Abstract: An image display device includes: a controller that: acquires biological information of a subject measured by a sensor at a preset time interval; displays an image shot by a shooting device on a display; specifies a position of a figure image in the shot image; and detects a specified subject in a predetermined state. While detecting the specified subject, the controller acquires the biological information of the specified subject at a second time interval shorter than a first time interval which is the time interval in normal times. At the time of displaying the shot image including the figure image of the specified subject on the display, the controller displays information corresponding to the biological information of the specified subject acquired at the second time interval in a region corresponding to the specified position of the figure image of the specified subject while making the information overlap the figure image.

Abstract: When a user viewing an image of a conversation partner displayed on a display moves, a displayed image is more easily switched to an image reflecting a position of the user after the movement. When an image of a first user is displayed on a display of a second user, the image of the first user taken by an imaging device and an image of a background taken by the imaging device are acquired, and the acquired images are composited with each other, thereby displaying on the display a composite image in which the first user is positioned in front of the background. Moreover, when a movement of the face of the second user with respect to the display is detected, transition processing of causing the composite image displayed on the display to transition from a state before the detection of the movement of the face is carried out.

Abstract: In an image display system for viewing, by a user in a first space, an image of a second space remote from the first space, image data indicating an image acquired by an imaging device placed in the second space is received from the imaging device. A partial image of the image indicated by the received image data is displayed on a display screen in the first space, the partial image having a display size corresponding to the size of the display screen. At least one of the position, the facial direction, the visual line, or the facial position of the user in the first space is detected by a detector. When a detection result of the detector changes while the partial image is being displayed, it is determined which partial image of the image indicated by the image data is to be displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: In an image display system for viewing, by a user in a first space, an image of a second space remote from the first space, image data indicating an image acquired by an imaging device placed in the second space is received from the imaging device. A partial image of the image indicated by the received image data is displayed on a display screen in the first space, the partial image having a display size corresponding to the size of the display screen. At least one of the position, the facial direction, the visual line, or the facial position of the user in the first space is detected by a detector. When a detection result of the detector changes while the partial image is being displayed, it is determined which partial image of the image indicated by the image data is to be displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: In a conversation communication system, a facial image of the communicator is stored, a distance between the communicator and a display and the direction of the face of the communicator are detected. It is determined whether or not the conversation communication is to be continued according to the detected distance and the detected facial direction. When the detected facial direction is a direction facing the display from the front, the conversation communication is to be continued. On the other hand, in a case where the detected facial direction is different, when the detected distance increases afterward, if any of the following conditions (1) and (2) is satisfied, the conversation communication is terminated: (1) the distance is undetectable; and (2) the detected facial direction is, for equal to or longer than a preset period of time, maintained at the direction different from the direction facing the display from the front.

Abstract: When a user viewing an image of a conversation partner displayed on a display moves, a displayed image is more easily switched to an image reflecting a position of the user after the movement. When an image of a first user is displayed on a display of a second user, the image of the first user taken by an imaging device and an image of a background taken by the imaging device are acquired, and the acquired images are composited with each other, thereby displaying on the display a composite image in which the first user is positioned in front of the background. Moreover, when a movement of the face of the second user with respect to the display is detected, transition processing of causing the composite image displayed on the display to transition from a state before the detection of the movement of the face is carried out.

Abstract: A communication unit prevents a malfunction which initiates communication against a user's will when communication for the purpose of remote dialog, without requiring a complex operation on the part of the user. This communication unit, used when a sender transmits his or her image or speech information to a recipient, comprises: a device that acquires image and speech information; a home server that transmits communication data indicating the information acquired by the information acquisition device to a device possessed by the recipient; and a detection unit that detects an object to be detected which is generated or changed by an action of the sender. The detection unit detects mutually different types of the objects each to be detected. Then, the home server starts transmitting the communication data when each detection result from each of two or more types of the detection units satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: In a conversation communication system, a facial image of the communicator is stored, a distance between the communicator and a display and the direction of the face of the communicator are detected. It is determined whether or not the conversation communication is to be continued according to the detected distance and the detected facial direction. When the detected facial direction is a direction facing the display from the front, the conversation communication is to be continued. On the other hand, in a case where the detected facial direction is different, when the detected distance increases afterward, if any of the following conditions (1) and (2) is satisfied, the conversation communication is terminated: (1) the distance is undetectable; and (2) the detected facial direction is, for equal to or longer than a preset period of time, maintained at the direction different from the direction facing the display from the front.

