Abstract: There is provided a media player device for use with a text medium having a plurality of pages each having a plurality of words, the media player device comprising an audio output, a memory storing a text medium application software; and a processor configured to execute the text medium application software to receive a first signal emitted from a wireless communication element embedded in the text medium, the first signal including a text medium ID uniquely identifying the text medium, and play an audio, via the audio output and in response to receiving the text medium ID, wherein the audio corresponds to the text medium ID and the audio pronounces the plurality of words in a same sequence appearing in each of the plurality of pages.

Abstract: Techniques to facilitate compression of depth data and real-time reconstruction of high-quality light fields. A parameter space of values for a line, pairs of endpoints on different sides of the line, and a palette index for each pixel of a pixel tile of a depth image is sampled. Values for the line, the pairs of endpoints, and the palette index that minimize an error are determined and stored.

Abstract: An interactive autonomous robot is configured for deployment within a social environment. The disclosed robot includes a show subsystem configured to select between different in-character behaviors depending on robot status, thereby allowing the robot to appear in-character despite technical failures. The disclosed robot further includes a safety subsystem configured to intervene with in-character behavior when necessary to enforce safety protocols. The disclosed robot is also configured with a social subsystem that interprets social behaviors of humans and then initiates specific behavior sequences in response.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing a platform to provide virtual storefronts to consumers. Environmental elements are associated with specific consumer services on computer server. A user in the environment takes audio or visual recordings of an environmental element and uploads the recordings to the server. The server determines the appropriate consumer service associated with the recorded environmental element and provides the user with a reference to the service. Accordingly, any space, such as a bus stop, subway or train terminal, movie theater, or airport, may be turned into a virtual store.

Abstract: A head for a walk-around costume is provided that is adapted for enhanced visibility. The costume head includes an outer shell defining an interior space for receiving a head of a human performer. The outer shell includes an aperture allowing incoming light from an exterior space to enter the interior space, and an eye location for the human performer is spaced apart from the aperture when the head is received in the interior space. To provide an enlarged field of view, the costume head includes an optical viewfinder assembly disposed within the interior space of the outer shell between the aperture and the eye location. The optical viewfinder assembly is adapted for receiving the incoming light and transmitting the incoming light to the eye location to move a viewpoint of the human performer to the aperture to provide a larger field of view of the exterior space.

Abstract: A system for displaying three dimensional (3D) images. The system includes a 3D display operating in a first state to display a 3D image by outputting light into a viewing space and operating in a second state in which the 3D image is not displayed. The system further includes a screen element positioned between the 3D display and the viewing space. The screen element reflects light from the viewing space to appear opaque to a viewer in the viewing space when the 3D display operates in the second state. The screen element transmits the light output by the 3D display, whereby the 3D display image is perceivable by the viewer in the viewing space. The screen element includes a sheet of mesh or netting material that transmits light output by the 3D display through its pores or openings and may be a planar sheet of scrim or tulle.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for improved stream generation. A target average bitrate (TAB) segment is generated by encoding a first segment, of a plurality of segments in a video, using a first maximum average bitrate (MAB) of a plurality of MABs specified in an encoding ladder. An intermediate average bitrate (IAB) segment is generated by encoding the first segment using a first intermediate bitrate, wherein the first intermediate bitrate is lower than the first MAB. Upon receiving a request for the first segment at the first MAB, the IAB segment is output based at least in part on determining that a first quality score of the IAB segment is within a predefined tolerance of a second quality score of the TAB segment.

Abstract: A robot including a hybrid fan-based and fluid-based propulsion system to provide thrust, such as deceleration during fall to create a smooth landing or to provide a quick reduction in velocity, and to provide actuation/controlled motion, such as to hover after quick deceleration and to control orientation or pose. The hybrid propulsion system uses discharging of pressurized fluid and exhausted gas (or fluid in some cases) from ducted fans (or propellers, impellers, and the like) to provide controlled thrust and/or lift forces. The hybrid propulsion system uses of pressurized fluid for generating larger or primary thrust and quick changes in velocity. The hybrid propulsion system includes a fan-based propulsion assembly with ducted fans that use environmental air (or fluids) to provide lower or secondary thrust. Both types of propulsion can be integrated into a robot or robotic figure to move the robot during flight (e.g., during falling or hovering).

