Abstract: A method of user availability estimation includes recording a timing of a plurality of first user sessions during in which the first user performs one or more tasks of a predetermined type, estimating a timing of a subsequent session of the first user based upon the recorded timings of the plurality of first user sessions, for the subsequent session of the first user, ordering for completion by the first user one or more tasks of the predetermined type, having respective durations, that fit within the estimated timing of the subsequent session.

Abstract: A graphics rendering apparatus, comprising: a first receiving unit configured to receive mesh data comprising a mesh that defines a geometry of a virtual element that is comprised within a virtual environment of a video game; a second receiving unit configured to receive one or more input signals; an animation unit configured to cause the virtual element to perform a given predefined action in response to one or more of the input signals; a determination unit configured to determine whether the virtual element has performed the given predefined action at least a threshold number of times; an identification unit configured to identify one or more predefined mesh deformations associated with the given predefined action if the virtual element has performed the given predefined action at least the threshold number of times; a deformation unit configured to deform one or more subsets of the mesh in accordance with one or more of the predefined mesh deformations, and at least in part thereby generate subsequent mes

Abstract: An affective gaming system includes: an administrator unit configured to host a session of a video game; a receiving unit configured to receive biometric data associated with two or more users participating in the session of a video game; a first generating unit configured to generate, based on at least part of the biometric data, current emotion data associated with each of the two or more users; a selecting unit configured to select a first user based on at least part of the current emotion data; a second generating unit configured to generate, based at least in part on the current emotion data that is associated with a second user, target emotion data associated with the first user; and a modifying unit configured to modify, responsive to the difference between the target emotion data and the current emotion data that is associated with the first user, one or more aspects of the video game that are specific to the first user.

Abstract: An affective gaming system includes: an administrator unit configured to host a session of a video game; a receiving unit configured to receive biometric data associated with a first user of a plurality of users participating in the session of a video game; a first generating unit configured to generate, based on at least part of the biometric data, current emotion data associated with the first user; a second generating unit configured to generate, based at least in part on the current emotion data associated with the first user, target emotion data associated with the first user; and a modifying unit configured to modify, responsive to the difference between the target emotion data associated with the first user and the current emotion data associated with the first user, one or more aspects of the video game that are specific to the first user.

Abstract: A method for protecting personal space in a multi-user virtual environment includes the steps of generating an avatar for a target user in the multi-user virtual environment, determining a relationship score between the target user and a peer user, creating a personal space around the avatar of the target user, wherein the dimensions of the personal space is computed based on the relationship score with the peer user, detecting the peer user's avatar crossing the boundary of the personal space, and applying rules to the peer user to restrict his/her interactions with the target user.

Abstract: An apparatus, for assisting at least a first user in communicating with one or more other users via a network, includes: a storage unit configured to store: phrase data corresponding to one or more phrases, where each phrase comprises one or more words, tag data corresponding to one or more tags, where each tag comprises at least part of one word, and first association data corresponding to one or more associations between one or more of the phrases and one or more of the tags; an input unit configured to receive one or more audio signals from the at least first user; a recognition unit configured to recognise one or more spoken words included within the received audio signals; an evaluation unit configured to evaluate whether a given recognised spoken word corresponds to a given tag; and if so, a transmission unit configured to transmit one or more of the phrases associated with the given tag to one or more of the other users.