Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus includes a head mountable display (HMD); a detector to detect a deviation of a current orientation of the HMD from a base orientation of the HMD; and a generator to generate content for presentation to the wearer of the HMD to prompt the wearer of the HMD to turn his head so as to change the orientation of the HMD towards the base orientation.

Abstract: A method is provided of processing a primary video stream to which an overlay may be applied, for display by a head mountable display. The method includes identifying one or more suitable regions in the primary video stream for the display of overlay content. A suitable region is a region detected to lack one or more first predetermined features or to include one or more second predetermined features. The method also includes generating metadata indicative of a location and a depth of the suitable regions for the display of the overlay content, and that defines how a change in the detected orientation of the head mountable display, by which the primary video stream is displayed, changes the display of the overlay content. The method further includes providing the metadata in association with the primary video stream.

Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus includes a head mountable display (HMD); a detector to detect a deviation of a current orientation of the HMD from a base orientation of the HMD; and a generator to generate content for presentation to the wearer of the HMD to prompt the wearer of the HMD to turn his head so as to change the orientation of the HMD towards the base orientation.

Abstract: A head mountable display (HMD) system comprises a detector and a controller. The detector is configured to detect a first illumination level in a first one of a display image for display to a user via an HMD and an ambient environment around the HMD. The controller is configured to control a second illumination level in a second one of the display image for display to a user via an HMD and the ambient environment around the HMD, according to the detection.

Abstract: A method is provided of processing a primary video stream to which an overlay may be applied, for display by a head mountable display. The method includes identifying one or more suitable regions in the primary video stream for the display of overlay content. A suitable region is a region detected to lack one or more first predetermined features or to include one or more second predetermined features. The method also includes generating metadata indicative of a location and a depth of the suitable regions for the display of the overlay content, and that defines how a change in the detected orientation of the head mountable display, by which the primary video stream is displayed, changes the display of the overlay content. The method further includes providing the metadata in association with the primary video stream.

Abstract: A head mountable display (HMD) system comprises a detector and a controller. The detector is configured to detect a first illumination level in a first one of a display image for display to a user via an HMD and an ambient environment around the HMD. The controller is configured to control a second illumination level in a second one of the display image for display to a user via an HMD and the ambient environment around the HMD, according to the detection.

Abstract: A head mountable display (HMD) is provided that has a head motion detection function and one or more operations that depend upon detected head motion. Detected head motion is stored as motion data in memory. The way in which detected head motion is applied to a current operation depends upon the stored motion data. In one embodiment, the HMD includes a gaze detector configured to detect eye orientation of a user of the user so as to detect image regions at which the user is looking, and a detector configured to detect item data indicative of items represented by the detected image regions.

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprises a video camera for capturing a sequence of video images and an image processor operable to compress a first region of a current video image to a first extent and a second region of the current video image to a second, greater, extent to generate a processed current video image. The device includes a network communications interface operable to send processed video images to a server, and to receive control data from the server. The image processor is operable to augment the current video image with one or more computer graphic elements. Control data received from the server comprises image region information indicating a region of a video image estimated to comprise a predetermined marker and optionally augmentation instructions. Furthermore, the image processor is operable to define the first region of the current video image responsive to the image region information from the server.

Abstract: A method of capturing the state of a target program that is running within the environment of an operating system is provided. The method includes identifying threads associated with the target program, suspending threads associated with the target program, preserving data characterizing the threads, and preserving data accessible by the threads when in operation. A method of changing the state of a target program that is running within the environment of an operating system is also provided. This method includes identifying threads associated with the target program, suspending threads associated with the target program, replacing data characterizing the threads with previously preserved data, and replacing data accessible by the threads when in operation with previously preserved data. In either case, the threads are then resumed to allow the target program to continue operation.

Abstract: A head mountable display (HMD) is provided that has a head motion detection function and one or more operations that depend upon detected head motion. Detected head motion is stored as motion data in memory. The way in which detected head motion is applied to a current operation depends upon the stored motion data. In one embodiment, the HMD includes a gaze detector configured to detect eye orientation of a user of the user so as to detect image regions at which the user is looking, and a detector configured to detect item data indicative of items represented by the detected image regions.

Abstract: A method of capturing the state of a target program that is running within the environment of an operating system is provided. The method includes identifying threads associated with the target program, suspending threads associated with the target program, preserving data characterising the threads, and preserving data accessible by the threads when in operation. A method of changing the state of a target program that is running within the environment of an operating system is also provided. This method includes identifying threads associated with the target program, suspending threads associated with the target program, replacing data characterising the threads with previously preserved data, and replacing data accessible by the threads when in operation with previously preserved data. In either case, the threads are then resumed to allow the target program to continue operation.

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprises a video camera for capturing a sequence of video images and an image processor operable to compress a first region of a current video image to a first extent and a second region of the current video image to a second, greater, extent to generate a processed current video image. The device includes a network communications interface operable to send processed video images to a server, and to receive control data from the server. The image processor is operable to augment the current video image with one or more computer graphic elements. Control data received from the server comprises image region information indicating a region of a video image estimated to comprise a predetermined marker and optionally augmentation instructions. Furthermore, the image processor is operable to define the first region of the current video image responsive to the image region information from the server.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a captured image comprising an instance of a target object comprises the steps of: for each of a plurality of different brightness threshold levels, generating contours from the captured digital image that indicate where in the captured digital image the pixel values of the captured digital image cross the respective brightness threshold level; identifying instances of a contour corresponding to a characteristic feature of said target object, the instances being detected at substantially similar image positions in the contours derived using at least two of the respective brightness threshold levels; and estimating a homography which maps the characteristic feature of the target object to its representation in the captured image, based upon the two or more instances of that target object's corresponding contour.

Abstract: A method of analysing a captured image comprising an instance of a target object comprises the steps of: for each of a plurality of different brightness threshold levels, generating contours from the captured digital image that indicate where in the captured digital image the pixel values of the captured digital image cross the respective brightness threshold level; identifying instances of a contour corresponding to a characteristic feature of said target object, the instances being detected at substantially similar image positions in the contours derived using at least two of the respective brightness threshold levels; and estimating a homography which maps the characteristic feature of the target object to its representation in the captured image, based upon the two or more instances of that target object's corresponding contour.