Abstract: A condition ascertainment unit accurately ascertains the condition of an opponent in a remote location while considering an opponent's privacy. The condition ascertainment unit for ascertaining the condition of the opponent in a remote location includes a staging device configured to perform a staging operation different from the operation of reproducing a video image and voice of the opponent, and a control device configured to control the staging device to perform the staging operation and to communicate with an opponent side terminal. The control device obtains data on at least one of opponent's position and state, atmosphere in the space where the opponent is present, voice emitted from the opponent, and vibration generated by action of the opponent; specifies, from the obtained data, contents on the above-described item; and causes the staging device to perform the staging operation in a staging mode corresponding to the specified contents.

Abstract: A communication unit prevents a malfunction which initiates communication against a user's will when communication for the purpose of remote dialogue, without requiring a complex operation on the part of the user. This communication unit, used when a sender transmits his or her image or speech information to a recipient, comprises: a device that acquires image and speech information; a home server that transmits communication data indicating the information acquired by the information acquisition device to a device possessed by the recipient; and a detection unit that detects an object to be detected which is generated or changed by an action of the sender. The detection unit detects mutually different types of the objects each to be detected. Then, the home server starts transmitting the communication data when each detection result from each of two or more types of the detection units satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to hold a dialog between communicators while the communicators are viewing their images each other and which prevents the presence of an image display screen from being noticeable in a non-communication state. A first unit for the communicator generates and transmits first data indicating the image of the communicator. A second unit for the communication partner expands the first data received via a communication line to display the image of the communicator on the display screen, and generates and transmits second data indicating the image of the communication partner in front of the display screen. A human sensor is configured to detect that the communication partner is at a predetermined position in a home. Only during the period of the human sensor detecting that the communication partner is at the predetermined position, the display-cum-mirror forms a display screen, and otherwise, a mirror.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to hold a dialogue between communicators while the communicators are viewing their images each other and which prevents the presence of an image display screen from being noticeable in a non-communication state. A first unit for the communicator generates and transmits first data indicating the image of the communicator. A second unit for the communication partner expands the first data received via a communication line to display the image of the communicator on the display screen, and generates and transmits second data indicating the image of the communication partner in front of the display screen. A human sensor is configured to detect that the communication partner is at a predetermined position in a home. Only during the period of the human sensor detecting that the communication partner is at the predetermined position, the display-cum-mirror forms a display screen, and otherwise, a mirror.

Abstract: When level sensors detect the fall of the levels of treatment liquids from standard levels to supply levels while a photo-developing apparatus having treatment tanks containing treatment liquids is in operation, water supply devices are activated to supply water to the standard levels in the respective treatment tanks. When the photo-developing apparatus is restarted after a suspended time, the water supply devices are activated to supply amounts of water corresponding to predicted evaporation amounts of the treatment liquids within a time set in relation to the suspended time. A sufficient development stability can be ensured by keeping the concentrations of the treatment liquids at proper values even at an operation starting point, such as when the photo-developing apparatus is restarted.

Abstract: A photograph developing apparatus includes a main processing tank and a sub-tank which is connected to the main processing tank. The sub-tank is provided with a filter, a sensor, and the like in order to filter processing solution and feed the filtered processing solution back to the main processing tank. The sub-tank has a lid for covering the top of the sub-tank. The lid has an evaporation prevention block which is extended to a point below the surface of the processing solution. Cavity portions are formed in the evaporation prevention block at least at positions corresponding to the filter and the sensor. Alternatively, evaporation of the processing solution is suppressed through employment of an evaporation prevention block which floats on the surface of the processing solution. In this case as well, cavity portions are formed in the block at least at positions corresponding to the filter and the sensor.

Abstract: An automatic photosensitive material developing machine supplies a solid processing solution to be dissolved according to consumption of processing solution for a silver halide photosensitive material to be treated. The developing machine includes a solid processing solution supplying section for supplying the solid processing solution from a solid processing solution cartridge containing the solid processing solution, and a solid processing solution transferring section for receiving the solid processing solution supplied by the solid processing solution supplying section in a bucket, and for transferring the bucket upward.

Abstract: A photographic processing apparatus capable of printing films having different widths. An exposure unit for printing film images on photographic paper has a negative mask to guide the movement of the films. The negative mask is provided with a plurality of film guide paths which correspond to widths of the films. A transfer unit is provided to move the negative mask in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the film. Along the film feed path toward the negative mask are provided sensors to detect the film size. Printing is carried out in such a manner that after the film size has been detected by the sensors, the transfer unit is controlled by the signal from the sensors to bring one of the film guide paths which corresponds to the film size into alignment with the exposure axis.