Abstract: A moveable headrest is mounted on or with respect to a support for supporting a user in viewing images in a standing, seated, or reclining posture. The headrest is for supporting the head of the user in executing head movements with a changing direction-of-view. A display mounted with respect to the user's head provides the images. An actuator can be provided for moving the moveable headrest for a passive user. A sensor can be provided for sensing movements of the moveable headrest, i.e., for sensing the movements from a changing direction. The moveable headrest apparatus may include either or both the actuator and the sensor.

Abstract: One or more display elements of an apparatus provide light representative of distant objects and near objects and at least one optical element of the apparatus is responsive to the light representative of the near objects, for providing video images of the near objects at one or more near focal lengths, and is responsive to the light representative of distant objects, for providing video images of the distant objects at one or more far focal length and positioned for viewing at an elevation above the video images of the near objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown that select a focus depth for digital light field image data that represents a scene having a plurality of objects at different focus depths, the selected focus depth corresponding to a layer of the digital light field image data at the selected focus depth, and display the layer of the digital light field image data by utilizing at least one spatial light modulator to present the layer of the digital light field image data at a focal length corresponding to the selected focus depth. A server is shown that communicates with at least one apparatus to facilitate performance of the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown that select a focus depth for digital light field image data that represents a scene having a plurality of objects at different focus depths, the selected focus depth corresponding to a layer of the digital light field image data at the selected focus depth, and display the layer of the digital light field image data by utilizing at least one spatial light modulator to present the layer of the digital light field image data at a focal length corresponding to the selected focus depth. A server is shown that communicates with at least one apparatus to facilitate performance of the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus performing the method transmit an encoded light control signal having computer generated images over a network to a device decoding the received signal and controlling light in an image space for providing the computer generated images with a point of view presented changing in translatory position and orientation with respect to an image space frame of reference corresponding to a changing point of view of images acquired in an object space by an image acquisition device sensed changing in translatory position and orientation during navigation of the image acquisition device in the object space with respect to a frame of reference of the object space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown that select a focus depth for digital light field image data that represents a scene having a plurality of objects at different focus depths, the selected focus depth corresponding to a layer of the digital light field image data at the selected focus depth, and display the layer of the digital light field image data by utilizing at least one spatial light modulator to present the layer of the digital light field image data at a focal length corresponding to the selected focus depth. A server is shown that communicates with at least one apparatus to facilitate performance of the method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which a light control signal comprising successive computer generated images are retrieved from a storage medium and played back in an image space with a point of view with respect to a frame of reference of the image space synchronized with a changing point of view of images acquired in an object space by an image acquisition device sensed in an object space changing in its point of view with respect to a frame of reference of the object space, the frame of reference of the image space corresponding to the frame of reference of the object space.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of (1) navigating an image acquisition device with both translatory and attitudinal movements while acquiring successive images in an object space and at the same time sensing the translatory and attitudinal movements of the device with respect to a three-dimensional reference frame of the object space, (2) providing successive computer generated (CG) images produced by a computer workstation from the successive images captured by the device in synchronization with the sensed translatory and attitudinal movements of the device with respect to the three-dimensional reference frame, and (3) storing the successive CG images on a non-transitory storage medium for later retrieval by a playback device for presentation by the playback device of said successive CG images to at least one eye of a viewer in an image space for perception of the successive CG images. A non-transitory storage medium storing the successive CG images is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus performing the method transmit an encoded light control signal having computer generated images over a network to a device decoding the received signal and controlling light in an image space for providing the computer generated images with a point of view presented changing in translatory position and orientation with respect to an image space frame of reference corresponding to a changing point of view of images acquired in an object space by an image acquisition device sensed changing in translatory position and orientation during navigation of the image acquisition device in the object space with respect to a frame of reference of the object space.

Abstract: A method of (1) navigating a camera with both translatory movements and attitudinal movements while capturing successive images in an object space and at the same time sensing the translatory and attitudinal movements of the camera with respect to a three-dimensional reference frame of the object space, (2) providing successive computer generated images produced by a computer workstation from the successive images in synchronization with the sensed translatory and attitudinal movements of the camera with respect to the three-dimensional reference frame, and (3) storing the successive computer generated images on a non-transitory storage medium for later retrieval by a playback device for presentation by the playback device of said successive computer generated images to at least one eye of a viewer in an image space for perception of the successive computer generated images. A non-transitory storage medium for storing the successive images is also provided.

