Information processing apparatus and method

An information processing apparatus for generating and displaying a compound real space image in which a plurality of subjects have virtual objects by their hands respectively, by synthesizing a real space image and a virtual space image representing a virtual object, comprising:

• a measuring unit for measuring a position posture of the hand of the subject;
• a measuring unit for measuring a view position and a view direction of the subject;
• and
• a synthesis unit for generating the virtual object in dependence upon the view position, the view direction and the position posture of the hand, and synthesizing the virtual object with the real space image;
• and further comprising:
• an upcast action detecting unit for calculating a shifting speed of the hand in an upward direction and for detecting an upcast action;
• a judging unit for judging that the hand is stopped if the shifting speed of the hand in the upward direction becomes smaller than a predetermined value after the upcast action was detected by said upcast action detecting unit;
• and
• a determining unit for determining a partner subject to whom the virtual object is upcast on the basis of the view position and the view direction of the subject when it is judged that the hand is stopped.