Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for rendering computer graphics using texture maps are disclosed. Multiple texture maps with disparate data types, such as a mix of integer data types for RGB colors and floating point data types for XYZ normal vector components, are passed as one texture map set to a graphics processing unit (GPU). Filter parameters and other interpolation parameters are re-used between the disparate texture maps. A user can specify a number of integer and floating point-based channels for processing at one time by the GPU, thereby customizing a texture set structure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: displaying on a screen a partial area image indicating a given area within an image to be displayed; moving the given area in response to a predetermined operation performed by a user; and determining whether or not the given area is located at an end portion of the image to be displayed, where, when the given area is located at the end portion of the image to be displayed, in response to the predetermined operation performed by the user, instead of moving the given area, changing an appearance of the partial area image displayed on the screen and displaying the partial area image on the screen.

Abstract: Improved methods are provided for calibrating color on a color display coupled to a computer, which are useful for obtaining calibrated data in a virtual proof network for enabling different color devices to render consistent color. Methods involve user interactions with screens on the display to set color display parameters. An apparatus is also provided for calibrating a sensor which may be used for measuring color of a display in one or more of these methods.

Abstract: A solution for managing a videoconference is provided. Multiple virtual backgrounds can be stored, and a virtual background can be selected to be used for a first participant when he/she is conducting a videoconference with a second participant. The virtual background can be selected based on one or more attributes of the first and/or second participant, one or more attributes of the videoconference, and/or the like. The virtual backgrounds can be utilized, for example, to provide a desired perception, message, and/or the like, of a business entity to individuals outside of the business entity that are interacting with its personnel via videoconferencing. The virtual background can include static image data, a live video feed, a recorded video feed, a static web page of a business entity, and a non-static web page of the business entity.

Abstract: A rendering engine is described that implements rendering techniques to render 2D illustrations by assigning light values to objects that define an illustration ‘inside out’. Light values may be assigned to a first object and subsequently inherited by objects that are hierarchly related to the first object. The light values assigned to the objects may include a light variable that depends on a relationship between the two or more groups of objects. Various rendering techniques may be employed by the rendering engine to render illustrations that are both customizable and realistic in appearance.

Abstract: An example non-limiting game apparatus as an information processing apparatus includes a CPU which causes the game apparatus to function as a guide apparatus. A map image of a place or area to be guided is displayed on a lower LCD. When a predetermined position on the map image is designated, a photograph image of a part of a panoramic image produced from a panoramic photograph taken at a real position in a real space that corresponds to the predetermined position is displayed on a stereoscopic LCD. Therefore, not only a planar map image but also an actual photograph at the predetermined position are presented. Furthermore, if the map image is turned, the photograph image of a part of the panoramic image is changed such that the photograph image corresponds to a turned direction.

Abstract: A display controller comprising a blending stage and a blending controller. The blending stage is provided for blending multiple image layers into one display output image and comprises a plurality of input channels for receiving pixel data for the multiple image layers. The blending stage further comprises multiple blenders for combining the pixel data received by at least two input channels of the plurality of input channels. The blending controller is coupled to the blending stage for controlling operation of the blending stage. The blending stage further comprises a controllable switch for coupling an output of at least one blender of the multiple blenders to a display output of the blending stage for regular on-the-fly blending or to an offline blending memory for storing a result of an offline blending task.

Abstract: A method for generating three-dimensional graphics includes generating a virtual environment in a server including a first object, second object and a direct illumination source. The method includes generating a virtual point light (VPL) in the virtual environment at an intersection between a ray from the direct illumination source and the first object, and sending data corresponding to the VPL to a client computing device through a data network. The method includes generating an illumination of the second object in the virtual environment with the VPL received from the server, and displaying the illuminated second object.

