Information processing apparatus, method, and program

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a designation unit which designates an object, a sensing unit which senses a change which exceeds a threshold value in at least a part of the object when a user zooms in on the object, and a zoom unit which zooms in on the object at the zoom rate which is just less than that when there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object if there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate, and which zooms in on the object if there is no change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object even when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate.

1 . An information processing system comprising:
 a detection unit operable to detect user input comprising movement in three-dimensional space; and   an operation unit operable to:
 set one of a plurality of modes in accordance with user input detected by the detection unit, the plurality of modes comprising a zoom mode and a pointing mode, 
 if the set mode is the pointing mode, designate an object based at least in part on user input detected by the detection unit, 
 if the set mode is the zoom mode: 
 increase a zoom rate for zooming the object and cause the object to be displayed at a larger zoom rate in response to the detection unit detecting user input comprising a movement toward the detection unit; and 
 decrease the zoom rate for zooming the object and cause the object to be displayed at a smaller zoom rate in response to the detection unit detecting user input comprising a movement away from the detection unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the movement in three-dimensional space which the detection unit is operable to detect involves manipulation of the user's hand. 
     
     
         3 . The information processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the detection unit is operable to detect a first form of user input involving a movement of the user's hand toward the detection unit and away from the user's body, and the operation unit is operable to, if the set mode is the zoom mode, increase a zoom rate for zooming the object and cause the object to be displayed at a larger zoom rate in response to the first form of user input being detected by the detection unit. 
     
     
         4 . The information processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the detection unit is operable to detect a second form of user input involving a movement of the user's hand away from the detection unit and toward the user's body, and the operation unit is operable to, if the set mode is the zoom mode, decrease a zoom rate for zooming the object and cause the object to be displayed at a smaller zoom rate in response to the second form of user input being detected by the detection unit. 
     
     
         5 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the operation unit is operable to establish a zoom rate in response to the detection unit detecting user input. 
     
     
         6 . The information processing system of  claim 5 , wherein the operation unit is operable to establish the zoom rate in accordance with a distance between the user and the detection unit. 
     
     
         7 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit is operable to detect user input comprising movement of an input device in three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         8 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit is operable to detect user input comprising signals describing movement of an input device in three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         9 . An information processing method comprising acts, performed by an information processing apparatus comprising a detection unit, of:
 (A) receiving, by the detection unit, first input from a user to select an operation mode from among a plurality of operation modes, the plurality of operation modes comprising a zoom mode and a pointing mode, the first input comprising movement of the user in three-dimensional space;   (B) receiving, by the detection unit, second input from the user, the second input comprising movement of the user in three-dimensional space; and   (C) if the first input is to select the pointing mode, process the second input to designate an object;   (D) if the first input is to select the zoom mode and the second input comprises a movement toward the detection unit, process the second input to increase a zoom rate for zooming the object and cause the object to be displayed at a larger zoom rate; and   (E) if the first input is to select the zoom mode and the second input comprises a movement away from the detection unit, process the second input to decrease the zoom rate for zooming the object and cause the object to be displayed at a smaller zoom rate.   
     
     
         10 . The information processing method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first input and the second input involves manipulation of the user's hand. 
     
     
         11 . The information processing method of  claim 10 , wherein the act (D) comprises processing the second input to increase the zoom rate if the second input involves movement of the user's hand toward the detection unit and away from the user's body. 
     
     
         12 . The information processing method of  claim 10 , wherein the act (E) comprises processing the second input to decrease the zoom rate if the second input involves movement of the user's hand away from the detection unit and toward the user's body. 
     
     
         13 . The information processing method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first input and the second input comprises movement by the user of an input device in three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         14 . The information processing method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first input and the second input comprises signals describing movement by the user of the input device in three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by an information processing system comprising a detection unit, cause the information processing system to perform a method comprising acts of:
 (A) receiving, by the detection unit, first input from a user to select an operation mode from among a plurality of operation modes, the plurality of operation modes comprising a zoom mode and a pointing mode, the first input comprising movement by the user in three-dimensional space;   (B) receiving, by the detection unit, second input from the user, the second input comprising movement by the user in three-dimensional space; and   (C) if the first input is to select the pointing mode, process the second input to designate an object;   (D) if the first input is to select the zoom mode and the second input comprises a movement toward the detection unit, process the second input to increase a zoom rate for zooming the object and cause the object to be displayed at a larger zoom rate; and   (E) if the first input is to select the zoom mode and the second input comprises a movement away from the detection unit, process the second input to decrease the zoom rate for zooming the object and cause the object to be displayed at a smaller zoom rate.