A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. Users can use the collected data for a variety of different uses or applications.

A hand operated game controller for controlling a game console. Multiple push buttons are arranged on the surface of the game controller. The push buttons are placed in an arrangement that approximately matches the natural position of the fingers of the user's hands. As the user presses the buttons, control signals are sent from the buttons to the game console via wiring.

A game controller is configured to selectively pair with a companion device using a first communication protocol and one or more gaming systems using a second communication protocol. The game controller is configured to send a pairing request to the companion device using the first communication protocol based on companion-device pairing data stored in a storage subsystem of the game controller. The game controller is configured to send a pairing request to a last-paired gaming system with which the game controller last paired using the second communication protocol based on gaming-system pairing data stored in the storage subsystem. Responsive to the game controller being unable to pair with the last-paired gaming system and while the game controller is paired with the companion device, the game controller is configured to send an error notification to the companion device using the first communication protocol.

A first sensor detects a movement of a first apparatus attached to a lower body of a user, and a second sensor detects a movement of a second apparatus attached to an upper body of the user or held by a hand of the user. Then, a virtual object is caused to continue a first action in a virtual space while received outputs from the first sensor and the second sensor both satisfy a condition.

A portal unit for toys, the portal unit having a housing, a display apparatus that is arranged at a portion of the housing, a receptacle for at least one toy, and a toy recognition device. In embodiments, the display apparatus has a liquid crystal display and a background illumination device; wherein the liquid crystal display is transparent; wherein the display apparatus forms an interior space, of which at least one inner wall is visible from the outside; and wherein the background illumination device is arranged at a distance from the liquid crystal display on a rear wall of the interior space.

A game controller is provided. The game controller includes a first handle, a second handle, and a function expansion module. The first handle and the second handle are connected to each other to jointly form an accommodating space. The function expansion module is disposed in the accommodating space between the first handle and the second handle. The function expansion module is connected to the first handle or the second handle.

A video game controller can automatically operate as a video game controller with audio capability and a video game controller without audio capability based upon a signal received via a switch in communication with an audio jack of the video game controller when a headset is coupled to the audio jack. Connection of the headset to the controller automatically causes video game audio to be communicated from the video game console to the headset via the controller. The video game audio is communicated at a default volume level to the headset upon coupling of the headset to the video game controller. The volume level of the audio communicated to the headset can be adjustable up or down via a directional pad of the video game controller while an audio control button on the video game controller is pressed.

Systems and methods for enabling concurrent user interaction with a plurality of applications executing on a computer system are disclosed. Generally, the computer system includes a video game controller, a remote control including a plurality of buttons, and a video game system communicatively coupled with the remote control and the video game controller. While presenting video game output of video game in a foreground of a display and media output of a media application on the display, the video game system may maintain a mapping indicating that a first set of the plurality of buttons is used for controlling execution of a media application. Based on receiving a signal corresponding to a push of a button of the first set, and the mapping, the video game system may control the execution of the media application while continuing to present the video game output in the foreground.

Methods and systems are provided for verifying an input provided at a controller including detecting a finger gesture on a surface of the controller. Responsive to detecting the finger gesture, multi-modal data is collected from a plurality of sensors and components tracking the finger gesture. The multi-modal data is used to generate an ensemble model using machine learning algorithm. The ensemble model is trained in accordance to training rules defined for different finger gestures. An output is identified from the ensemble model for the finger gesture. The output is interpreted to define an input for an interactive application selected for interaction.

A method to identify positions of fingers of a hand is described. The method includes capturing images of a first hand using a plurality of cameras that are part of a wearable device. The wearable device is attached to a wrist of a second hand and the plurality of cameras of the wearable device is disposed around the wearable device. The method includes repeating capturing of additional images of the first hand, the images and the additional images captured to produce a stream of captured image data during a session of presenting the virtual environment in a head mounted display (HMD). The method includes sending the stream of captured image data to a computing device that is interfaced with the HMD. The computing device is configured to process the captured image data to identify changes in positions of the fingers of the first hand.