Abstract: An entertainment device, method and computer program, the entertainment device includes processing circuitry to process a game state of a game and to generate, based on a plurality of game assets, an image of a scene, and output circuitry to output the image for display. The processing circuitry is configured to determine, based on the plurality of game assets, whether the scene includes at least one character communicating using sign language, to adjust the generation of the image in dependence on whether the scene comprises the at least one character communicating using sign language.

Abstract: A method for generating feedback in a multimedia entertainment system, the method comprising: obtaining an output stream to be output by the multimedia entertainment system; performing feature analysis to identify a feature in the output stream; determining a feedback based on the identified feature; controlling a main audiovisual display to output the output stream; and controlling a peripheral device to output the determined feedback.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes receiving circuitry to receive graphics data for at least a portion of a virtual environment, the graphics data including a plurality of virtual objects, a machine learning model trained to output data indicative of an object classification for one or more of the virtual objects in dependence upon the graphics data, assignment circuitry to assign one or more of the virtual objects to one or more virtual object groups in dependence upon the object classification for one or more of the virtual objects, where the virtual objects assigned to a same virtual object group have a same object classification, and control circuitry to share first interaction data associated with a first virtual object assigned to a virtual object group with a second virtual object assigned to the virtual object group to thereby permit use of the first interaction data for the second virtual object in response to a user interaction with the second virtual object in the virtual environment.

Abstract: A video game peripheral device includes an electromagnet and circuitry, the circuitry being configured to: receive data from a data processing apparatus executing a video game application; based on the received data, control an electric current supplied to the electromagnet to control a magnetic interaction between the electromagnet and a magnetic material of a second video game peripheral device wearable or holdable by a user.

Abstract: A haptic feedback system includes: a wearable device comprising one or more enveloped regions filled with a non-Newtonian fluid; and one or more force providers configured to provide, to at least one of the enveloped regions, a force that modifies a viscosity of the non-Newtonian fluid to change a resistance to deformation of the wearable device in at least one direction.

Abstract: A system for modifying the presentation of pre-generated content to a user, the system comprising a user focus determination unit configured to determine a level of user focus in respect of at least a portion of content being displayed to the user, a user profile obtaining unit configured to obtain a user profile indicating one or more characteristics of the user, a content modification unit configured to modify, in response to a determination of the level of user focus falling below a threshold value, the presentation of one or more portions of the pre-generated content to increase the level of user focus, wherein the modification is determined in dependence upon the obtained user profile.

Abstract: An affective gaming system includes: an administrator unit configured to host a session of a video game; a receiving unit configured to receive biometric data associated with two or more users participating in the session of a video game; a first generating unit configured to generate, based on at least part of the biometric data, current emotion data associated with each of the two or more users; a selecting unit configured to select a first user based on at least part of the current emotion data; a second generating unit configured to generate, based at least in part on the current emotion data that is associated with a second user, target emotion data associated with the first user; and a modifying unit configured to modify, responsive to the difference between the target emotion data and the current emotion data that is associated with the first user, one or more aspects of the video game that are specific to the first user.

Abstract: An affective gaming system includes: an administrator unit configured to host a session of a video game; a receiving unit configured to receive biometric data associated with a first user of a plurality of users participating in the session of a video game; a first generating unit configured to generate, based on at least part of the biometric data, current emotion data associated with the first user; a second generating unit configured to generate, based at least in part on the current emotion data associated with the first user, target emotion data associated with the first user; and a modifying unit configured to modify, responsive to the difference between the target emotion data associated with the first user and the current emotion data associated with the first user, one or more aspects of the video game that are specific to the first user.

Abstract: A haptic feedback method includes: providing a wearable haptic feedback device comprising one or more bone-conduction haptic feedback units, and driving the one or more bone conduction haptic feedback units with at least a first signal processed using a bone conduction head related transfer function, ‘bHRTF’.

Abstract: A game selection system includes: an emotion processor configured to obtain a current emotional state of a user; a descriptor processor configured to obtain one or more emotion descriptors associated with one or more games; an evaluation processor configured to predict an emotion outcome for the user for the or each game, based upon the user's current emotional state and the one or more emotion descriptors of the respective games; and a selection processor configured to select one or more games in response to whether their respective emotion outcomes meet at least a first predetermined criterion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a video display to display video images to a user; a gaze detector configured to detect a gaze direction for one or both eyes of the user while the user views the display; a head tracker configured to detect a head orientation of the user; an image processor configured to generate the video images for display by the video display; the image processor being responsive to one or more control functions dependent upon the gaze direction detected by the gaze detector; and a controller configured to detect a predetermined condition and, in response to detection of the predetermined condition, to control the image processor to be responsive to one or more control functions dependent upon the head orientation detected by the head tracker in place of the one or more control functions dependent upon the gaze direction detected by the gaze detector.

