Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for identifying and describing a group, a coordinating device, and a computer program product. The method includes: accumulating a staying time of a plurality of avatars staying at a certain location, wherein the avatars are controlled by a plurality of users; identifying the avatars as a specific ad-hoc group and monitoring a plurality of interactive behaviors between the avatars if the staying time exceeds a time threshold; providing at least one of the users with a questionnaire based on the interactive behaviors; generating a group description about the specific group formed by the avatars based on a plurality of answers of the at least one of the users on answering the questionnaire; and communicating this description to other users.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media providing focal feedback and control in a three-dimensional display. Focal anchors are provided at different depths and used to determine at what depth the user is currently focusing. The focal anchors are also used to receive input from the user. By looking at a focal anchor, the use can cause the portion of content associated with the focal anchor to be displayed more prominently relative to content displayed at different depths. In one embodiment, predictive feedback is provided at a depth associated with one of the focal anchors.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for identifying and describing a group, a coordinating device, and a computer program product. The method includes: accumulating a staying time of a plurality of avatars staying at a certain location, wherein the avatars are controlled by a plurality of users; identifying the avatars as a specific ad-hoc group and monitoring a plurality of interactive behaviors between the avatars if the staying time exceeds a time threshold; providing at least one of the users with a questionnaire based on the interactive behaviors; generating a group description about the specific group formed by the avatars based on a plurality of answers of the at least one of the users on answering the questionnaire; and communicating this description to other users.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media providing focal feedback and control in a three-dimensional display. Focal anchors are provided at different depths and used to determine at what depth the user is currently focusing. The focal anchors are also used to receive input from the user. By looking at a focal anchor, the use can cause the portion of content associated with the focal anchor to be displayed more prominently relative to content displayed at different depths. In one embodiment, predictive feedback is provided at a depth associated with one of the focal anchors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media providing focal feedback and control in a three-dimensional display. Focal anchors are provided at different depths and used to determine at what depth the user is currently focusing. The focal anchors are also used to receive input from the user. By looking at a focal anchor, the use can cause the portion of content associated with the focal anchor to be displayed more prominently relative to content displayed at different depths. In one embodiment, predictive feedback is provided at a depth associated with one of the focal anchors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media providing focal feedback and control in a three-dimensional display. Focal anchors are provided at different depths and used to determine at what depth the user is currently focusing. The focal anchors are also used to receive input from the user. By looking at a focal anchor, the use can cause the portion of content associated with the focal anchor to be displayed more prominently relative to content displayed at different depths. In one embodiment, predictive feedback is provided at a depth associated with one of the focal anchors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media providing focal feedback and control in a three-dimensional display. Focal anchors are provided at different depths and used to determine at what depth the user is currently focusing. The focal anchors are also used to receive input from the user. By looking at a focal anchor, the use can cause the portion of content associated with the focal anchor to be displayed more prominently relative to content displayed at different depths. In one embodiment, predictive feedback is provided at a depth associated with one of the focal anchors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media providing focal feedback and control in a three-dimensional display. Focal anchors are provided at different depths and used to determine at what depth the user is currently focusing. The focal anchors are also used to receive input from the user. By looking at a focal anchor, the use can cause the portion of content associated with the focal anchor to be displayed more prominently relative to content displayed at different depths. In one embodiment, predictive feedback is provided at a depth associated with one of the focal anchors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media providing focal feedback and control in a three-dimensional display. Focal anchors are provided at different depths and used to determine at what depth the user is currently focusing. The focal anchors are also used to receive input from the user. By looking at a focal anchor, the use can cause the portion of content associated with the focal anchor to be displayed more prominently relative to content displayed at different depths. In one embodiment, predictive feedback is provided at a depth associated with one of the focal anchors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media providing focal feedback and control in a three-dimensional display. Focal anchors are provided at different depths and used to determine at what depth the user is currently focusing. The focal anchors are also used to receive input from the user. By looking at a focal anchor, the use can cause the portion of content associated with the focal anchor to be displayed more prominently relative to content displayed at different depths. In one embodiment, predictive feedback is provided at a depth associated with one of the focal anchors.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for creating virtual replicas of physical objects. A computer system detects that a portion of a physical object has come into the physical vicinity of a portion of a multi-touch input display surface. The computer system accesses object identifying data corresponding to the object. The computer system uses the object identifying data to access image data for the object from a repository of stored image data. The computer system uses the at least the accessed image data to generate a virtual replica of the object. The computer system presents the virtual replica of the object at a location on the multi-touch input display surface where the portion of the object was detected.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for creating virtual replicas of physical objects. A computer system detects that a portion of a physical object has come into the physical vicinity of a portion of a multi-touch input display surface. The computer system accesses object identifying data corresponding to the object. The computer system uses the object identifying data to access image data for the object from a repository of stored image data. The computer system uses the at least the accessed image data to generate a virtual replica of the object. The computer system presents the virtual replica of the object at a location on the multi-touch input display surface where the portion of the object was detected.

