Abstract: There are provided an infrared LED panel for always applying infrared light to the back surface of a semi-transparent screen, a CCD camera for capturing only infrared light coming from the semi-transparent screen, and a projector for projecting an image onto the semi-transparent screen (with light not including infrared light). When a user performs a manipulation on the front side of the semi-transparent screen, the quantity of reflected infrared light varies. A control device picks up a variation in reflection light quantity as detection image information based on an imaging signal of the CCD camera. Further, in accordance with manipulation information that is obtained based on the detection image information, the control device executes controls necessary for, for instance, switching of an interface image to be displayed on the semi-transparent screen. A manipulation method may be in such a form as to cause a variation in detection image information through reflection of infrared light.

Abstract: In an information processing device, when an operation button is pushed, a menu is displayed on the screen of an LCD. When the whole portable type information processing device (PDA) is rotated around the X-axis, the Y-axis or the Z-axis with the operation button being pushed, the rotation is detected by a triaxial gyro sensor, and on the basis of the detection result a cursor displayed on the screen is moved on the menu. By releasing the operation button when the cursor is located on a desired menu item, the selection of the menu item at which the cursor is located is settled, and the processing corresponding to the selected menu item is started.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including: an image acquiring element for acquiring a target image; an identification information recognizing element for recognizing identification information corresponding to a specific image pattern from the target image acquired by the image acquiring element; and an activating element for activating selectively from among a plurality of previously stored processes a specific process corresponding to the identification information recognized by the identification information recognizing element so as to start execution of the specific process.

Abstract: At least a part of the three-dimensional community space is divided into regions and the right to use a region is sold at a particular price to a user who wants to obtain it. A user having the right to use a region is allowed to build an element such as a building or a signboard in the region via an avatar. If an attractive signboard with high originally is built, the region in which the signboard is built and also nearby regions become popular. As a result, the economic value of such a region becomes high. If desired, a user is allowed to resell his/her region via auction.

Abstract: A device for managing image and audio files displays thumbnails, which are representative of the files, on a screen in different arrangements, depending on the selected layout and order. When the user enters input to indicates that he or she wishes to browse through the thumbnails, the thumbnails move across the screen in sequence, following a path through a focus outline in the center of the screen. The path followed by the thumbnails depends on the selected layout.

Abstract: Three-dimensional image processing has two processes. In a first process, a three-dimensional space including only a horizon appears on a display screen. By drawing a stroke line in the space, a wall having the stroke line as the base line is set as a canvas. A picture drawn by a user is mapped onto the canvas, resulting in a three-dimensional picture. By repeatedly setting the canvases and pictures, a desired scene can be constructed. A desired three-dimensional scene can further be obtained by rotating the canvas or moving the viewing point. In a second process, the base line of the canvas is constantly displaced between a first curve, a second curve, and an interpolation curve. The three-dimensional image pasted on the canvas is moved in accordance with the movement of the canvas. Thus, it appears to the user that the three-dimensional image is animating.

Abstract: In an information processing device, when an operation button is pushed, a menu is displayed on the screen of an LCD. When the whole portable type information processing device (PDA) is rotated around the X-axis, the Y-axis or the Z-axis with the operation button being pushed, the rotation is detected by a triaxial gyro sensor, and on the basis of the detection result a cursor displayed on the screen is moved on the menu. By releasing the operation button when the cursor is located on a desired menu item, the selection of the menu item at which the cursor is located is settled, and the processing corresponding to the selected menu item is started.

Abstract: A two-dimensional code recognition processing apparatus, and two-dimensional code recognition processing program storage medium for recognizing a two-dimensional code made of a plurality of square cells arranged in accordance with predetermined layout rules, wherein two-dimensional code recognition processing method comprises the steps of recognizing code data assigned to the two-dimensional code, from externally captured image information, and if a plurality of code data are recognized successively over time in the recognizing step, or if a plurality of code data are recognized from the same image information in the recognizing step, then linking the plurality of code data to generate expanded code data.

Abstract: A digital object is manipulated by way of a physical object. As a digital space on a computer is deeply fused with a physical real space, it becomes possible to input user commands not only by way of native user input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard but also various physical objects that are scattered in the real world and draw out a digital object by way of a physical object. As a result, computers can be operated in a more intuitive and easy way and become attractive to the users.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image processing apparatus comprising: an image acquiring element for acquiring an object image; a displaying element for displaying the object image acquired by the image acquiring element; an identification information recognizing element for recognizing, from the object image acquired by the image acquiring element, identification information representing each of a plurality of predetermined image patterns; a retrieving element for retrieving, based on previously input retrieval information, identification information coinciding with the identification information recognized by the identification information recognizing element; and a cursor display controlling element for displaying, based on results of the retrieving by the retrieving element, a cursor in a position corresponding to the predetermined image pattern displayed by the displaying element.

Abstract: There are provided an infrared LED panel for always applying infrared light to the back surface of a semi-transparent screen, a CCD camera for capturing only infrared light coming from the semi-transparent screen, and a projector for projecting an image onto the semi-transparent screen (with light not including infrared light). When a user performs a manipulation on the front side of the semi-transparent screen, the quantity of reflected infrared light varies. A control device picks up a variation in reflection light quantity as detection image information based on an imaging signal of the CCD camera. Further, in accordance with manipulation information that is obtained based on the detection image information, the control device executes controls necessary for, for instance, switching of an interface image to be displayed on the semi-transparent screen. A manipulation method may be in such a form as to cause a variation in detection image information through reflection of infrared light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data display apparatus by which data transmission between different image display portions can be performed by natural, easy and simple operations.

Abstract: An information processing system stores information of various types, which is obtained in the real world, in connection with keys indicative of the attribute and feature of the information so that the real-world information is stored quickly and surely in the virtual world which is formed of the linkage of information and stored information of various types is retrieved easily.

Abstract: A table and an apparatus of the other party as a picture in the actual world are displayed on a picture plane of a portable display, a three-dimensional virtual object generated by computer graphics and so on is displayed on the table, and the shade thereof is displayed on the table. With this, even in the midst of a work in the actual world, it is possible to switch the work simply to a work in the virtual world only by shifting eyes to a picture plane of a portable display. Further, it is possible to grasp the position in the space of a three-dimensional virtual object easily by displaying the shade. It is made so that the work in the virtual world may be performed easily as described even while the work in the actual world is continued.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a virtual reality space that can be shared by unspecified users world-wide by the steps of composing, when a Universal Resource Locator (URL) is transmitted from a client terminal via a network, a three-dimensional virtual reality space of only basic objects of which basic states do not change and sending the Internet Protocol (IP) address of a shared server terminal from an information server and a mapping server to the transmitting client terminal. When the client terminal accesses the shared server based on the received IP address, information associated with avatars (update objects) representing users of other client terminals is transmitted from the shared server, displaying the virtual reality space reflecting the avatars on the client terminal. Consequently, the three-dimensional virtual reality space can be shared without changing the existing Internet.

Abstract: The invention provides an information retrieval apparatus and an information retrieval method by which information can be retrieved in an improved operability. A CPU controls a video camera to fetch an image and controls a GPS to detect a current position. The CPU reads out, from within image data stored in a corresponding relationship with URLs of WWW servers, those image data which correspond to position data regarding positions around the detected current position from a WWW data base via a modem and a host machine. Then, the CPU selects, from among the read out image data, that image data which matches with the fetched data, reads out a URL corresponding to the image data and accesses a WWW server designated by the URL.