Abstract: A method for generating feedback in a multimedia entertainment system, the method comprising: obtaining an output stream to be output by the multimedia entertainment system; performing feature analysis to identify a feature in the output stream; determining a feedback based on the identified feature; controlling a main audiovisual display to output the output stream; and controlling a peripheral device to output the determined feedback.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes storage circuitry to store a plurality of sound recordings, receiving circuitry to receive input data indicative of one or more sounds detected by a microphone, selection circuitry to select, from the plurality of sounds recordings, one or more candidate sound recordings in dependence upon the input data and output circuitry to output data in dependence upon one or more of the candidate sound recordings.

Abstract: A system for positioning objects within an environment includes: an input unit operable to receive data representative of at least a portion of an environment comprising one or more features associated with the environment; an object determining unit operable to identify, for one or more objects, one or more features associated with each respective object, and operable to determine which of the one or more objects are to be positioned within the environment; and an object positioning unit operable to position the one or more determined objects within the environment in dependence upon at least one of the features associated with the environment and at least one of the features associated with each respective determined object, where the object positioning unit is operable to utilise a machine learning model, trained using one or more examples of one or more other objects positioned within at least a portion of one or more other environments in dependence upon at least one feature associated with each respecti

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes receiving circuitry to receive graphics data for at least a portion of a virtual environment, the graphics data including a plurality of virtual objects, a machine learning model trained to output data indicative of an object classification for one or more of the virtual objects in dependence upon the graphics data, assignment circuitry to assign one or more of the virtual objects to one or more virtual object groups in dependence upon the object classification for one or more of the virtual objects, where the virtual objects assigned to a same virtual object group have a same object classification, and control circuitry to share first interaction data associated with a first virtual object assigned to a virtual object group with a second virtual object assigned to the virtual object group to thereby permit use of the first interaction data for the second virtual object in response to a user interaction with the second virtual object in the virtual environment.

Abstract: A method of assisting a user wearing a head mountable display (HMD) when determining that the user may be in a pathological state includes: detecting, by one or more sensors, one or more parameters indicating one or more current properties of the user, generating information indicating the one or more current properties of the user based on the one or more parameters, determining whether the user may be in a pathological state or a non-pathological state based on the information indicating one or more of the current properties of the user, and performing a process under instruction of a processor in response to determining that the user may be in a pathological state, the process comprising one or more operations that the user can voluntarily instruct when the user is in a non-pathological state.

Abstract: A method of simulating avatar attention in a virtual environment includes, for a given avatar within the environment; periodically calculating the respective interest value of a plurality of elements in the virtual environment in dependence upon one or more factors, where at least one of said factors is evaluated responsive to a relationship between the respective element and that given avatar, selecting the element with the highest calculated interest value, and causing a representation of that given avatar's eyes to point at the selected element within the virtual environment.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a video display to display video images to a user; a gaze detector configured to detect a gaze direction for one or both eyes of the user while the user views the display; a head tracker configured to detect a head orientation of the user; an image processor configured to generate the video images for display by the video display; the image processor being responsive to one or more control functions dependent upon the gaze direction detected by the gaze detector; and a controller configured to detect a predetermined condition and, in response to detection of the predetermined condition, to control the image processor to be responsive to one or more control functions dependent upon the head orientation detected by the head tracker in place of the one or more control functions dependent upon the gaze direction detected by the gaze detector.

Abstract: A method of assisting a user wearing a head mountable display (HMD) when determining that the user may be in a pathological state includes: detecting, by one or more sensors, one or more parameters indicating one or more current properties of the user, generating information indicating the one or more current properties of the user based on the one or more parameters, determining whether the user may be in a pathological state or a non-pathological state based on the information indicating one or more of the current properties of the user, and performing a process under instruction of a processor in response to determining that the user may be in a pathological state, the process comprising one or more operations that the user can voluntarily instruct when the user is in a non-pathological state.

Abstract: A method of simulating avatar attention in a virtual environment includes, for a given avatar within the environment; periodically calculating the respective interest value of a plurality of elements in the virtual environment in dependence upon one or more factors, where at least one of said factors is evaluated responsive to a relationship between the respective element and that given avatar, selecting the element with the highest calculated interest value, and causing a representation of that given avatar's eyes to point at the selected element within the virtual environment.