Abstract: Disclosed is a smoker device for imparting smoked flavors to beverages and foodstuffs can include a base having at least a wall defining a first end and a floor with an opening defining a second end, a cover capable of being positioned over the base first end, thereby defining an enclosed cavity, and a conduit portion defining an open channel at a first end and closed at a second end, the first end connecting to a perimeter of the base floor opening, creating a passageway from the enclosed cavity to the channel. Also disclosed is a method for using the smoker device to impart smoked flavors to beverages and foodstuffs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a smoker device for imparting smoked flavors to beverages and foodstuffs can include a base having at least a wall defining a first end and a floor with an opening defining a second end, a cover capable of being positioned over the base first end, thereby defining an enclosed cavity, and a conduit portion defining an open channel at a first end and closed at a second end, the first end connecting to a perimeter of the base floor opening, creating a passageway from the enclosed cavity to the channel. Also disclosed is a method for using the smoker device to impart smoked flavors to beverages and foodstuffs.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing an image augmentation software code, a three-dimensional (3D) shapes library, and/or a 3D poses library. The image processing system also includes a two-dimensional (2D) pose estimation module communicatively coupled to the image augmentation software code. The hardware processor executes the image augmentation software code to provide an image to the 2D pose estimation module and to receive a 2D pose data generated by the 2D pose estimation module based on the image. The image augmentation software code identifies a 3D shape and/or a 3D pose corresponding to the image using an optimization algorithm applied to the 2D pose data and one or both of the 3D poses library and the 3D shapes library, and may output the 3D shape and/or 3D pose to render an augmented image on a display.

Abstract: This disclosure presents systems and methods to provide an interactive environment in response to touch-based inputs. A first body channel communication device coupled to a user may transmit and/or receive signals configured to be propagated along skin of the user such that the skin of the user comprises a signal transmission path. A second body channel communication device coupled to an interaction entity may be configured to transmit and/or receive signals configured to be propagated along the skin of the user along the signal transmission path. A presentation device may present images of virtual content to the user. Information may be communicated between the first body channel communication device, the second body channel communication device, and the presentation device so that virtual content specific to the interaction entity may be presented to augment an appearance of the interaction entity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a smoker device for imparting smoked flavors to beverages and foodstuffs can include a base having at least a wall defining a first end and a floor with an opening defining a second end, a cover capable of being positioned over the base first end, thereby defining an enclosed cavity, and a conduit portion defining an open channel at a first end and closed at a second end, the first end connecting to a perimeter of the base floor opening, creating a passageway from the enclosed cavity to the channel. Also disclosed is a method for using the smoker device to impart smoked flavors to beverages and foodstuffs.

Abstract: This disclosure presents systems and methods to provide an interactive environment in response to touch-based inputs. A first body channel communication device coupled to a user may transmit and/or receive signals configured to be propagated along skin of the user such that the skin of the user comprises a signal transmission path. A second body channel communication device coupled to an interaction entity may be configured to transmit and/or receive signals configured to be propagated along the skin of the user along the signal transmission path. A presentation device may present images of virtual content to the user. Information may be communicated between the first body channel communication device, the second body channel communication device, and the presentation device so that virtual content specific to the interaction entity may be presented to augment an appearance of the interaction entity.

Abstract: A user interface may be presented to a user that may provide an intuitive interface configured for generating animations. The user interface may be users of varying levels of expertise, while retaining the freedom of authoring complex narratives in an animation. A given narrative may be constrained by user input related to one or more of events to occur in an animation, individual animation components that may be included in the events, and/or other input. The system may be configured to “fill in” missing gaps in a narrative to generate a consistent animation while still meeting one or more narrative constraints specified by user input. By way of non-limiting example, gaps may be “filled in” by effectuating non-user selections of one or more of events, animation components, and/or other information used to generate an animation.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for performing deformable-surface tracking based augmented reality image generation. In one implementation, such a system includes a hardware processor and a system memory storing an augmented reality three-dimensional image generator. The hardware processor is configured to execute the augmented reality three-dimensional image generator to receive image data corresponding to a two-dimensional surface, and to identify an image template corresponding to the two-dimensional surface based on the image data. In addition, the hardware processor is configured to execute the augmented reality three-dimensional image generator to determine a surface deformation of the two-dimensional surface.

