Information processing apparatus and recording medium

Abstract

There is provided an information processing apparatus including a display control unit configured to include a first display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that a first image from a user viewpoint, which is captured by a first imaging unit, is displayed on a display unit or control is performed in a manner that the display unit is transmissive, and a second display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that a second image captured by a second imaging unit including a user within an angle of view is displayed on the display unit, and a switching control unit configured to perform control in response to an instruction from the user in a manner that a display control mode of the display control unit is switched from the first display control mode to the second display control mode.

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a display control unit configured to include:
 a first display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that a first image from a user viewpoint, which is captured by a first imaging unit, is displayed on a display unit, wherein the first image is an image of a real space, and 
 a second display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that a second image is displayed on the display unit, wherein the second image is captured by a second imaging unit from a third person viewpoint in the real world; and 
   a switching control unit configured to perform control in response to an instruction from the user in a manner that a display control mode of the display control unit is switched from the first display control mode to the second display control mode.   
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display unit is configured to be subjected to transmittance control in a manner that the display unit is in a through-state in the first display control mode, and   wherein the display control unit switches, in accordance with control performed by the switching control unit, the first display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that the display unit is in the through-state to the second display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that the second image captured by the second imaging unit from the third person viewpoint in the real world is displayed on the display unit.   
     
     
         3 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the display unit is brought into the through-state by controlling a transmittance of each pixel on the display unit in accordance with an instruction of the display control unit. 
     
     
         4 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the display control unit is configured to switch the first display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that the first image from the user viewpoint is displayed on the display unit to the second display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that the second image captured by the second imaging unit from the third person viewpoint in the real world is displayed on the display unit. 
     
     
         5 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in an event of switching the display control mode to the second display control mode, the display control unit is configured to generate, based on the first image from the user viewpoint and the second image from the third person viewpoint, a transition image indicating that the first display control mode is being switched, and display the transition image on the display unit. 
     
     
         6 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the display unit is installed on a head mounted display (HMD) and disposed in front of an eye of the user, the HMD being worn on a head or a face of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the HMD is configured to select the second imaging unit from a plurality of imaging units based on position information and angle of view information of each of the plurality of imaging units and a current position of the HMD. 
     
     
         8 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching from the first display control mode to the second display control mode is based on an eye-gaze input. 
     
     
         9 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the display control unit is configured to:
 generate, as the second image, a virtual captured image that includes the user within an angle of view from a position according to the instruction from the user, and   display the generated virtual captured image on the display unit in the second display control mode.   
     
     
         10 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the second display control mode, the display control unit is configured to sequentially display a plurality of the second images, wherein each of the plurality of the second images is captured with a different angle of view of the second imaging unit. 
     
     
         11 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, after the display control unit displays the second image on the display unit, the display control unit is configured to transmit a zoom instruction to the second imaging unit and sequentially display another second image from the third person viewpoint, which is zoomed out. 
     
     
         12 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first imaging unit is installed on a head mounted display (HMD) and disposed in a manner that the first imaging unit is configured to capture an image of an area in an eye-gaze direction of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second imaging unit is a fixed camera installed around the user. 
     
     
         14 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second imaging unit is a camera mounted on a flying object. 
     
     
         15 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second imaging unit includes multiple super-wide cameras installed on a head mounted display (HMD), the HMD being worn on a head or a face of the user, and   wherein the display control unit is configured to generate the second image in the second display control mode based on multiple captured images captured by the multiple super-wide cameras.   
     
     
         16 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display unit includes an inner display unit configured to display the second image, and an outer display unit configured to face a side opposite to the inner display unit, and   wherein the display control unit is configured to perform control in the second display control mode in a manner that an image indicating that the display control mode has been switched to the second display control mode is displayed on the outer display unit.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a set of computer-executable instructions recorded thereon, the instructions when executed by a computer causing the computer to function as:
 a display control unit configured to include:
 a first display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that a first image from a user viewpoint, which is captured by a first imaging unit, is displayed on a display unit, wherein the first image is an image of a real space, and 
 a second display control mode in which control is performed in a manner that a second image is displayed on the display unit, wherein the second image is captured by a second imaging unit from a third person viewpoint in the real world; and 
   a switching control unit configured to perform control in response to an instruction from the user in a manner that a display control mode of the display control unit is switched from the first display control mode to the second display control mode.