User interface device, user interface method, program, and computer-readable information storage medium

A user interface method comprising:

• sequentially obtaining a predetermined writing position using a camera when a user makes gestures to sequentially write characters in the air, wherein the writing positions are obtained at predetermined time intervals;
• referring to character template data storage that stores character template data indicating changes in the predetermined writing position when a gesture to write each of a plurality of characters in the air is made every time the predetermined writing position is obtained,
• sequentially outputting, at predetermined time intervals, similarity evaluation information indicating a similarity between data to be evaluated including a predetermined number of the predetermined writing positions taken in order from newly obtained data and the character template data related to each of the plurality of characters, every time the predetermined writing position is obtained;
• wherein the character template data includes directional data of each of the plurality of characters;
• wherein the computer compares directional data of the data to be evaluated, to the character template data;
• determining a character string related to the gestures of the user based on the sequentially output similarity evaluation information related to each of the plurality of characters,
• determining a character determination period based on the sequentially output similarity evaluation information related to each of the plurality of characters, wherein
• determining, as characters included in the character string related to the gestures of the user, one or more of the characters related to the similarity evaluation information meeting a predetermined criterion, the similarity evaluation information being output during the character determination period,
• wherein a period from when any character is detected to when no character is detected is defined as a character determination period,
• wherein a character determination period is defined as when a similarity evaluation value of at least one character meets a predetermined threshold value to when the similarity evaluation value of all characters does not meet the predetermined threshold value, and
• wherein the computer obtains a magnitude of the directional data of the data to be evaluated;
• and
• wherein the computer classifies the directional data of the data to be evaluated;
• wherein, if the magnitude of the directional data of the data to be evaluated is less than a predetermined amount, the directional data of the data to be evaluated is classified as having zero movement;
• and
• wherein the similarity evaluation information is determined by comparing direction information of each piece of the obtained user gestures with directional information in the character template data, assigning a cost to each piece of the obtained user gesture directional information using a cost table, determining a minimal cost of each piece of user gesture direction information, and adding up each minimal cost for each piece of user gesture direction information to arrive at a total cost.

A non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as:

• a character template data storage configured to store character template data indicating changes in a predetermined writing position when a gesture to write each of a plurality of characters in the air is made;
• a camera configured to sequentially obtain the predetermined writing position when a user makes gestures to sequentially writing characters in the air;
• a similarity evaluation information outputter configured to sequentially output similarity evaluation information indicating a similarity between data to be evaluated and the character template data, every time the predetermined writing position is obtained by the camera;
• wherein, the data to be evaluated includes a predetermined number of the predetermined writing positions taken in order from newly obtained data, and
• wherein the character template data includes directional data of each of the plurality of characters;
• wherein the computer compares directional data of the data to be evaluated, to the character template data;
• a character string determiner configured to determine a character string related to the gestures of the user based on the sequentially output similarity evaluation information related to each of the plurality of characters,
• a character determination period determiner, based on the sequentially output similarity evaluation information related to each of the plurality of characters, wherein
• a determiner, as characters included in the character string related to the gestures of the user, one or more of the characters related to the similarity evaluation information meeting a predetermined criterion, the similarity evaluation information being output during the character determination period,
• wherein a period from when any character is detected to when no character is detected is defined as a character determination period,
• wherein a character determination period is defined as when a similarity evaluation value of at least one character meets a predetermined threshold value to when the similarity evaluation value of all characters does not meet the predetermined threshold value, and
• wherein the computer obtains a magnitude of the directional data of the data to be evaluated;
• and
• wherein the computer classifies the directional data of the data to be evaluated;
• wherein, if the magnitude of the directional data of the data to be evaluated is less than a predetermined amount, the directional data of the data to be evaluated is classified as having zero movement;
• and
• the similarity evaluation information determined by comparing direction information of each piece of the obtained user gestures with directional information in the character template, assigning a cost to each piece of the obtained user gesture directional information using a cost table, determining a minimal cost of each piece of user gesture direction information, and adding up each minimal cost for each piece of user gesture direction information to arrive at a total cost.