Abstract: A user interface is provided that includes a focused view of a task and a user interface object for a second task. If the object is selected, the user interface is fluidly zoomed into the object and then out from the object to focus on the second task. A user interface is also provided that includes a display area having a focus area and a periphery. If a task represented in the periphery is selected, the display area fluidly zooms into the task. The display area may be fluidly zoomed out of the task to show the focus area and periphery. A user interface is also provided that includes a 3D gallery with tasks represented in the gallery. If one of the tasks is selected, the user interface fluidly zooms into focus on the selected task. The user interface may fluidly zooms out of a task to reveal the gallery.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for creating virtual replicas of physical objects. A computer system detects that a portion of a physical object has come into the physical vicinity of a portion of a multi-touch input display surface. The computer system accesses object identifying data corresponding to the object. The computer system uses the object identifying data to access image data for the object from a repository of stored image data. The computer system uses the at least the accessed image data to generate a virtual replica of the object. The computer system presents the virtual replica of the object at a location on the multi-touch input display surface where the portion of the object was detected.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for creating virtual replicas of physical objects. A computer system detects that a portion of a physical object has come into the physical vicinity of a portion of a multi-touch input display surface. The computer system accesses object identifying data corresponding to the object. The computer system uses the object identifying data to access image data for the object from a repository of stored image data. The computer system uses the at least the accessed image data to generate a virtual replica of the object. The computer system presents the virtual replica of the object at a location on the multi-touch input display surface where the portion of the object was detected.

Abstract: An application state of a computer program is stored and associated with a physical object and can be subsequently retrieved when the physical object is detected adjacent to an interactive display surface. An identifying characteristic presented by the physical object, such as a reflective pattern applied to the object, is detected when the physical object is positioned on the interactive display surface. The user or the system can initiate a save of the application state. For example, the state of an electronic game using the interactive display surface can be saved. Attributes representative of the state are stored and associated with the identifying characteristic of the physical object. When the physical object is again placed on the interactive display surface, the physical object is detected based on its identifying characteristic, and the attributes representative of the state can be selectively retrieved and used to recreate the state of the application.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are provided for the visualization and navigation of search results. Scaled visual representations of multiple search results may be displayed on a single display screen. The scaled visual representations of the search results may be organized by category. A user may fluidly zoom the display into a full-scale visual representation of a particular search result, fluidly zoom the display into visual representations of search results within a particular category, obtain scaled visual representations of additional search results within a particular category, or obtain scaled visual representations of search results within one or more sub-categories.

Abstract: A user interface is provided that includes a focused view of a task and a user interface object for a second task. If the object is selected, the user interface is fluidly zoomed into the object and then out from the object to focus on the second task. A user interface is also provided that includes a display area having a focus area and a periphery. If a task represented in the periphery is selected, the display area fluidly zooms into the task. The display area may be fluidly zoomed out of the task to show the focus area and periphery. A user interface is also provided that includes a 3D gallery with tasks represented in the gallery. If one of the tasks is selected, the user interface fluidly zooms into focus on the selected task. The user interface may fluidly zooms out of a task to reveal the gallery.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are provided for supplementing and controlling the display of data set. According to one method, a view of a data set is adaptively rendered on a stationary display device. The location of a portable computing device with respect to the stationary display device is then determined. An area of the stationary display device corresponding to the location of the portable computing device is then determined, and the portion of the data set being rendered in the area is also calculated. Supplemental data corresponding to the portion of the data set rendered in the identified area is then adaptively rendered on a display of the portable computing device. Movement of the portable computing device may also be utilized to control the manner in which the data set is rendered on the stationary display device.