THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

1 . A three-dimensional image processing apparatus which causes a display apparatus to display a three-dimensional image, the display apparatus being capable of separately displaying a plurality of three-dimensional images, the apparatus comprising:

an output unit configured to output a plurality of three-dimensional images to the display apparatus;

a detection unit configured to detect a pointer in association with a three-dimensional image displayed on the display apparatus;

an operation determination unit configured to determine a predetermined operation based on movement of the pointer detected by the detection unit; and

an image processing unit configured to perform, on the three-dimensional image associated with the pointer, processing associated with the predetermined operation determined by the operation determination unit, and to cause the output unit to output the processed three-dimensional image.

2 . The three-dimensional processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the operation determination unit is configured to determine, as the predetermined operation, placement of the pointer over an arbitrary position in the three-dimensional image associated with the pointer, and

the image processing unit is configured to perform processing on the three-dimensional image associated with the pointer to allow a user to perceive that the position over which the pointer is placed is selected.

3 . The three-dimensional image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the operation determination unit is configured to determine, as the predetermined operation, movement of the pointer in an arbitrary direction at a position facing the three-dimensional image associated with the pointer, and

the image processing unit is configured to perform processing on the three-dimensional image associated with the pointer so that the three-dimensional image rotates in a direction of the movement of the pointer.

4 . The three-dimensional image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the display apparatus displays a plurality of identical three-dimensional images, and

the image processing unit is further configured to perform the processing associated with the predetermined operation determined by the operation determination unit on the three-dimensional image other than the three-dimensional image associated with the pointer, and to cause the output unit to output the processed three-dimensional images.

5 . The three-dimensional image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the display apparatus is capable of separately displaying each of the three-dimensional images in a corresponding one of a plurality of viewpoint regions,

the output unit is configured to output each of the three-dimensional images for the corresponding one of the viewpoint regions to the display unit, and

the detection unit is configured to detect the pointer from each of the viewpoint regions and associate the detected pointer with the three-dimensional image in the viewpoint region from which the pointer is detected.

6 . A three-dimensional image processing method for causing a display apparatus to display a three-dimensional image, the display apparatus being capable of separately displaying a plurality of three-dimensional images, the method comprising:

outputting a plurality of three-dimensional images to the display apparatus;

detecting a pointer in association with a three-dimensional image displayed on the display apparatus;

determining a predetermined operation based on movement of the pointer detected in the detecting; and

performing, on the three-dimensional image associated with the pointer, processing associated with the predetermined operation determined in the determining, and causing the processed three-dimensional image to be output in the outputting.

7 . A program for causing a computer to cause a display apparatus to display a three-dimensional image, the display apparatus being capable of separately displaying a plurality of three-dimensional images, the program comprising:

outputting a plurality of three-dimensional images to the display apparatus;

detecting a pointer in association with a three-dimensional image displayed on the display apparatus;

determining a predetermined operation based on movement of the pointer detected in the detecting; and

performing, on the three-dimensional image in association with the pointer, processing associated with the predetermined operation determined in the determining, and causing the processed three-dimensional image to be output in the outputting.