User interface device, user interface method and information storage medium

1. A user interface device, comprising:

virtual space image display means for producing an image of a virtual space where a plurality of objects are placed, on a real time basis according to a position of a viewpoint defined in the virtual space, and sequentially displaying the image;

viewpoint position change means for changing the position of the viewpoint defined in the virtual space according to a first operation by the user;

object selection means for specifying an area in the image using a cursor having a pre-defined area for selecting an object that is at least partially included in the specified pre-defined area according to a second operation by the user;

storage means for storing identification information on the object selected by the object selection means; and

process execution means for executing a predetermined process in connection with the selected object,

wherein said object is selected if it is located within the specified pre-defined area and less than or equal to a predetermined distance away from a viewpoint.

2. The user interface device according to claim 1 , wherein,

the object selection means selects the object displayed in the specified pre-defined area according to a distance between a position of the object displayed in the specified area and the position of the viewpoint.

3. The user interface device according to claim 1 , wherein,

the object selection means selects the selected object displayed in the specified pre-defined area according to an attribute of the selected object displayed in the specified pre-defined area.

4. The user interface device according to claim 1 , wherein,

the object selection means selects the selected object displayed in the specified pre-defined area when an area occupied by the selected object is greater than a predetermined area of the pre-defined area.

5. The user interface device according to claim 1 , wherein

the viewpoint position change means changes the position of the viewpoint defined in the virtual space according to a posture of the operation device, which is changed according to the first operation by the user,

wherein the posture of the operation device is determined using the output of a gyroscope or an acceleration sensor.

6. The user interface device according to claim 1 , wherein

the process execution means carries out a process to collectively display images concerning the selected object.

7. The user interface device according to claim 1 , wherein each of said objects are automatically arranged in said virtual space according to an attribute of each of said objects.

8. The user interface device according to claim 7 , wherein said object attribute is spatial frequency.

9. The user interface device according to claim 7 , wherein said object attribute is a face.

10. The user interface device according to claim 7 , wherein said object attribute is color.

11. The user interface device according to claim 7 , wherein said object attribute is a time stamp or a file name.

12. The user interface device according to claim 1 , wherein:

said virtual space image display means, viewpoint position change means, object selection means, storage means and process execution means are comprised within a computer.

13. The user interface device according to claim 1 , wherein a portable computing device controls the object selecting means.

14. A user interface method, comprising:

a virtual space image display step of producing an image of a virtual space where a plurality of objects are placed, on a real time basis according to a position of a viewpoint defined in the virtual space, and sequentially displaying the image;

a viewpoint position change step of changing the position of the viewpoint defined in the virtual space according to a first operation by the user;

an object selection step of selecting objects using a cursor having a pre-defined area, wherein the objects are at least partially included in the specified pre-defined area, according to a second operation by the user;

a storage step of storing identification information on the objects selected by the object selection means; and

a process execution step of executing a predetermined process in connection with the selected objects, wherein said objects are selected in descending order, starting by selecting an object having a smallest distance between said object and a viewpoint and ending by selecting an object with a largest distance between said object and a viewpoint, or

wherein all of said objects located with the specified pre-defined area are selected according to a pre-defined criteria.

15. An information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as:

virtual space image display means for producing an image of a virtual space where a plurality of objects are placed, on a real time basis according to a position of a viewpoint defined in the virtual space, and sequentially displaying the image;

viewpoint position change means for changing the position of the viewpoint defined in the virtual space according to a first operation by the user;

object selection means for specifying an area in the image using a cursor having a pre-defined area for selecting objects that are at least partially included in the specified pre-defined area according to a second operation by the user;

storage means for storing identification information on the objects selected by the object selections means; and

process execution means for executing a predetermined process in connection with the selected objects, wherein said objects located with the specified pre-defined area are selected in a descending order based on a correlation between an attribute of the object and a characteristic vector representative of a user's preferences, or

wherein said objects located within the specified pre-defined area are selected in an order of largest to smallest with respect to a display size of the object in the pre-defined area.