Abstract: A method in which a light control signal comprising successive images having a field of view is stored for later retrieval by a playback device for controlling light for presentation to a viewer, wherein among the successive images are a sequence of distinct visual fixation images for visual attention of said viewer, each including distinct areas of different visual emphasis within the field of view, wherein the distinct areas move about within the field of view in order to draw the visual attention of the viewer thereto.

Abstract: A method for producing successive nonuniform images for storage is shown with the successive images having a changing point of view that changes direction between images, and a storage medium storing the successive images, wherein a playback device retrieves the successive images for presentation to a viewer, wherein among the successive images are at least four distinct visual fixations presented in a second or two for attention of the viewer, each distinct visual fixation comprising a distinct point of view with distinct resolution.

Abstract: A head guide with a display is attitudinally controlled for guiding the head of a passive viewer wherein the display is for viewing images that are emulative of images viewed by a cameraman with head mounted cameras whose head attitude is monitored for controlling the head guide in synchronism with the images gathered by the cameras. Additionally, the viewer's eyes may be induced to follow a sequence of visual fixations at the same time as the passive viewer's head is induced to execute attitudinal movements consistent therewith.

Abstract: A storage medium has successive nonuniform images stored thereon for retrieval and presentation by a playback device to an eye of a passive viewer, each successive nonuniform image having a highly detailed component and a lesser detailed component, the successive nonuniform images for simulating percepts of an observer of an object space wherein a position of the highly detailed component is changed in selected successive nonuniform images such that a visual axis of the eye of the viewer with respect to a field of view of the selected successive nonuniform images is drawn to passively follow the position of the highly detailed component so that the viewer experiences percepts as if looking through the eyes of the observer of the object space. A method for producing successive nonuniform images for storage on a storage medium is also shown.

Abstract: A telepresence server is for connection to a telecommunications network for providing access to a reality engine for a plurality of passive users. The reality engine can be controlled by an active user or a professional director through the network or by a local professional director. Active/passive mode displays can be used by the passive users in a passive mode and an active/passive mode display can be used by the active user in an active mode.

Abstract: A moveable headrest is mounted on or with respect to a support for supporting a user in viewing images in a standing, seated, or reclining posture. The headrest is for supporting the head of the user in executing head movements with a changing direction-of-view. A display mounted with respect to the user's head provides the images. An actuator can be provided for moving the moveable headrest for a passive user. A sensor can be provided for sensing movements of the moveable headrest, i.e., for sensing the movements from a changing direction. The moveable headrest apparatus may include either or both the actuator and the sensor.

Abstract: A moveable headrest is mounted on or with respect to a support for supporting a user in viewing images in a standing, seated, or reclining posture. The headrest is for supporting the head of the user in executing head movements with a changing direction-of-view. A display mounted with respect to the user's head provides the images. An actuator can be provided for moving the moveable headrest for a passive user. A sensor can be provided for sensing movements of the moveable headrest, i.e., for sensing said movements from a changing direction. The moveable headrest apparatus may include either or both the actuator and the sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing, in response to image signals originating in an object space, mixed image signals for providing nonuniform resolution images for stimulating simulated active percepts for passive perception by a viewer in an image space. The images have a highly detailed component which has its image content changed according to changes in the direction of a simulated observer's eye position in an object space. The images may be provided stereoscopically. The images may be provided at various apparent distances and the relationship between accommodation and convergence may be preserved. Audio waves for directionally simulating that which would be heard by the simulated observer may be provided.

Abstract: A telepresence server is for connection to a telecommunications network for providing access to a reality engine for a plurality of passive users. The reality engine can be controlled by an active user or a professional director through the network or by a local professional director. Active/passive mode displays can be used by the passive users in a passive mode and an active/passive mode display can be used by the active user in an active mode.

Abstract: Light (22) is projected from an image projector (20), in response to an image information signal (18) and is controllably refracted in response to a first control signal (26), for projecting refracted light (27) onto a screen (28). The screened light is for providing viewable images of varying size occupying all or part of the screen. The viewable images are refracted in response to a second control signal (64) for viewing the images of increasingly smaller size with correspondingly increasing magnification.