Abstract: An image rendering method for rendering a pixel of a virtual scene at a viewpoint includes: downloading a machine learning system corresponding to a current or anticipated state an application determining the virtual scene to be rendered from among a plurality of machine learning systems corresponding to a plurality of states of the application; providing a position and a direction based on the viewpoint to the machine learning system previously trained to predict a factor; combining the predicted factor from the machine learning system with a distribution function that characterises an interaction of light with a predetermined surface to generate the pixel value corresponding to an illuminated first element of the virtual scene at the position; and incorporating the pixel value into a rendered image for display.

Abstract: A system for generating video game inputs is provided. The system comprises an input unit operable to obtain images of a passive non-luminous object being held by a user as a video games controller. The system also comprises an object detector and object pose detector for detecting the object and its respective pose in the obtained images. The pose detector is configured to detect the pose of the object based on at least one of a (i) contour detection operation and (ii) the output of a machine learning model that has been trained to detect the poses of passive non-luminous objects in images. A user input generator is configured to generate user inputs based on the detected changes in pose of the passive non-luminous object and to transmit these to a video game unit at which a video game is being executed. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus adapted to output recommendation information for modifying source code, includes: compiler circuitry to compile the source code and to output compiled code for the source code, processing circuitry to execute the compiled code, profile circuitry to monitor the execution of the compiled code by the processing circuitry and to generate profile information for the execution of the compiled code, the profile information including one or more statistical properties for the execution of the compiled code, and recommendation circuitry to output the recommendation information for the source code, the recommendation circuitry including a machine learning model to receive at least a portion of the profile information and trained to output the recommendation information for the source code in dependence upon one or more of the statistical properties, in which the recommendation information is indicative of one or more editing instructions for modifying the source code.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes input circuitry to receive viewpoint data indicative of respective viewpoints for a plurality of spectators of a virtual environment, detection circuitry to detect a portion of the virtual environment viewed by each of the respective viewpoints in dependence upon the viewpoint data, selection circuitry to select one or more regions of the virtual environment in dependence upon at least some of the detected portions, and output circuitry to output data indicative of one or more of the selected regions.

Abstract: A system for characterising surfaces in a real-world scene, the system comprising an object identification unit operable to identify one or more objects within one or more captured images of the real-world scene, a characteristic identification unit operable to identify one or more characteristics of one or more surfaces of the identified objects, and an information generation unit operable to generate information linking an object and one or more surface characteristics associated with that object.

Abstract: An image rendering method for an entertainment device for rendering a pixel at a viewpoint includes: for a first element of a virtual scene, having a predetermined surface at a position within that scene, obtaining a machine learning system previously trained to predict a factor that, when combined with a distribution function that characterises an interaction of light with the predetermined surface, generates a pixel value corresponding to the first element of the virtual scene as illuminated at the position; providing the position and a direction based on the viewpoint to the machine learning system; combining the predicted factor from the machine learning system with the distribution function to generate the pixel value corresponding to the illuminated first element of the virtual scene at the position; and incorporating the pixel value into a rendered image for display; where the obtaining step comprises: identifying a current or anticipated state of an application determining the virtual scene to be rend

Abstract: An image rendering method for rendering a pixel at a viewpoint includes, for a first element of a virtual scene, having a predetermined surface at a position within that scene; providing the position and a direction based on the viewpoint to a machine learning system previously trained to predict a factor that, when combined with a distribution function that characterises an interaction of light with the predetermined surface, generates a pixel value corresponding to the first element of the virtual scene as illuminated at the position, combining the predicted factor from the machine learning system with the distribution function to generate the pixel value corresponding to the illuminated first element of the virtual scene at the position, and incorporating the pixel value into a rendered image for display, where the machine learning system was previously trained with a training set based on images comprising multiple lighting conditions.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes input circuitry to receive viewpoint data indicative of respective viewpoints for a plurality of spectators of a virtual environment, detection circuitry to detect a portion of the virtual environment viewed by each of the respective viewpoints in dependence upon the viewpoint data, selection circuitry to select one or more regions of the virtual environment in dependence upon at least some of the detected portions, and output circuitry to output data indicative of one or more of the selected regions.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus adapted to output recommendation information for modifying source code, includes: compiler circuitry to compile the source code and to output compiled code for the source code, processing circuitry to execute the compiled code, profile circuitry to monitor the execution of the compiled code by the processing circuitry and to generate profile information for the execution of the compiled code, the profile information including one or more statistical properties for the execution of the compiled code, and recommendation circuitry to output the recommendation information for the source code, the recommendation circuitry including a machine learning model to receive at least a portion of the profile information and trained to output the recommendation information for the source code in dependence upon one or more of the statistical properties, in which the recommendation information is indicative of one or more editing instructions for modifying the source code.

Abstract: A system for generating video game inputs is provided. The system comprises an input unit operable to obtain images of a passive non-luminous object being held by a user as a video games controller. The system also comprises an object detector and object pose detector for detecting the object and its respective pose in the obtained images. The pose detector is configured to detect the pose of the object based on at least one of a (i) contour detection operation and (ii) the output of a machine learning model that has been trained to detect the poses of passive non-luminous objects in images. A user input generator is configured to generate user inputs based on the detected changes in pose of the passive non-luminous object and to transmit these to a video game unit at which a video game is being executed. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A system for characterising surfaces in a real-world scene, the system comprising an object identification unit operable to identify one or more objects within one or more captured images of the real-world scene, a characteristic identification unit operable to identify one or more characteristics of one or more surfaces of the identified objects, and an information generation unit operable to generate information linking an object and one or more surface characteristics associated with that object.