Abstract: Photos are shared among devices that are in close proximity to one another and for which there is a connection among the devices. The photos can be shared automatically, or alternatively based on various user inputs. Various different controls can also be placed on sharing photos to restrict the other devices with which photos can be shared, the manner in which photos can be shared, and/or how the photos are shared.

Abstract: Optical sensor information captured via one or more optical sensors imaging a scene that includes a human subject is received by a computing device. The optical sensor information is processed by the computing device to model the human subject with a virtual skeleton, and to obtain surface information representing the human subject. The virtual skeleton is transmitted by the computing device to a remote computing device at a higher frame rate than the surface information. Virtual skeleton frames are used by the remote computing device to estimate surface information for frames that have not been transmitted by the computing device.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing an integrative interactive space are described. In implementations, video cameras that are positioned to capture video at different locations are synchronized such that aspects of the different locations can be used to generate an integrated interactive space. The integrated interactive space can enable users at the different locations to interact, such as via video interaction, audio interaction, and so on. In at least some embodiments, techniques can be implemented to adjust an image of a participant during a video session such that the participant appears to maintain eye contact with other video session participants at other locations. Techniques can also be implemented to provide a virtual shared space that can enable users to interact with the space, and can also enable users to interact with one another and/or objects that are displayed in the virtual shared space.

Abstract: A virtual skeleton includes a plurality of joints and provides a machine readable representation of a human target observed with a three-dimensional depth camera. A relative position of a hand joint of the virtual skeleton is translated as a gestured control, and a three-dimensional virtual world is controlled responsive to the gestured control.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to authenticating a user of a display device. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes displaying one or more virtual images on the display device, wherein the one or more virtual images include a set of augmented reality features. The method further includes identifying one or more movements of the user via data received from a sensor of the display device, and comparing the identified movements of the user to a predefined set of authentication information for the user that links user authentication to a predefined order of the augmented reality features. If the identified movements indicate that the user selected the augmented reality features in the predefined order, then the user is authenticated, and if the identified movements indicate that the user did not select the augmented reality features in the predefined order, then the user is not authenticated.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing an integrative interactive space are described. In implementations, video cameras that are positioned to capture video at different locations are synchronized such that aspects of the different locations can be used to generate an integrated interactive space. The integrated interactive space can enable users at the different locations to interact, such as via video interaction, audio interaction, and so on. In at least some embodiments, techniques can be implemented to adjust an image of a participant during a video session such that the participant appears to maintain eye contact with other video session participants at other locations. Techniques can also be implemented to provide a virtual shared space that can enable users to interact with the space, and can also enable users to interact with one another and/or objects that are displayed in the virtual shared space.

Abstract: A computing system runs an application (e.g., video game) that interacts with one or more actively engaged users. One or more physical properties of a group are sensed. The group may include the one or more actively engaged users and/or one or more entities not actively engaged with the application. The computing system will determine that the group (or the one or more entities not actively engaged with the application) have performed a predetermined action. A runtime condition of the application is changed in response to determining that the group (or the one or more entities not actively engaged with the computer based application) have performed the predetermined action. Examples of changing a runtime condition include moving an object, changing a score or changing an environmental condition of a video game.

Abstract: Various embodiments are provided for a shared collaboration system and related methods for enabling an active user to interact with one or more additional users and with collaboration items. In one embodiment a head-mounted display device is operatively connected to a computing device that includes a collaboration engine program. The program receives observation information of a physical space from the head-mounted display device along with a collaboration item. The program visually augments an appearance of the physical space as seen through the head-mounted display device to include an active user collaboration item representation of the collaboration item. The program populates the active user collaboration item representation with additional user collaboration item input from an additional user.

Abstract: In applications that display a representation of a user, it may be reasonable to insert a pre-canned animation rather than animating a user's captured motion. For example, in a tennis swing, the ball toss and take back in a serve could be a pre-canned animation, whereas the actual forward swing may be mapped from the user's gestures. An animation of a user's gestures can be chained together into sequences with pre-canned animations, where animation blending techniques can provide for a smoother transition between the animation types. Techniques for blending animations, that may comprise determining boundaries and transition points between pre-canned animations and animations based on captured motion, may improve animation efficiency. Gesture history, including joint position, velocity, and acceleration, can be used to determine user intent, seed parameters for subsequent animations and game control, and determine the subsequent gestures to initiate.

