Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes processing circuitry to generate images of a computer-generated environment for display to a first user, storage circuitry to temporarily store at least some of the images, where the storage circuitry is configured to temporarily store a respective image in dependence upon one or more storage conditions, receiving circuitry to receive user input data indicative of selection by a first user of a predetermined function for reporting abusive interaction by another user associated with the computer-generated environment, recording circuitry to generate a respective recording in response to the user input data, the respective recording comprising at least some of the images stored by the storage circuitry and output circuitry to output the respective recording.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: obtain a first version of a texture having a first quality level; generate, using the first version of the texture, a prediction of a second version of the texture having a second quality level, the second quality level being higher in quality than the first quality level; and output, for display, the prediction of the second version of the texture.

Abstract: An audio reproduction system for reproducing an audio signal comprises headphones, comprising in turn at least a first loudspeaker, and at least a first airflow generator configured to generate airflow toward a respective ear of a user of the headphones; and the system also comprises an airflow controller, configured to control the airflow generated by the at least first airflow generator, responsive to at least a first aspect of the audio signal.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: receive, for each of one or more first users of a video game, attention data indicative of a region of attention of each first user in a respective first video image of the video game; determine, based on the attention data, an object of attention in the video game of the one or more first users; and generate rendering control data to control, in a second video image of the video game generated for a second, different, user of the video game, rendering of the object of attention with a characteristic distinguishing the object of attention from other objects rendered in the second video image.

Abstract: A content obtaining system for obtaining content comprising a plurality of files, the system comprising, a database obtaining unit configured to obtain a database of unique identifiers corresponding to respective files stored by the content obtaining system, an identifier receiving unit configured to receive unique identifiers for one or more of the plurality of files in the content to be obtained, an identifier comparison unit configured to compare the received unique identifiers with the database, and to identify whether any of the identifiers match, and a content management unit configured to, in the case that there is no match for a given identifier, obtain and store the corresponding file for that identifier, and, in the case that there is a match for a given identifier, generate and store a reference to the location of the file stored by the content obtaining system for which the match was identified.

Abstract: Techniques for managing storing textures corresponding to respective content are described. In an example, a system identifies a texture to be stored at a device, the texture associated with first content. The system identifies a degree of perceptual similarity between texture associated with the first content and each of one or more candidate textures associated with content other than the first content, the one or more candidate textures stored at the device. The perceptual equivalence between textures is identified in response to an above-threshold degree of perceptual similarity identified for those textures. When a perceptual equivalence is identified between the texture associated with the first content and a candidate texture, the system generates and stores a pointer directed toward that candidate texture instead of texture associated with the first content. When no perceptual equivalence is identified, the system stores the texture associated with the first content.

Abstract: A system for animating a first virtual element within a virtual environment, comprising: receiving circuitry configured to receive first state data descriptive of a state of the first virtual element, the first state data comprising one or more kinematic properties of the first virtual element; generating circuitry comprising a generating model trained to generate, based on the received first state data, animation data to be applied to the first virtual element; and animating circuitry configured to apply the generated animation data to the first virtual element.

Abstract: A method of image adjustment for an image sequence, comprises the steps of generating a first estimate, of the gaze positions of multiple viewers of an image, modifying a distribution of image quality for an image, responsive to the first estimate, and providing the image to the multiple viewers, generating a second estimate, of the effect of modifying the distribution of image quality on the gaze positions of at least a subset of viewers, and modifying the distribution of image quality for a subsequent image, responsive to the second estimate.

Abstract: A method for performing shader operations for a current frame, the method comprising the steps of receiving data representative of a sampling frequency of a plurality of regions of a texture during fragment shader operations for at least one preceding frame, preloading, based on the received data, one or more of the regions of the texture into a texture cache prior to performing initial fragment shader operations for the current frame, and using at least one of the preloaded one or more regions of the texture during the initial fragment shader operations for the current frame.

Abstract: A system for modifying one or more shader configurations, the system comprising an application executing unit configured to execute an application using a first shader configuration, a performance monitoring unit configured to obtain performance data from one or more performance counters associated with a GPU used to execute the application, and a parameter modification unit configured to modify the first shader configuration in dependence upon the obtained performance data to obtain a modified shader configuration, wherein the application executing unit is configured to execute the application using the modified shader configuration as the first shader configuration, and wherein the performance monitoring unit and the parameter modification unit are configured to repeat their respective functions in an iterative manner until a termination condition is met.

