Image processing apparatus that presents contents of input image in state recognizable through tactile sensation, method of controlling same, image information-presenting apparatus, image information-presenting system, and storage medium

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an image input section configured to input image data;
• a distance acquisition section configured to acquire distance information based on image data input by the image input section;
• and
• a presentation form determination section configured to determine a presentation form of presenting a tactile presentation area on a distance-by-distance basis, based on the distance information acquired by the distance acquisition section.

An image information-presenting apparatus that can be connected to an image processing apparatus, comprising:

• an information presentation unit that includes at least ones of pins and Peltier elements two-dimensionally arranged, and is configured to be capable of presenting information through tactile sensation by variably controlling a physical amount which changes in the members;
• and
• a reception section configured to receive an instruction of a presentation form provided by the information presentation unit,
• wherein the information presentation unit presents an image to be presented, on an object type-by-object basis, based on the presentation form received by the reception section.

An image information-presenting system comprising:

• an image input section configured to input image data;
• a detection section configured to detect object types of objects and object areas of the objects based on the image data input by the image input section;
• a presentation form determination section configured to determine a presentation form of presenting a tactile presentation area corresponding to each object area detected by the detection section based on the object types detected by the detection section;
• and
• an information presentation unit that includes at least ones of pins and Peltier elements two-dimensionally arranged, and is configured to be capable of presenting information through tactile sensation by variably controlling a physical amount which changes in the members,
• wherein the information presentation unit presents images to be presented, on an object type-by-object basis, based on the presentation form determined by the presentation form determination section.

A method of controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising:

• inputting image data;
• detecting object types of objects and object areas of the objects based on the image data input by said inputting;
• and
• determining a presentation form of presenting a tactile presentation area corresponding to each object area detected by said detecting for each of the object types detected by said detecting.

A method of controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising:

• inputting image data;
• acquiring distance information based on the image data input by said inputting;
• and
• determining a form of presenting a tactile presentation area, on a distance-by-distance, based on the distance information acquired by said acquiring.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image processing apparatus,

• wherein the method comprises:
• inputting image data;
• detecting object types of objects and object areas of the objects based on the image data input by said inputting;
• and
• determining a presentation form of presenting a tactile presentation area corresponding to each object area detected by said detecting for each of the object types detected by said detecting.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image processing apparatus,

• wherein the method comprises:
• inputting image data;
• acquiring distance information based on the image data input by said inputting;
• and
• determining a form of presenting a tactile presentation area, on a distance-by-distance, based on the distance information acquired by said acquiring.