Abstract: A process generates a certificate of authenticity for a virtual item. Further, the process sends, with the processor, the certificate of authenticity to a decentralized network of computing devices such that two or more of the computing devices store the certificate of authenticity. The two or more of the computing devices receive, from a user device that provides a virtual reality experience in which a virtual item is purchased, a request for authentication of the certificate of authenticity. In addition, the two or more computing devices authenticate the certificate of authenticity based on one or more consistency criteria for the certificate of authenticity being met by the two or more computing devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to presenting a more realistic augmented reality view on a video see-through display of a device by configuring the device such that the displayed image of the real world substantially matches what would be perceived by the user if the display were not present. This may be implemented by determining one or more of: a distance from the user's eyes to the display of the device, and an angular offset between the optical axis of a rear camera of the device and the user's visual field, and using the determined distance and/or angular offset to adjust the image that is displayed to the user. The image that is displayed to the user may be adjusted by optically or digitally zooming the rear camera of the device. It may also be adjusted by tilting the rear camera or by digitally translating the displayed video feed.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to capturing intrinsic color images of subjects. A camera may be equipped with a light source that is coaxial to the camera's image sensor and configured to emit a pulse of light of short duration. During image capture of a subject, the camera light source may emit the pulse of light through the lens barrel of the camera and stop emission of light before the reflected light from the light source returns. Thereafter, the camera lens receives the reflected light from the light source (with the light source no longer emitting light) and charge is collected at one or more image sensor photodetector sites of the camera.

Abstract: An air flow generator may be implemented on an augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) controller or head-mounted display (HMD) through which an AR or VR experience is presented. Based on content upon which the AR or VR experience is based, air flow effects can be provided by the air flow generator. In particular, desired air flow effect parameters based on or obtained from the content, can be used to enhance the AR or VR experience through generating air flow directed at a user of the HMD. The air flow generated by the air flow generator can be further enhanced by the addition of liquid and/or scented additives.

Abstract: A user control apparatus has a laser emitter that emits a laser beam in a real-world environment. Further, the user control apparatus has an optical element that receives the laser beam and generates a plurality of laser beams such that a starting point and a plurality of endpoints, each corresponding to one of the plurality of laser beams, form a laser frustum. In addition, the user control apparatus has an image capture device that captures an image of a shape of the laser frustum based on a reflection of the plurality of laser beams from an object in the real-world environment so that a spatial position of the object in the real-world environment is determined for an augmented reality or virtual reality user experience.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a head-mounted display (HMD) may have a camera for capturing a visual scene for presentation via the HMD. A user of the apparatus may specify a pre-planned travel route for a vehicle within the visual scene via an augmented reality (AR) experience generated by the HMD. The pre-planned travel route may be overlaid on the visual scene in the AR experience so that the user can account for real-time environmental conditions determined through the AR experience. The pre-planned travel route may be transferred to the vehicle and used as autonomous travel instructions.

Abstract: A virtual reality system has a virtual reality headset having an interior display screen that displays a virtual reality environment. Further, the virtual reality headset has a receiver, in operable communication with the virtual reality headset, that receives one or more user inputs from a user immersed in the virtual reality environment when wearing the virtual reality headset. In addition, the virtual reality headset has a memory that stores a theme associated with the virtual reality environment and a timeline associated with the theme. The timeline has a plurality of time-based intervals that each correspond to content for the theme. The processor alters the virtual reality environment to correspond to the content for the theme associated with a time-based interval selected by the user via the geometrically-shaped object through the receiver when the user is immersed in the virtual reality environment.

Abstract: A process generates a certificate of authenticity for a virtual item. Further, the process sends, with the processor, the certificate of authenticity to a decentralized network of computing devices such that two or more of the computing devices store the certificate of authenticity. The two or more of the computing devices receive, from a user device that provides a virtual reality experience in which a virtual item is purchased, a request for authentication of the certificate of authenticity. In addition, the two or more computing devices authenticate the certificate of authenticity based on one or more consistency criteria for the certificate of authenticity being met by the two or more computing devices.

Abstract: An air flow generator may be implemented on an augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) controller or head-mounted display (HMD) through which an AR or VR experience is presented. Based on content upon which the AR or VR experience is based, air flow effects can be provided by the air flow generator. In particular, desired air flow effect parameters based on or obtained from the content, can be used to enhance the AR or VR experience through generating air flow directed at a user of the HMD. The air flow generated by the air flow generator can be further enhanced by the addition of liquid and/or scented additives.

Abstract: A user control apparatus has a laser emitter that emits a laser beam in a real-world environment. Further, the user control apparatus has an optical element that receives the laser beam and generates a plurality of laser beams such that a starting point and a plurality of endpoints, each corresponding to one of the plurality of laser beams, form a laser frustum. In addition, the user control apparatus has an image capture device that captures an image of a shape of the laser frustum based on a reflection of the plurality of laser beams from an object in the real-world environment so that a spatial position of the object in the real-world environment is determined for an augmented reality or virtual reality user experience.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to presenting a more realistic augmented reality view on a video see-through display of a device by configuring the device such that the displayed image of the real world substantially matches what would be perceived by the user if the display were not present. This may be implemented by determining one or more of: a distance from the user's eyes to the display of the device, and an angular offset between the optical axis of a rear camera of the device and the user's visual field, and using the determined distance and/or angular offset to adjust the image that is displayed to the user. The image that is displayed to the user may be adjusted by optically or digitally zooming the rear camera of the device. It may also be adjusted by tilting the rear camera or by digitally translating the displayed video feed.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a head-mounted display (HMD) may have a camera for capturing a visual scene for presentation via the HMD. A user of the apparatus may specify a pre-planned travel route for a vehicle within the visual scene via an augmented reality (AR) experience generated by the HMD. The pre-planned travel route may be overlaid on the visual scene in the AR experience so that the user can account for real-time environmental conditions determined through the AR experience. The pre-planned travel route may be transferred to the vehicle and used as autonomous travel instructions.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to capturing intrinsic color images of subjects. A camera may be equipped with a light source that is coaxial to the camera's image sensor and configured to emit a pulse of light of short duration. During image capture of a subject, the camera light source may emit the pulse of light through the lens barrel of the camera and stop emission of light before the reflected light from the light source returns. Thereafter, the camera lens receives the reflected light from the light source (with the light source no longer emitting light) and charge is collected at one or more image sensor photodetector sites of the camera.

Abstract: A virtual reality system has a virtual reality headset having an interior display screen that displays a virtual reality environment. Further, the virtual reality headset has a receiver, in operable communication with the virtual reality headset, that receives one or more user inputs from a user immersed in the virtual reality environment when wearing the virtual reality headset. In addition, the virtual reality headset has a memory that stores a theme associated with the virtual reality environment and a timeline associated with the theme. The timeline has a plurality of time-based intervals that each correspond to content for the theme. The processor alters the virtual reality environment to correspond to the content for the theme associated with a time-based interval selected by the user via the geometrically-shaped object through the receiver when the user is immersed in the virtual reality environment.