor that is also used for capacitance-sensing, and a multi-touch array includes multiple spiral-shaped touch-sensing conductors to provide the propagation-enhancing portion, and the propagation-enhancing portion is a metamaterial at a transmission frequency of the gestural radio signals.

Abstract: A substantially spherical hand-held input device which provides manual data input for navigating a virtual environment and other kinds of user interface, includes a capacitive touch sensor responsive to touch events anywhere on its surface, the touch sensor including a propagation-enhancing portion so that gestural radio signals can be transmitted through the touch-sensitive surface of the input device to a computer system during use, the propagation-enhancing portion being in the form of a spiral-shaped conductor that is also used for capacitance-sensing, and a multi-touch array includes multiple spiral-shaped touch-sensing conductors to provide the propagation-enhancing portion, and the propagation-enhancing portion is a metamaterial at a transmission frequency of the gestural radio signals.

Abstract: A system for presenting immersive images to a user via a display device, in which the user has a viewpoint within a three-dimensional virtual environment, the system including a substantially spherical manually-rotatable hand supported input device with a rotation-detector, a device-processor and a wireless transmitter, in which the device-processor generates gestural-data in response to manual rotation of the input device measured by the rotation-detector, and the transmitter transmits the gestural-data; an external-processing-device which receives the gestural-data wirelessly, moves the user viewpoint in the three-dimensional virtual environment in response to manual rotation of the input device and renders image-data from the virtual environment with respect to the viewpoint; and a display device, in which the display device presents the image data to a user; in which the user experiences locomotion within the virtual environment in response to rotation of the input device.

Abstract: A security system for deployment within a retail environment is shown. First tags (108 to 112) are concealed within an item of merchandise. Each of these first tags is configured to transmit a first signal modulated to specify a unique first tag code in response to being energised at an exit gate. Second tags (113 to 117) are each independently attached to the merchandise and are configured to communication with mobile devices to facilitate the purchase of the items. A data communication apparatus (119) communicates with mobile devices and controls responses of an exit gate when detecting output signals from the first tags. User selected tags transmit second output signals to a mobile device in response to respective user interactions, with each for the second output signals being modulated by a unique second code. The mobile devices relay received second codes to the communication system.

Abstract: An association between a user of a mobile device (301) and an item of merchandise (501) is shown, in which each item of merchandise as a tag (601) attached thereto. The movement of tags is monitored to produce movement data (801). Proximity data is generated for each mobile device identifying tags that are in close proximity (802). The movement data is processed in combination with the proximity data to identify an association between a user and a mobile device and an item of merchandise to which an associated tag has been attached (803).

Abstract: A touch pad (101) includes transducers (201-204) for receiving acoustic signals resulting from touch events, such as the continuous movement of a fingertip across the surface (105) of the touch pad. The acoustic signals are acquired at different transducer locations in the surface. Signals from different transducers are combined, preferably in antiphase, to improve signal characteristics. The transducer signals are supplied to a stereo analogue to digital converter (407). Phase differences (706) are obtained and compared (703) with phase difference profiles (607) of known location, in order to identify the location of the touch event. An index (606) is used to identify candidate locations to reduce the amount of processing. Interpolation (705) is used to locate the touch event between profile locations.

Abstract: A touch pad (101) includes transducers (201-204) for receiving acoustic signals resulting from touch events, such as the continuous movement of a fingertip across the surface (105) of the touch pad. The acoustic signals are acquired at different transducer locations in the surface. Signals from different transducers are combined, preferably in antiphase, to improve signal characteristics. The transducer signals are supplied to a stereo analogue to digital converter (407). Phase differences (706) are obtained and compared (703) with phase difference profiles (607) of known location, in order to identify the location of the touch event. An index (606) is used to identify candidate locations to reduce the amount of processing. Interpolation (705) is used to locate the touch event between profile locations.

Abstract: A touch pad (101) includes transducers (201-204) for receiving acoustic signals resulting from touch events, such as the continuous movement of a fingertip across the surface (105) of the touch pad. The acoustic signals are acquired at different transducer locations in the surface. Signals from different transducers are combined, preferably in antiphase, to improve signal characteristics. The transducer signals are supplied to a stereo analogue to digital converter (407). Phase differences (706) are obtained and compared (703) with phase difference profiles (607) of known location, in order to identify the location of the touch event. An index (606) is used to identify candidate locations to reduce the amount of processing. Interpolation (705) is used to locate the touch event between profile locations.