Abstract: A system detects a user's mood and in response establishes computer settings including computer game settings, recommends social network interactions, advises other users, alters task scheduling, and in general enhances collective group mood, collective productivity, social interaction, and engagement.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving engagement metrics of a spectator include identifying a group of spectators watching game play of a video game and generating an aggregate group profile for the group. Engagement metrics for the group are analyzed to identify engagement level of the group toward the game play of the player. One or more suggestions are provided to adjust game play of the video game so as to improve engagement level of the group toward the game play of the video game.

Abstract: A HRTF used for 3D spatialized audio is combined with, e.g., by concatenation, additional settings to provide a more comfortable, accessible, and enjoyable experience for a listener such as a player of a computer game listening to audio through a headset. A single transfer function is thus created that includes the other settings, and once the transfer function is computed the run-time processing can be treated as a single combined transfer function rather than multiple separate stages, resulting in computational savings. The additional settings pertain to hearing aids normally worn by the listener as well as a room-related function specific to a particular listening venue.

Abstract: A method for gaming. The method includes assigning a default game play profile to a user, wherein the default game play profile includes a default game play style that simulates human game play, and wherein the default game play profile is configured to control game play for the user based on the default game play style. The method includes monitoring a plurality of game plays of the user playing a plurality of gaming applications. The method includes generating a user game play profile of the user by adjusting the default game play style based on the plurality of game plays, wherein the user game play profile incudes a user game play style customized to the user. The method includes controlling an instance of a first gaming application based on the user game play style of the user game play profile.

Abstract: A computer simulation controller such as a PlayStation® Dual Shock® computer game controller has a touchpad to input text with a “palm graffiti” or “unistrokes” type alphabet. As each letter is drawn, it is saved as a file such as a postscript file which is basically a story of the cursor coordinates (started at (1,1) move to (1,3) etc. From there, plural (e.g., fifteen (15)) coordinates (even distribution) are sampled across the set of coordinates to obtain the cardinal directions (N, NE, E, etc.) between them, which are encoded for data processing.

Abstract: A detachable for a computer game controller or a mobile device includes LEDs, speakers, haptic actuators, an accessory port, and other features. When attached to the phone or controller, the device can enhance the experience by adding extra sound, light, and haptics, or it can replace the game's sound with lights or haptics, replace game visuals with sounds, and replace game haptics by lights. When detached, the device can be handed to a second person to enhance the spectating experience by additional visuals, haptics and sounds and for using light or sound to indicate what actions the player is taking (to help learn the game) and allow play-along through an accessory port that supports controls. Light, sound or haptics can be used to indicate what actions the player is taking.

Abstract: A detachable for a computer game controller or a mobile device includes LEDs, speakers, haptic actuators, an accessory port, and other features. When attached to the phone or controller, the device can enhance the experience by adding extra sound, light, and haptics, or it can replace the game's sound with lights or haptics, replace game visuals with sounds, and replace game haptics by lights. When detached, the device can be handed to a second person to enhance the spectating experience by additional visuals, haptics and sounds and for using light or sound to indicate what actions the player is taking (to help learn the game) and allow play-along through an accessory port that supports controls. Light, sound or haptics can be used to indicate what actions the player is taking.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for recommending content channels for an influencer. The method includes identifying a session of the influencer. The session includes a current content channel being viewed by the influencer and made available for streaming to one or more followers of the influencer. The current content channel is one of a plurality of content channels made available for viewing by the influencer. The method includes accessing, during the session, content data from the plurality of content channels. The content data is associated with gameplay of one or more players engaged in gameplay. The method includes accessing profile data of the followers of the influencer. The profile data includes content preferences of said followers. The method includes predicting engagement metrics for said followers of the influencer in relation to said plurality of content channels.

Abstract: A method is provided, including the following operations: analyzing gameplay data and spectator data from previous sessions of a video game, wherein the analyzing is configured to correlate a spectator preference to a gameplay condition of the video game; using the correlated spectator preference to generate an in-game recommendation for the gameplay condition; identifying the gameplay condition occurring in a current session of the video game; responsive to identifying the gameplay condition occurring in the current session, then presenting the in-game recommendations to a player of the current session of the video game.

Abstract: A controller, thumbstick, or system comprising a thumbstick body, a thumbstick shaft coupled to the thumbstick body wherein the thumbstick shaft is configured to retract into the thumbstick body and wherein the thumbstick body and the thumbstick shaft is freely rotatable together around a pivot center within the controller body. In some implementations the thumbstick body included a fluid and the thumbstick shaft displaces the fluid when the thumbstick shaft retracts into the thumbstick body.

Abstract: Methods for observing a virtual reality environment of a virtual reality player is are provided. One method includes establishing, by a handheld device of an observer, a connection with a computer executing the virtual reality environment being presented to the virtual reality player using a head mounted display (HMD). Capturing, by a first camera of the handheld device, a current position of the virtual reality player in a real world space. Capturing, by a second camera of the handheld device, a face position of the observer. The face position being monitored to determine a viewing direction to a screen of the handheld device. The screen of the handheld device is configured to present the virtual reality environment and at least part of the virtual reality player interacting in the virtual reality environment.

