Abstract: An interactive input system includes a touch panel; and processing structure displaying on the touch panel at least one graphic object depicting a book having one or more page stacks. The processing structure displays each page stack of the book graphic object with a respective width that is based on a number of pages in the page stack. A method for manipulating a book object, and computer program embodied by a computer readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: Computerized methods and interactive input systems for manipulation of 3D objects are disclosed. An image of 3D object is displayed on a 2D interactive surface, and input is received and is interpreted for manipulating the 3D object. When the 3D object is selected, rotation control handles indicating available rotation directions are displayed. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing images of a 3D input space, recognizing at least one object in the images, and comparing the recognized objects in the images to determine a difference therebetween based on a difference threshold. Depending on the outcome of the comparison, the recognized objects are emerged and associated with digital content, or only one of the recognized objects is maintained and associated with digital content.

Abstract: A gesture recognition method comprises capturing images, processing the images to identify at least two clusters of touch points associated with at least two pointers, recognizing a gesture based on motion of the clusters, and updating a display in accordance with the recognized gesture.

Abstract: An input panel for an interactive input system comprises an optical waveguide; a first radiation source directing radiation into said optical waveguide, said radiation undergoing total internal reflection within said optical waveguide; a diffusion layer adjacent to and on one side of the optical waveguide, totally internally reflected light being frustrated and escaping the optical waveguide in response to pointer contacts on the diffusion layer; a second radiation source directing radiation towards another side of the optical waveguide that is opposite the one side; and at least one imaging device having a field of view looking at the optical waveguide and capturing image frames, wherein said first and second radiation sources are turned on and off in succession and wherein said first radiation source is turned off when said second radiation source is on and wherein said first radiation source is turned on when said second radiation source is off.

Abstract: A method for identifying changes between a current image and a previous image comprises generating a mask using a graphics processing unit, the mask identifying differences between the current and previous images using the graphics processing unit to identify at least a portion of the current image based on the mask and copying image data of the current image corresponding to the identified portions from memory associated with the graphics processing unit to memory associated with a central processing unit.

Abstract: Computerized methods and interactive input systems for manipulation of 3D objects are disclosed. An image of 3D object is displayed on a 2D interactive surface, and input is received and is interpreted for manipulating the 3D object. When the 3D object is selected, rotation control handles indicating available rotation directions are displayed. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing images of a 3D input space, recognizing at least one object in the images, and comparing the recognized objects in the images to determine a difference therebetween based on a difference threshold. Depending on the outcome of the comparison, the recognized objects are emerged and associated with digital content, or only one of the recognized objects is maintained and associated with digital content.

Abstract: An interactive input system includes a touch panel; and processing structure displaying on the touch panel at least one graphic object depicting a book having one or more page stacks. The processing structure displays each page stack of the book graphic object with a respective width that is based on a number of pages in the page stack. A method for manipulating a book object, and computer program embodied by a computer readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for dividing a digital image into regions comprises identifying potential region borders based on edge content in the digital image. The digital image is divided into regions based on user-selected ones of the potential region borders. A method of processing a region of a digital image comprises receiving gesture data for characterizing the region. A processing tool associated with the gesture data is automatically launched, and the region is processed using the processing tool.

Abstract: A gesture recognition method comprises capturing images, processing the images to identify at least two clusters of touch points associated with at least two pointers, recognizing a gesture based on motion of the clusters, and updating a display in accordance with the recognized gesture.

Abstract: A method for identifying changes between a current image and a previous image comprises generating a mask using a graphics processing unit, the mask identifying differences between the current and previous images using the graphics processing unit to identify at least a portion of the current image based on the mask and copying image data of the current image corresponding to the identified portions from memory associated with the graphics processing unit to memory associated with a central processing unit.

Abstract: An input panel for an interactive input system comprises an optical waveguide; a first radiation source directing radiation into said optical waveguide, said radiation undergoing total internal reflection within said optical waveguide; a diffusion layer adjacent to and on one side of the optical waveguide, totally internally reflected light being frustrated and escaping the optical waveguide in response to pointer contacts on the diffusion layer; a second radiation source directing radiation towards another side of the optical waveguide that is opposite the one side; and at least one imaging device having a field of view looking at the optical waveguide and capturing image frames, wherein said first and second radiation sources are turned on and off in succession and wherein said first radiation source is turned off when said second radiation source is on and wherein said first radiation source is turned on when said second radiation source is off.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting a subject's eyes from being exposed to projected light when the subject is positioned in front of a background on which an image is displayed comprises capturing an image of the background including the displayed image, processing the captured image to detect the existence of the subject and to locate generally the subject and masking image data used by the projector to project the image corresponding to a region that encompasses at least the subject's eyes, the image data masking compensating for differing camera and projector viewpoints.

Abstract: A method for handling a user request in a multi-user interactive input system comprises receiving a user request to perform an action from one user area defined on a display surface of the interactive input system and prompting for input from at least one other user via at least one other user area. In the event that input concurring with the user request is received from another user area, the action is performed.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting a subject's eyes from being exposed to projected light when the subject is positioned in front of a background on which an image is displayed comprises capturing an image of the background including the displayed image, processing the captured image to detect the existence of the subject and to locate generally the subject and masking image data used by the projector to project the image corresponding to a region that encompasses at least the subject's eyes, the image data masking compensating for differing camera and projector viewpoints.

Abstract: A method for dividing a digital image into regions comprises identifying potential region borders based on edge content in the digital image. The digital image is divided into regions based on user-selected ones of the potential region borders. A method of processing a region of a digital image comprises receiving gesture data for characterizing the region. A processing tool associated with the gesture data is automatically launched, and the region is processed using the processing tool.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting a subject's eyes from being exposed to projected light when the subject is positioned in front of a background on which an image is displayed comprises capturing an image of the background including the displayed image, processing the captured image to detect the existence of the subject and to locate generally the subject and masking image data used by the projector to project the image corresponding to a region that encompasses at least the subject's eyes, the image data masking compensating for differing camera and projector viewpoints.