Abstract: A computing device can be controlled based on changes in the angle of a user's head with respect to the device, such as due to the user tilting the device and/or the user tilting his head with respect to the device. Such control based on the angle of the user's head can be achieved even when the user is operating the device “off-axis” or when the device is not orthogonal and/or not centered with respect to the user. This can be accomplished by using an elastic reference point that dynamically adjusts to a detected angle of the user's head with respect to the device. Such an approach can account for differences between when the user is changing his natural resting position and/or the resting position of the device and when the user is intending to perform a gesture based on the angle of the user's head relative to the device.

Abstract: One or more frames of video data may depict content that is determined to likely be of interest to a user. A video segment that includes the one or more frames may be determined. Based at least partly on one or more first summarization parameters associated with the user, a first video summarization may be generated, where the first video summarization includes the first video segment and possibly other video segments associated with the video data. The first video summarization may be provided to the user. Upon receiving data that is representative of user feedback relating to the first video summarization, one or more second summarization parameters may be determined based at least partly on the data. A second video summarization of the video data may be generated based at least partly on the one or more second summarization parameters. The second video summarization may then be provided to the user.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed at least partly to a kiosk that provides high speed data transfer of content to a user device associated with the user. The kiosk may be located in frequently visited locations such as travel terminals or public spaces. The kiosks may provide instructions to users about how to receive some of the content on user devices via a high speed data transfer. The kiosk may detect and prepare a user device for receipt of electronic content by wirelessly exchanging information with the user device, such as consent information, memory allocation information, and/or other relevant data. The high speed data transfer may use high speed data transfer protocols that enable download of full-length movies in a matter of a few seconds.

Abstract: Approaches are described for managing a display of content on a computing device. Content (e.g., images, application data, etc.) is displayed on an interface of the device. An activation movement performed by a user (e.g., a double-tap) can cause the device to enable a content view control mode (such as a zoom control mode) that can be used to adjust a portion of the content being displayed on the interface. The activation movement can also be used to set an area of interest and display a graphical element indicating that the content view control mode is activated. In response to a motion being detected (e.g., a forward tilt or backward of the device), the device can adjust a portion of the content being displayed on the interface, such as displaying a “zoomed-in” portion or a “zoomed-out” portion of the image.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed at least partly to a cloud prediction device that provides information to a kiosk. The cloud prediction device may receive information from a user device associated with a user, such as travel information, itineraries, calendar events, emails, etc, which may be used to determine the information. The information may also include user preferences, user recommendations, and/or historical data that may be used to determine content to be provided by the kiosk for the user and/or other users. The kiosk may provide innovative user interfaces to engage a user and provide high speed data transfer of content to a user device associated with the user. The kiosk may be located in frequently visited locations such as travel terminals or public spaces.

Abstract: Data provided on a first computing device is represented by a graphical object displayed on a screen. A user can initiate an “attach event” with a gesture to enable the graphical object to be associated and/or virtually attached to the user and/or a user's hand/fingers. An image capture component can view/track user movements. Based on the viewed/tracked movements, the graphical object representing the data on the first computing device can be moved on a screen of the first computing device to correspond to the movement of the user's hand/finger. The graphical object also can be moved to a position on a screen of a second computing device when the user moves a hand/fingers to an area corresponding to the position. A user may initiate a “release event” with a gesture and can end the association and enable the data to be sent to the second computing device.

Abstract: Image capture can be improved by capturing a sequence of images and analyzing the images to select the image with the least blur and/or an acceptable amount of blur. Gradients can be calculated for at least a portion of the images, and gradient histograms generated. Two or more component curves can be fit to each histogram, such as by using a Gaussian mixture model, and the curves can be compared to determine an amount of variation between the curves. The image with the smallest differences between component curves, or with differences less than a specified blur threshold, can be selected as a sufficiently sharp image and provided for viewing, processing, or another intended purpose of the image to be captured.