Abstract: A method for gaming. The method includes assigning a default game play profile to a user, wherein the default game play profile includes a default game play style that simulates human game play, and wherein the default game play profile is configured to control game play for the user based on the default game play style. The method includes monitoring a plurality of game plays of the user playing a plurality of gaming applications. The method includes generating a user game play profile of the user by adjusting the default game play style based on the plurality of game plays, wherein the user game play profile incudes a user game play style customized to the user. The method includes controlling an instance of a first gaming application based on the user game play style of the user game play profile.

Abstract: A method is provided, including: tracking a location of a head-mounted display (HMD); tracking a gaze of a user of the HMD; generating video depicting a view of a virtual environment for the HMD based on the gaze of the user of the HMD; initiating wireless transmission of the video to the HMD for display on the HMD to the user, wherein initiating the wireless transmission includes setting a beamforming of a wireless transceiver towards the location of the head-mounted display; processing signal quality feedback received from the HMD to determine a quality of the wireless transmission; responsive to a loss in the quality of the wireless transmission, then adjusting the beamforming of the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: A computer simulation controller such as a PlayStation® Dual Shock® computer game controller has a touchpad to input text with a “palm graffiti” or “unistrokes” type alphabet. As each letter is drawn, it is saved as a file such as a postscript file which is basically a story of the cursor coordinates (started at (1,1) move to (1,3) etc. From there, plural (e.g., fifteen (15)) coordinates (even distribution) are sampled across the set of coordinates to obtain the cardinal directions (N, NE, E, etc.) between them, which are encoded for data processing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing accessibility features for generating annotations for a video content stream include providing an annotation menu with a plurality of annotation options for defining annotations for the video content stream. Each annotation option provides an annotation tool to generate an annotation that corresponds with an accessibility feature defined by the annotation option. Annotation generated using the annotation tool is used to generate an annotation layer for the video content stream. An annotated video content stream is generated by overlaying the annotation layer over the video content stream. The annotated video content stream generated for the selected annotation option is provided for rendering at a client device of a user, in response to receiving a selection of the accessibility feature corresponding to the annotation option from the user. The annotations included in the annotated video content stream augments the content of the video content stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing accessibility features for generating annotations for a video content stream includes providing an annotation menu with a plurality of annotation options for defining annotations for the video content stream. Each annotation option provides an annotation tool to generate an annotation that corresponds with an accessibility feature defined by the annotation option. Annotation generated using the annotation tool is used to generate an annotation layer for the video content stream. An annotated video content stream is generated by overlaying the annotation layer over the video content stream. The annotated video content stream generated for the selected annotation option is provided for rendering at a client device of a user, in response to receiving a selection of the accessibility feature corresponding to the annotation option from the user. The annotations included in the annotated video content stream augments the content of the video content stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for executing content to be rendered on a screen of a head mounted display (HMD) are provided. One method includes executing the content to render interactive scenes on the screen and tracking an orientation direction of the HMD when worn on a head of a user and the interactive scenes are being rendered on the screen. The method includes changing view directions into the interactive scenes based on changes in the orientation direction of the HMD, such that movements of the head of the user causes the changes in the view directions into the interactive scenes. The method further includes receiving images of a real world space using a camera of the HMD. The camera of the HMD is configured to capture a location of real world objects in the real world space relative to the user of the HMD.

Abstract: A method is provided, including: receiving captured images of an interactive environment in which a head-mounted display (HMD) is disposed; receiving inertial data processed from at least one inertial sensor of the HMD; analyzing the captured images of the interactive environment and the inertial data to determine a predicted future location of the HMD; using the predicted future location of the HMD to adjust a beamforming direction of an RF transceiver in a direction that is towards the predicted future location of the HMD; tracking a gaze of a user of the HMD; predicting a movement of the gaze of the user; generating video depicting a view of a virtual environment for the HMD; wherein the regions of the view are rendered differently based on the predicted movement of the gaze of the user; wirelessly transmitting the video via the RF transceiver to the HMD using the adjusted beamforming direction.

Abstract: A method, system, computer readable media and cloud systems are provided. In one example a method includes generating a virtual reality (VR) environment to be rendered for a head mounted display (HMD) of an HMD player during a session. The HMD player is provided with an HMD view that is controlled by movement of a character in the VR environment by the HMD player. The method includes providing a spectator view into the VR environment. The spectator view is associated with a viewing spot directed into the VR environment. Then, automatically moving said viewing spot of the spectator view to other viewing spots that follow the character in the VR environment. Moving the viewing spot of the spectator view has a delay in movement to follow the HMD view, and said delay in movement does not delay time progress for the session.

Abstract: Systems and methods for executing content to be rendered on a screen of a head mounted display (HMD) are provided. One method includes executing the content to render interactive scenes on the screen and tracking an orientation direction of the HMD when worn on a head of a user and the interactive scenes are being rendered on the screen. The method includes changing view directions into the interactive scenes based on changes in the orientation direction of the HMD, such that movements of the head of the user causes the changes in the view directions into the interactive scenes. The method further includes receiving images of a real world space using a camera of the HMD. The camera of the HMD is configured to capture a location of real world objects in the real world space relative to the user of the HMD.