Abstract: A system comprises active magnetic emitters positioned within an area, passive magnetic emitters configured to be moved within the area, a magnetic field detector configured to measure a strength and direction of a magnetic field within the area, and a processor in communication with the magnetic field detector. The passive magnetic emitters are configured to be integrated in, coupled to, or secured to at least one tracked object or tracked subject within the area. The processor is configured to evaluate at least one change in the measured strength and direction of the magnetic field end send a signal to a visual effect actuator or visual effects display to initiate a visual effect based on the at least one change. A method and computer program product relating to the system is also provided.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to presentation of a first effect on one or more presentation devices during an oral recitation of a first story. The first effect is associated with a first trigger point, first content, and/or first story. The first trigger point being one or more specific syllables from a word and/or phrase in the first story. A first transmission point associated with the first effect can be determined based on a latency of a presentation device and user speaking profile. The first transmission point being one or more specific syllables from a word and/or phrase before the first trigger point in the first story. Control signals for instructions to present the first content at the first trigger point are transmitted to the presentation device when a user recites the first transmission point such that first content is presented at the first trigger point.

Abstract: Interactive multimedia package methods and systems are provided. An interactive multimedia package system may generate, manage, deliver, and/or play interactive multimedia packages with various digital media. An interactive multimedia package may be incorporated into any platform such as physical media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, etc.), web services (e.g., download, or streaming), and other applications. A user may shop directly off of the digital media that he or she is experiencing (e.g., watching a movie, viewing a digital news, reading an e-book, playing a video game, etc.) The user may be directed to an e-commerce website, a digital storefront, or a list of items associated with an object, by clicking on the object of interest in the digital media.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein provide techniques for generating a virtual object for a VR/AR environment in response to a trigger. A VR/AR application executing on a client device receives a media content item. The VR/AR application detects an event trigger associated with the media content item. The VR/AR application generates at least a portion of a virtual object based on the event trigger. The VR/AR application displays the media content item and the at least a portion of the virtual object on a display associated with a user device.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a map inference application automatically maps a user space. A camera is positioned within the user space. In operation, the map inference application determines a path of a first moving object within the user space based on a tracking dataset generated from images captured by the camera. Subsequently, the map inference application infers a walking space within the user space based on the path. The map inference application then generates a model of at least a portion of the user space based on the walking space. One or more movements of a second object within the user space are based on the model. Advantageously, unlike prior art solutions, the map inference application enables a model of a user space to be automatically and efficiently generated based on images from a single stationary camera.

Abstract: In one implementation, a virtual-world simulator includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a software code, a tracking system communicatively coupled to the computing platform, and a projection device communicatively coupled to the computing platform. The hardware processor is configured to execute the software code to obtain a map of a geometry of a real-world venue including the virtual-world simulator, to identify one or more virtual effects for display in the real-world venue, and to use the tracking system to track a moving perspective of one of a user in the real-world venue or a camera in the real-world venue. The hardware processor is further configured to execute the software code to control the projection device to simulate a virtual-world by conforming the identified one or more virtual effects to the geometry of the real-world venue from a present vantage point of the tracked moving perspective.

Abstract: A modeling engine generates a prediction model that quantifies and predicts secondary dynamics associated with the face of a performer enacting a performance. The modeling engine generates a set of geometric representations that represents the face of the performer enacting different facial expressions under a range of loading conditions. For a given facial expression and specific loading condition, the modeling engine trains a Machine Learning model to predict how soft tissue regions of the face of the performer change in response to external forces applied to the performer during the performance. The modeling engine combines different expression models associated with different facial expressions to generate a prediction model. The prediction model can be used to predict and remove secondary dynamics from a given geometric representation of a performance or to generate and add secondary dynamics to a given geometric representation of a performance.

Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to a method, comprising: receiving tapped data that was tapped from a controller of an industrial control system (ICS) while the controller executed first control code to control ICS devices of the ICS, the tapped data used during execution of the first control code, and the tapped data comprising input data obtained from one or more input components of the controller communicatively coupled to the ICS devices, or output data obtained from one or more output components of the controller communicatively coupled to the ICS devices; and after receiving the tapped data, executing, using at least the tapped data, second control code that provides an emulation of the controller, the emulation comprising running, using at least the tapped data, a process of the first control code at a faster rate than it is run by the controller executing the first control code.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided, which may be implemented to combine and distribute user enhanced video and/or audio content.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for displaying supplemental content. The method includes determining environmental characteristics, e.g., wall space, empty areas, colors, etc., for a display environment, determining supplemental content based in part on a primary content displayed by a primary display, and displaying the supplemental content in the display environment.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for changing the identities of faces in images. In embodiments, a tunable model for changing facial identities in images includes an encoder, a decoder, and dense layers that generate either adaptive instance normalization (AdaIN) coefficients that control the operation of convolution layers in the decoder or the values of weights within such convolution layers, allowing the model to change the identity of a face in an image based on a user selection. A separate set of dense layers may be trained to generate AdaIN coefficients for each of a number of facial identities, and the AdaIN coefficients output by different sets of dense layers can be combined to interpolate between facial identities. Alternatively, a single set of dense layers may be trained to take as input an identity vector and output AdaIN coefficients or values of weighs within convolution layers of the decoder.