Abstract: A personal work environment of a personal computer (PC) can be automatically set based on information stored in an IC card and information stored in a server. Personal authentication information of an individual who performs some work by using the PC is stored in the IC card and sets of the personal authentication information of the user, AP (application) related information, a data file, OS (operating system), and an AP are stored in the server in correspondence to an individual. When the user sets the IC card into the PC, the PC automatically starts up, reads out the personal authentication information in the IC card, downloads information necessary to start the work from the server, and automatically reproduces the work environment at the time when the user interrupted the previous work on the basis of environment information at the end of the previous work included in the above information.

Abstract: An image producing/displaying apparatus capable of inputting a command for changing a state of an object regardless of a form of the object includes a virtual world expressing system for constructing a virtual world including at least one object and environment in which the object exists and producing an image for visually displaying at least part of the virtual world, an output system for visualizing the image produced by the virtual world expressing system and outputting the image, and a command input system for inputting a command to the virtual world expressing system. The command input system detects a movement state of a specific pixel pattern contained in an image formed by an imaging device and extracts feature quantity from the movement state to recognize the command so that the command is notified to the virtual world expressing system.

Abstract: In order to generate an image, modelling data representing image features of the image are stored in a data base, and first characteristics, such as colors, are stored in another data base. An analyzer unit is then able to assign the first characteristics to the image features in an objective way. Subjective properties, e.g. `darker`, `lighter`, are also defined over a range for the image features and a user interface permits a user to select an appropriate value of the subjective property within the range, thereby to generate a second characteristic on the basis of rules relating to the subjective properties stored in a data base. An interpreter unit then modifies the first characteristic on the basis of the second characteristic before the selected image features are rendered into an image by a rendering unit for display by a display unit.

Abstract: A video conference system control section accepts reservation of a party with which a video conference is the to be held and a video conference date and time entered through a keying section, and stores the reservation contents in an information storage section and also sends them through a communication network transmitting-receiving section to an information center for registration. In response to the stored registration contents, the video conference system control section 109 controls a power unit and the communication network transmitting-receiving section to start up at least a part of the video conference system for calling the party with which the video conference is to be held and setting up a call between them before the video conference date and time.

Abstract: A video telephone system which includes a master video telephone terminal (secretary terminal) connected to a communication network and slave video telephone terminals (executive terminals) connected to the master video telephone terminal in which the master video telephone terminal can transfer a call to the slave video telephone terminals. When a call comes into the secretary terminal from a remote terminal on the communication network, a line control section of the secretary terminal sets up a line. Video data and speech data received on the line are decoded by a video signal coding-decoding section and an aural signal coding-decoding section and the decoded signals are output through a display and a speech output device. Sound and images picked up by a microphone and a camera respectively are coded for transmission.

Abstract: A biological image formation aiding system and a biological image forming method are provided in which three-dimensional data corresponding to a standard shape of a biological article, standard motion thereof, and a standard material feeling of an outer surface of the biological article are prepared, and a realistic three-dimensional synthesized image of an entire biological article with individuality can be formed simply.