Abstract: A method for texture encoding, the method comprising the steps of: compressing a first colour channel of a given texture to obtain a plurality of fixed-sized data chunks representative of the first colour channel of a corresponding plurality of fixed-sized blocks of pixels of the given texture; for the given texture, training, using the plurality of fixed-sized data chunks, a neural network to output an inferred pixel colour block representative of at least a second colour channel of a respective fixed-sized block of pixels of the given texture based on an input representative of a respective fixed-sized data chunk representative of the first colour channel of the respective fixed-sized block of pixels of the given texture; and outputting at least one of the fixed-sized data chunks and the weights of the trained neural network as an encoded representation of at least a portion of the given texture.

Abstract: There is provided a method for rendering a virtual environment.

Abstract: There is provided a method of generating a light probe in a virtual environment. The method includes determining a first region of the light probe based on one or more predetermined conditions, collecting light information from the virtual environment, where the light information relates to light passing through a location of the light probe in the virtual environment, and storing the light information in the light probe, where the light information is stored at a higher resolution in the first region of the light probe than in a, different, second region of the light probe.

Abstract: A system comprises a portable user device configured to store user profile information associated with a user, and an entertainment system comprising a video game processing device and one or more input devices, the portable user device being configured to communicate at least some of the user profile information to a second device via near-field communication, wherein the second device is one or more selected from the video game processing device and one or more of the input devices, wherein the video game processing device is configured to perform one or more processing operations in dependence on at least some of the user profile information received from the portable user device.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to: detect a speech input from a first user playing a video game; transmit data representing the speech input to a second data processing apparatus using a first communication channel for output to a second user playing the video game with the first user; determine if a private conversation mode is enabled; if the private conversation mode is not enabled, transmit data representing the speech input to a third data processing apparatus using a second communication channel for output to a third user watching but not playing the video game with the first and second users; and if the private conversation mode is enabled, prevent transmission of data representing the speech input to the third data processing apparatus using the second communication channel.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes processing circuitry to generate images of a computer-generated environment for display to a first user, storage circuitry to temporarily store at least some of the images, where the storage circuitry is configured to temporarily store a respective image in dependence upon one or more storage conditions, receiving circuitry to receive user input data indicative of selection by a first user of a predetermined function for reporting abusive interaction by another user associated with the computer-generated environment, recording circuitry to generate a respective recording in response to the user input data, the respective recording comprising at least some of the images stored by the storage circuitry and output circuitry to output the respective recording

Abstract: This invention is directed to a protective headgear system which includes a relatively light weight, substantially rigid, headgear structure which may include an internal, adjustable headband. The system includes at least one filter which is attachable to the headgear structure to cover the structure and a filter protector mounted thereon. A fan mechanism is mounted on the headgear structure to draw air into the headgear structure through the filter means. A power supply selectively powers the fan. A facial shield is attachable to the headgear structure to cover the face of the wearer to maintain non-contaminating conditions relative to the wearer. A flexible cuff or hood is attachable to the facial shield to enclose the lower opening of the lens and provides protection for the wearer through which air can be exhausted.

Abstract: A system consisting of a hand-piece with a lever operated hydraulic pump and a fluid reservoir, a connecting tube and a remote connector which will seal to a syringe body which contains a viscous material. The pump expels fluid from the reservoir into the top of the syringe via the connecting tube where the fluid presses on the syringe plunger expelling the viscous material from the primary chamber of the syringe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for image sensor optimization. According to an embodiment of the invention, a method comprises capturing an image with an image sensor, the image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels; obtaining an output relating to the image from a first pixel of the plurality of pixels; and normalizing the output from the first pixel to correlate with photon flux striking the image sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns methods, compositions and apparatus for detecting pathogens and/or molecular markers. In a particular embodiment, the pathogen to be detected may be Mycobacterium bovis or any other Mycobacterium species that causes tuberculosis in a mammal. However, the disclosed methods are not limited and virtually any type of pathogen and/or molecular marker may be screened and detected. Preferred embodiments comprise reflex supplemental testing using the same assay at approximately 100% sensitivity and the highest possible corresponding sensitivity—in one example 70%. Such assay conditions, used iteratively, result in elimination of 70% of uninfected subjects for each round of testing. Use of 4 or more rounds of testing results in less than 1% error. Since only positive samples are retested, the methods provide a rapid, inexpensive and highly accurate way to detect infected subjects.