Abstract: A tangible object virtualization station including a base capable of stably resting on a surface and a head component unit connected to the base. The head component unit extends upwardly from the base. At an end of the head component opposite the base, the head component comprises a camera situated to capture a downward view of the surface proximate the base, a lighting array that directs light downward toward the surface proximate the base. The tangible object virtualization station further comprises a display interface included in the base. The display interface is configured to hold a display device in an upright position and connect the display device to the camera and the lighting array.

Abstract: A computing device is described. In an example implementation, the computing device includes a housing including a display screen on a front surface, the housing and display screen being collectively positionable in a plurality of physical orientations, an input device that includes a first selection mechanism and a second selection mechanism, the first selection mechanism being actuatable to adjust a setting of an output of an application displayed on the display screen, the second selection mechanism being actuatable to adjust the setting of the output of the application displayed on the display screen, and an orientation sensor configured to determine which physical orientation of the plurality of physical orientations that the display screen is positioned in, and change a first input polarity of the first selection mechanism to correspond to the determined physical orientation of the display screen.

Abstract: An example system includes a computing device located proximate to a physical activity surface, a video capture device, and a detector. The video capture device is coupled for communication with the computing device and is adapted to capture a video stream that includes an activity scene of the physical activity surface and one or more interface objects physically intractable with by a user. The detector processes the video stream to detect the one or more interface objects included in the activity scene, to identify the one or more interface objects that are detectable, to generate one or more events describing the one or more interface objects, and to provide the one or more events to an activity application configured to render virtual information on the one or more computing devices based on the one or more events.

Abstract: Various implementations for a display positioning system include stand with a front a back surface being connected to form a curved bend such that the bottom edges of the front and back surface are spread out to support the stand, the front surface is further connected to a stand lip forming a stand channel between the front surface and an extended portion of the stand lip, an insert configured to rest within the stand channel of the stand and including a front plate and a back plate that extend beyond a top portion of the insert and form an insert channel, the insert channel being configured to receive a first edge of a computing device and support the computing device in an elevated position, and an adapter with an optical element that is configured to rest within a first slot in the stand when not in use.

Abstract: Various implementations for object detection include a method includes capturing a video stream that includes an activity object and a pointing object, identifying the activity object, displaying a graphical user interface embodying a virtual scene based on the identified activity object, determining a location of the pointing object relative to the activity object, determining a routine based on the location of the pointing object relative to the activity object, and executing the routine within the virtual scene.

Abstract: A display positioning system is described. In an example implementation, the display positioning system includes an adapter adapted to redirect a field of view of a video capture device of a computing device; and a stand adapted to situate on a surface, the stand including one or more legs that are adjustable to modify a distance between the video capture device of the computing device and the surface when the computing device is placed on the stand to adjust the field of view of the video capture device.

Abstract: Activity scene detection, display, and enhancement implementations are described. In an example implementation, a method includes displaying an animated character on a display of a computing device, detecting a tangible interface object on a physical activity scene proximate to the computing device, rendering a virtual interface object based on the tangible interface object, determining an interaction routine between the animated character and the virtual interface object, and executing the animation routine to animate on the display, an interaction between the animated character and the virtual interface object.

Abstract: Various implementations for detection and visualization of a formation of a tangible interface object include a method that includes capturing a video stream that includes an activity object and a formation of a tangible interface object, identifying the activity object, determining a virtual object based on the identity of the activity object, displaying a graphical user interface embodying a virtual scene and including the virtual object, detecting a formation of the tangible interface object, generating a virtualization based on the formation of the tangible interface object, and updating the graphical user interface to include the visualization.

Abstract: An example system includes a stand configured to position a computing device proximate to a physical activity surface. The system further includes a video capture device, a detector, and an activity application. The video capture device is coupled for communication with the computing device and is adapted to capture a video stream that includes an activity scene of the physical activity surface and one or more interface objects physically interactable with by a user. The detector is executable to detect motion in the activity scene based on the processing and, responsive to detecting the motion, process the video stream to detect one or more interface objects included in the activity scene of the physical activity surface. The activity application is executable to present virtual information on a display of the computing device based on the one or more detected interface objects.

Abstract: An example method for virtualizing physical objects into a virtual environment includes capturing a video stream of a racing field component, displaying a graphical user interface embodying a virtual game, detecting a placement of a physical vehicle at a starting portion of a channel of the racing field component, identifying one or more characteristics of the physical vehicle at the starting portion, generating a virtual vehicle representation of the physical vehicle using the one or more characteristics of the physical vehicle, and displaying the virtual vehicle representation of the physical vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for virtualized tangible programming are described. In an example implementation, a method includes detecting an object in image data, performing a comparison between the object and a predefined set of object definitions, recognizing the object as a visually quantified object or a visually unquantified object based on the comparison, processing a command region and a quantifier region for the visually quantified object and identifying a corresponding command, and executing a set of commands for the object.