MORE USEFUL MAN MACHINE INTERFACES AND APPLICATIONS
A method for enhancing a well-being of a small child or baby utilizes at least one TV camera positioned to observe one or more points on the child or an object associated with the child. Signals from the TV camera are outputted to a computer, which analyzes the output signals to determine a position or movement of the child or child associated object. The determined position or movement is then compared to preprogrammed criteria in the computer to determine a correlation or importance, and thereby to provide data to the child.
1 .- 20 . (canceled)
21 . A laptop computer comprising:
a computer housing including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a display and the second portion including a keyboard, the first portion being movable relative to the second portion to an open position;
an electro-optical sensor supported by the first portion and oriented toward a work volume above the second portion when the first portion is in the open position, the electro-optical sensor providing an output; and
a processing unit coupled to the electro-optical sensor output and adapted to determine a three-dimensional location of a portion of a person in the work volume above the second portion.
22 . The laptop computer of claim 21 wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a gesture.
23 . The laptop computer of claim 21 wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a pointing direction of a finger of the person.
24 . The laptop computer of claim 21 wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a relative location of two portions of said person.
25 . The laptop computer of claim 22 wherein the processing unit is adapted to compare successive outputs of the electro-optical sensor to determine the gesture.
26 . The laptop computer of claim 22 wherein the gesture includes at least one of a push gesture, a pull gesture, a grasp gesture and a pinch gesture.
27 . The laptop computer of claim 21 further including a light source adapted to illuminate said portion within the work volume.
28 . The laptop computer of claim 27 wherein the light source includes at least one light emitting diode.
29 . The laptop computer of claim 21 wherein the electro-optical sensor includes first and second cameras.
30 . The laptop computer of claim 24 wherein the first portion defines first and second apertures for the first and second cameras.
31 . A computer apparatus comprising:
a laptop housing;
a display incorporated into the laptop housing;
an electro-optical sensor incorporated into the laptop housing proximate the display, the electro-optical sensor providing an output; and
a processing unit adapted to determine a three-dimensional location of a portion of a person based on the output of the electro-optical sensor, wherein the three-dimensional location of the portion of a person is used to input data into the computer apparatus.
32 . The computer apparatus of claim 31 wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a gesture.
33 . The computer apparatus of claim 31 wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a pointing direction of the person.
34 . The computer apparatus of claim 31 wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a relative location of at least two portions of the person.
35 . The computer apparatus of claim 32 wherein the gesture includes at least one of a push gesture, a pull gesture, a grasp gesture and a pinch gesture.
36 . The computer apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processing unit is adapted to compare successive outputs of the electro-optical sensor to determine the gesture.
37 . The computer apparatus of claim 31 wherein the electro-optical sensor includes first and second cameras.
38 . The computer apparatus of claim 31 wherein the display is a three-dimensional display.
39 . The computer apparatus of claim 31 further including a light source incorporated into the laptop housing.
40 . The computer apparatus of claim 39 wherein the light source includes at least one light emitting diode.