Abstract: A computing device can be controlled based on changes in the angle of a user's head with respect to the device, such as due to the user tilting the device and/or the user tilting his head with respect to the device. Such control based on the angle of the user's head can be achieved even when the user is operating the device “off-axis” or when the device is not orthogonal and/or not centered with respect to the user. This can be accomplished by using an elastic reference point that dynamically adjusts to a detected angle of the user's head with respect to the device. Such an approach can account for differences between when the user is changing his natural resting position and/or the resting position of the device and when the user is intending to perform a gesture based on the angle of the user's head relative to the device.

Abstract: Image information displayed on an electronic device can be adjusted based at least in part upon a relative position of a viewer with respect to a device. In some embodiments, image stabilization can be provided such that an image remains substantially consistent from the point of view of the viewer, not the display element of the device. The image can be stretched, rotated, compressed, or otherwise manipulated based at least in part upon the relative viewing position. Similarly, the viewer can move relative to the device to obtain different views, but views that are consistent with the viewer looking at an object, for example, through a piece of glass. The device can overlay information on the image that will adjust with the adjusted image. Three-dimensional modeling and display can be used to offset parallax and focus point effects.

Abstract: Systems and approaches are provided to allow for rendered audiovisual communication. An electronic device can be used to capture image information relating to physical features of a user. A model can be generated from the image information, and the model may be used to render audiovisual communication information from image and audio captured in real time. The rendered audiovisual communication data can simulate live video conferencing with substantial performance gains over conventional approaches to video conferencing. When the image capturing component of the electronic device is capable of depth imaging, stereo imaging, or other imaging techniques, the rendered audiovisual communication can be further enhanced with 3-D rendering of the user. Other aspects of audiovisual data, such as speech, background, and lighting conditions can also be rendered or synthesized to improve audiovisual communication.

Abstract: A computing device can obtain information about how the device is held, moved, and/or used by a hand of a user holding the device. The information can be obtained utilizing one or more sensors of the device independently or working in conjunction. For example, an orientation sensor can determine whether a left hand or a right hand is likely rotating, tilting, and/or moving, and thus holding, the device. In another example, a camera and/or a hover sensor can obtain information about a finger position of the user's hand to determine whether the hand is likely a left hand or a right hand. In a further example, a touch sensor can determine a shape of an imprint of a portion of the user's hand to determine which hand is likely holding the device. Based on which hand is holding the device, the device can improve one or more computing tasks.

Abstract: A user can be identified and/or authenticated to an electronic device by analyzing aspects of a motion or gesture made by that user. At least one imaging element of the device can capture image information including the motion or gesture, and can determine time-dependent information about that motion or gesture in two or three dimensions of space. The time-dependent information can be used to identify varying speeds, motions, and other such aspects that are indicative of a particular user. The way in which a gesture or motion is made, in addition to the motion or gesture itself, can be used to authenticate an individual user. While other persons can learn the basic gesture or motion, the way in which each person makes that gesture or motion will generally be at least slightly different, which can be used to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information, protected functionality, or other such content.

Abstract: Various approaches enable automatic communication generation based on patterned behavior in a particular context. For example, a computing device can monitor behavior of a user to determine patterns of communication behavior in certain situations. In response to detecting multiple occurrences of the certain situation, a computing device can prompt a user to perform an action corresponding to the pattern of behavior. In some embodiments, a set of speech models corresponding to a type of contact is generated. The speech models include language consistent with patterns of speech between a user and the type of contact. Based on context and on the contact, a message using language consistent with past communications between the user and contact is generated from a speech model associated with the type of contact.

