Abstract: A computing device can include a recognition mode interface utilizing graphical elements, such as virtual fireflies, to indicate recognized or identified objects. The fireflies can be animated to move across a display, and the fireflies can create bounding boxes around visual representations of objects as the objects are recognized. In some cases, the object might be of a type that has specific meaning or information to be conveyed to a user. In such cases, the fireflies might be displayed with a particular size, shape, or color to convey that information. The fireflies also can be configured to form shapes or patterns in order to convey other types of information to a user, such as where audio is being recognized, light is sufficient for image capture, and the like. Other types of information can be conveyed as well via altering characteristics of the fireflies.

Abstract: A materials trouble shooter is provided for use with 3D models in computer graphics. An error texture is displayed that is distinguishable from textures without errors. If a texture is missing or is applied incorrectly to the 3D model, an error texture is displayed using an error shader instead of a regular shader for the texture for which an error in loading or application has been detected.

Abstract: A computing device can utilize a recognition mode wherein an interface utilizes graphical elements, such as virtual fireflies, to indicate recognized or identified objects. Fireflies can be displayed near an input element to indicate that a recognition mode is available. When a user selects the input element, the fireflies can appear to emanate from the input element and disperse across the display screen. As objects are recognized, fireflies can create bounding boxes around those objects, or otherwise appear proximate those objects, to indicate recognition. The fireflies can again disperse as the objects fall out of view, and can begin moving towards new objects as features of those objects are identified as potential object features. A subsequent selection of the input element to exit recognition mode can cause the fireflies to appear to retreat to their original location in, or near, the input element.

Abstract: An integrated development environment includes a visual shader designer engine that enables a user to create a pixel shader embodied as a directed acyclic graph. The directed acyclic graph contains nodes, where each node is associated with an operation that is used to generate a color characteristic of a final rendered model. The visual shader designer engine displays a rendered image at each node that is the result of the node's operation during development of the directed acyclic graph. An error texture is rendered in a node when an erroneous condition is detected in rendering a node's operations.

Abstract: A materials trouble shooter is provided for use with 3D models in computer graphics. An error texture is displayed that is distinguishable from textures without errors. If a texture is missing or is applied incorrectly to the 3D model, an error texture is displayed using an error shader instead of a regular shader for the texture for which an error in loading or application has been detected.