Abstract: Embodiments for matching participants in a virtual multiplayer entertainment experience are provided. For example, one embodiment provides a method including receiving from each user of a plurality of users a request to join the virtual multiplayer entertainment experience, receiving from each user of the plurality of users information regarding characteristics of a physical space in which each user is located, and matching two or more users of the plurality of users for participation in the virtual multiplayer entertainment experience based on the characteristics of the physical space of each of the two or more users.

Abstract: Embodiments for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object are disclosed. In one example, a method for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object includes receiving sensor input from one or more sensors attached to the portable see-through display device, and obtaining information regarding a location of the user based on the sensor input. The method also includes, if the location includes a real object comprising an associated executable virtual object, then determining an intent of the user to interact with the executable virtual object, and if the intent to interact is determined, then interacting with the executable object.

Abstract: A method of finding a new social network service friend for a player belonging to a social network service and having a friend group including one or more player-accepted friends includes recognizing the player, automatically identifying an observer within a threshold proximity to the player, and adding the observer to the friend group of the player in the social network service if the observer satisfies a friending criteria of the player.

Abstract: A system may receive image data and capture motion with respect to a target in a physical space and recognize a gesture from the captured motion. It may be desirable to isolate aspects of captured motion to differentiate random and extraneous motions. For example, a gesture may comprise motion of a user's right arm, and it may be desirable to isolate the motion of the user's right arm and exclude an interpretation of any other motion. Thus, the isolated aspect may be the focus of the received data for gesture recognition. Alternately, the isolated aspects may be an aspect of the captured motion that is removed from consideration when identifying a gesture from the captured motion. For example, gesture filters may be modified to correspond to the user's natural lean to eliminate the effect the lean has on the registry of a motion with a gesture filter.

Abstract: One or more physical characteristics of each of multiple users are detected. These physical characteristics of a user can include physical attributes of the user (e.g., the user's height, length of the user's legs) and/or physical skills of the user (e.g., how high the user can jump). Based on these detected one or more physical characteristics of the users, two or more of the multiple users to share an online experience (e.g., play a multi-player game) are identified.

Abstract: Automatic depth camera aiming is provided by a method which includes receiving from the depth camera one or more observed depth images of a scene. The method further includes, if a point of interest of a target is found within the scene, determining if the point of interest is within a far range relative to the depth camera. The method further includes, if the point of interest of the target is within the far range, operating the depth camera with a far logic, or if the point of interest of the target is not within the far range, operating the depth camera with a near logic.

Abstract: A virtual skeleton includes a plurality of joints and provides a machine readable representation of a human target observed with a three-dimensional depth camera. A relative position of a hand joint of the virtual skeleton is translated as a gestured control, and a three-dimensional virtual world is controlled responsive to the gestured control.

Abstract: In applications that display a representation of a user, it may be reasonable to insert a pre-canned animation rather than animating a user's captured motion. For example, in a tennis swing, the ball toss and take back in a serve could be a pre-canned animation, whereas the actual forward swing may be mapped from the user's gestures. An animation of a user's gestures can be chained together into sequences with pre-canned animations, where animation blending techniques can provide for a smoother transition between the animation types. Techniques for blending animations, that may comprise determining boundaries and transition points between pre-canned animations and animations based on captured motion, may improve animation efficiency. Gesture history, including joint position, velocity, and acceleration, can be used to determine user intent, seed parameters for subsequent animations and game control, and determine the subsequent gestures to initiate.

Abstract: Embodiments for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object are disclosed. In one example, a method for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object includes receiving sensor input from one or more sensors attached to the portable see-through display device, and obtaining information regarding a location of the user based on the sensor input. The method also includes, if the location includes a real object comprising an associated executable virtual object, then determining an intent of the user to interact with the executable virtual object, and if the intent to interact is determined, then interacting with the executable object.

Abstract: A head-mounted display system includes a see-through display that is configured to visually augment an appearance of a physical environment to a user viewing the physical environment through the see-through display. Graphical content presented via the see-through display is created by modeling the ambient lighting conditions of the physical environment.

Abstract: Online multiplayer games are provided in multiple tiers. A first tier offers limited features and a second tier offers first tier features plus additional features. The additional features are exclusive to the second tier. During game play in the first tier, enticements are provided to participate in the second tier. The first tier requires no subscription to participate therein. Participation in the second tier requires a subscription. In an example configuration, the first tier allows players to host a game on a dedicated server, browse a list of dedicated server games, and join a game from a list of first tier eligible games. And, the second tier offers a variety of additional features, such as the ability to invite other players to join a game session, match making services, and cross-platform game play.