Abstract: A method of identifying locations in a virtual environment where a motion sequence can be performed by an animated character may include accessing the motion sequence for the animated character, identifying a plurality of contact locations in the motion sequence where the animated character contacts surfaces in virtual environments, accessing the virtual environment comprising a plurality of surfaces, and identifying the locations in the virtual environment where the motion sequence can be performed by the animated character by identifying surfaces in the plurality of surfaces that match the plurality of contact locations.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing an image augmentation software code, a three-dimensional (3D) shapes library, and/or a 3D poses library. The image processing system also includes a two-dimensional (2D) pose estimation module communicatively coupled to the image augmentation software code. The hardware processor executes the image augmentation software code to provide an image to the 2D pose estimation module and to receive a 2D pose data generated by the 2D pose estimation module based on the image. The image augmentation software code identifies a 3D shape and/or a 3D pose corresponding to the image using an optimization algorithm applied to the 2D pose data and one or both of the 3D poses library and the 3D shapes library, and may output the 3D shape and/or 3D pose to render an augmented image on a display.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for performing deformable-surface tracking based augmented reality image generation. In one implementation, such a system includes a hardware processor and a system memory storing an augmented reality three-dimensional image generator. The hardware processor is configured to execute the augmented reality three-dimensional image generator to receive image data corresponding to a two-dimensional surface, and to identify an image template corresponding to the two-dimensional surface based on the image data. In addition, the hardware processor is configured to execute the augmented reality three-dimensional image generator to determine a surface deformation of the two-dimensional surface.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for populating a virtual environment with objects. In one embodiment, an editing application may track a handheld device using sensor data from a camera, by following an image displayed on the handheld device's screen. The editing application then updates the position of an object in the virtual environment according to the tracked position of the handheld device. Initially, the handheld device may be placed at a fixed location for calibration purposes, during which the editing application initializes a mapping between the virtual and physical environments. To add an object to the virtual environment, a user may select the object on the handheld device. The user may then place the object at a desired location and orientation in the virtual environment by moving the handheld device in the physical environment.

Abstract: Techniques for simulating interactions using an augmented reality device. A visual scene is captured using a camera device. The visual scene depicts of a first physical object within a physical environment. A dynamic interaction is simulated between the first physical object and one or more virtual objects and velocity of a first virtual object resulting from the simulated dynamic interaction is calculated. A predefined behavior for a virtual character to perform is selected in response to the dynamic interaction. The virtual character is distinct from the first virtual object, and the selection is based on the calculated velocity. A sequence of frames is rendered. The sequence of frames depicts the dynamic interaction between the first physical object and the virtual objects, and further depicts a representation of the virtual character performing the determined behavior. The sequence of frames is output for display using one or more display devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for re-arranging a musical composition using augmented reality are disclosed. A user can be provided with one or more physical image markers representative of at least one of a musical entity and a musical style in which a musical track has been pre-recorded. Upon capturing a visual scene in which one or more of these physical image markers are included, an augmented reality version of the visual scene is displayed along with audio corresponding to the musical style(s) and/or entities represented by the one or more physical image markers.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for performing deformable-surface tracking based augmented reality image generation. In one implementation, such a system includes a hardware processor and a system memory storing an augmented reality three-dimensional image generator. The hardware processor is configured to execute the augmented reality three-dimensional image generator to receive image data corresponding to a two-dimensional surface, and to identify an image template corresponding to the two-dimensional surface based on the image data. In addition, the hardware processor is configured to execute the augmented reality three-dimensional image generator to determine a surface deformation of the two-dimensional surface.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for guided authoring of interactive content. A content generation system enabling such guided authoring includes a system processor, a system memory, and an interactive content authoring engine stored in the system memory. The system processor is configured to execute the interactive content authoring engine to receive data corresponding to an interactive content through an authoring interface of the interactive content authoring engine, and to detect at least one of an inconsistency in the interactive content and a possible conflict arising from a user interaction with the interactive content. The system processor is further configured to to execute the interactive content authoring engine to identify at least one solution for each inconsistency and/or possible conflict, and to resolve the inconsistency or inconsistencies and the possible conflict(s) to enable generation of a substantially conflict and inconsistency free interactive content.

Abstract: There is provided a method for use by an interactive story development system. The method includes receiving a story state including an attribute state of each of a plurality of items present in a storyline, wherein the plurality of items include a plurality of objects of the storyline and a plurality of characters of the storyline. The method also includes creating a story web, wherein the story web includes a node for every possible interaction between the plurality of objects and the plurality of characters in the storyline, and calculating a narrative value for each of the nodes of the story web, receiving a first input from a user selecting user criteria including at least one of a story telling option of the storyline and a sentiment selection, and determining based on the narrative value and the user criteria, a plurality of candidate nodes of the story web.

Abstract: Techniques are proposed for animating a deformable object. A geometric mesh comprising a plurality of vertices is retrieved, where the geometric mesh is related to a first rest state configuration corresponding to the deformable object. A motion goal associated with the deformable object is then retrieved. The motion goal is translated into a function of one or more state variables associated with the deformable object. A second rest state configuration corresponding to the deformable object is computed by adjusting the position of at least one vertex in the plurality of vertices based at least in part on the function.