Abstract: A graphics processing apparatus performs tile based compositing operations. Tile metadata includes flag data, such as transparency and/or intensity flag data, indicating whether a given input graphics tile makes less than a predetermined first threshold level of contribution or more than a second predetermined threshold level of contribution to a corresponding output graphics tile. For example, if an input graphics tile is transparent, then its reading from a memory and/or subsequent processing may be suppressed. If a given input graphics tile is opaque, then underlying input graphics tiles that are obscured may have their reading and/or further processing suppressed.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for realistically reproducing an eyeball that may verify and analyze a material property and a deformation property with respect to each of constituent portions of an eyeball and may render each of the constituent portions based on the analyzed priorities, thereby more realistically reproducing the eyeball.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus and a method for switching a display mode are provided. The method includes: turning on the electronic apparatus to enter a full-screen display mode; switching the full-screen display mode to a block display mode when a mode-switching signal is triggered; and enabling a corresponding operation interface in the block display mode according to an execution state of an operation system of the electronic apparatus in the full-screen display mode and displaying the operation interface in the designated block of the display unit.

Abstract: Embodiments that relate to communicating to a user of a head-mounted display device an estimated quality level of a world-lock display mode are disclosed. For example, in one disclosed embodiment a sensor data is received from one or more sensors of the device. Using the sensor data, an estimated pose of the device is determined. Using the estimated pose, one or more virtual objects are displayed via the device in either the world-lock display mode or in a body-lock display mode. One or more of input uncertainty values of the sensor data and pose uncertainty values of the estimated pose are determined. The input uncertainty values and/or pose uncertainty values are mapped to the estimated quality level of the world-lock display mode. Feedback of the estimated quality level is communicated to a user via device.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing graphics data may include a plurality of processing pipelines, each pipeline configured to receive and process pixel data. A functional unit may combine the outputs of each processing pipeline. A buffer included in a given processing pipeline may be configured to store data from the functional unit in response to a determination that the given processing pipeline is inactive. The buffer may then send the stored data to a memory.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products describe physical structures for interactive computer displays. A tangible, three-dimensional structure has an interior and an exterior surface. A bundle of optical fibers propagates light through the interior to the exterior surface of the three-dimensional structure. A magnet in the three-dimensional structure produces an attractive force, and a marker on the exterior surface identifies the three-dimensional structure and the magnet.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for searching within images. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a query from a user device; receiving a query image from the user device; identifying a result image responsive to the query; determining that an object depicted in a sub-portion of the query image is similar to the result image; and in response to determining that the object depicted in the sub-portion of the query image is similar to the result image: providing annotation data to the user device that causes the user device to display an annotation with the query image, the annotation specifying the sub-portion of the query image that includes the object that is similar to the result image.

Abstract: Recently there has been an increase in awareness of work/life stressors and their debilitating affect on human functionality. These stressors can arise from environmental conditions, poor quality artificial lighting and/or too much or too little ambient lighting, poorly configured or ineffectual display screens. The invention includes a method of presenting an image to be viewed by the subject on a background of a first color, and by way of an iterative process a user is led through a series of screens in order to determine their optimum color combination. A means is provided for storing reaction times and for varying the image to be viewed in a second and subsequent interval, so as to derive second and subsequent reaction times. An optimum color is selected that corresponds to the quickest reaction time.

Abstract: An input information obtaining portion of a control section obtains requests input from an input device by a user, which requests include a display region moving request to enlarge/reduce or scroll an image displayed on a display device and a request to generate/erase a viewport, change the size of a viewport, or move a viewport. A viewport control portion successively determines the number, arrangement, and size of viewports accordingly. A display region determining portion determines the region of an image to be displayed next in each viewport. A loading portion determines tile images to be newly loaded, and loads the data of the tile images from a hard disk drive. A decoding portion decodes the data of tile images used for rendering the image in each viewport. A display image processing portion updates the display region independently for each viewport.

Abstract: Target augmentation makes GIS data collection devices more intuitive and useful for GIS workers, and reduces GIS data collection errors.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for visually presenting a virtual environment relative to a physical workspace. An output device visually presents a view of the virtual environment to guide a human operator in performing a number of operations within the physical workspace. A mounting structure holds the output device and is movable with at least one degree of freedom relative to the physical workspace. A sensor system measures movement of the output device relative to the physical workspace to generate sensor data. A controller computes a transformation matrix and the set of scale factors to align the virtual environment and the physical workspace. The controller changes the view of virtual environment based on the sensor data to thereby change the view of the virtual environment in correspondence with the movement of the output device relative to the physical workspace.