Abstract: A user attempting to obtain information about an object can capture image information including a view of that object, and the image information can be used with a matching or identification process to provide information about that type of object to the user. In order to narrow the search space to a specific category, and thus improve the accuracy of the results and the speed at which results can be obtained, the user can be guided to capture image information with an appropriate orientation. An outline or other graphical guide can be displayed over image information captured by a computing device, in order to guide the user in capturing the object from an appropriate direction and with an appropriate scale for the type of matching and/or information used for the matching. Such an approach enables three-dimensional objects to be analyzed using conventional two-dimensional identification algorithms, among other such processes.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed at least partly to a kiosk that provides innovative user interfaces to engage a user and provide high speed data transfer of content to a user device associated with the user. The kiosk may be located in frequently visited locations such as airports. The kiosks may advertise content and provide instructions to users about how to receive some of the content on user devices via a high speed data transfer. The high speed data transfer may use high speed data transfer protocols that enable download of a standard definition full length movie (e.g., less than 1 GB of data) in less than a couple of seconds or download of a high definition full length movie (e.g., 2-3 GB of data) in a few seconds. Besides, movies, other content may be downloaded such as electronic documents, music, games, and other electronic media available from an electronic catalog.

Abstract: Object tracking, such as may involve face tracking, can utilize different detection templates that can be trained using different data. A computing device can determine state information, such as the orientation of the device, an active illumination, or an active camera to select an appropriate template for detecting an object, such as a face, in a captured image. Information about the object, such as the age range or gender of a person, can also be used, if available, to select an appropriate template. In some embodiments instances of templates can be used to process various orientations, while in other embodiments specific orientations, such as upside down orientations, may not be processed for reasons such as rate of inaccuracies or infrequency of use for the corresponding additional resource overhead.

Abstract: A computing device can obtain information about how the device is held, moved, and/or used by a hand of a user holding the device. The information can be obtained utilizing one or more sensors of the device independently or working in conjunction. For example, an orientation sensor can determine whether a left hand or a right hand is likely rotating, tilting, and/or moving, and thus holding, the device. In another example, a camera and/or a hover sensor can obtain information about a finger position of the user's hand to determine whether the hand is likely a left hand or a right hand. In a further example, a touch sensor can determine a shape of an imprint of a portion of the user's hand to determine which hand is likely holding the device. Based on which hand is holding the device, the device can improve one or more computing tasks.

Abstract: Systems and approaches are provided to allow for rendered audiovisual communication. An electronic device can be used to capture image information relating to physical features of a user. A model can be generated from the image information, and the model may be used to render audiovisual communication information from image and audio captured in real time. The rendered audiovisual communication data can simulate live video conferencing with substantial performance gains over conventional approaches to video conferencing. When the image capturing component of the electronic device is capable of depth imaging, stereo imaging, or other imaging techniques, the rendered audiovisual communication can be further enhanced with 3-D rendering of the user. Other aspects of audiovisual data, such as speech, background, and lighting conditions can also be rendered or synthesized to improve audiovisual communication.

Abstract: A finger of a user detected within a predetermined range from a surface of a display screen can be used to navigate through and select content in accordance with various embodiments. In response to detecting the finger within the predetermined range, a selection element can be positioned offset from the finger. The offset positioning keeps the selection element from being obscured by the finger and, thus, enabling it to remain visible to the user. In response to detecting the user's finger approaching the surface of the display screen, the selection element becomes fixed in its current location when the finger reaches a threshold distance from the surface. Accordingly, as the finger gets closer to the surface, it starts to converge with the selection element. Finally, the finger converges with the selection element when the finger reaches the surface of the display screen to select the desired content.

Abstract: A computing device can implement one or more variable tactile elements (e.g., inflatable buttons/keys) overlaying a touchscreen of the device. The tactile elements can cause distortion to a view of content being displayed on the touchscreen underneath the tactile elements, which can decrease visibility of the content to a viewer (e.g., a user of the device). The device can receive information about the sizes, shapes, and/or locations of the tactile elements. Based on this information, the device can render the content in a manner so as to reduce the distortion caused by the tactile elements. In some embodiments, the device can also determine the device's orientation relative to the user (e.g., using head and/or facial feature tracking, etc.) and render the content to appear substantially undistorted while changes occur to the user's point of view with respect to the device and/or to the device's orientation relative to the user.