Method and apparatus for inputting three-dimensional shape information

An apparatus for identifying three-dimensional coordinates of points of interest on a plurality of images obtained from an object, comprising:

• stereo-image presenting means for presenting to a user a left image and a right image as a stereo image;
• detecting means for detecting left and right gazing points corresponding to left and right lines-of-sight on the left and right images presented by said stereo-image presenting means, of eyes of the user, respectively;
• and
• calculating means for calculating three-dimensional coordinates of a point of interest at which the user is gazing, based on the detected left and right gazing points and a convergence angle between the left and right lines-of-sight.

A three-dimensional shape information input method of inputting three-dimensional coordinates of points of interest on a plurality of images obtained from an object as three-dimensional shape information, comprising the steps of:

• presenting to a user a first image and a second image as a stereo image;
• detecting at a predetermined timing, left and right lines of sight of the user;
• calculating three-dimensional coordinates of a point of interest at which the viewer is gazing, based on the left and right line-of-sight data detected in said detecting step;
• and
• repeating said detecting step and calculating step with respect to other points of interest, and inputting a group of three-dimensional coordinates of points of interest obtained respectively, in a memory as three-dimensional shape information of the object.

A three-dimensional shape information input apparatus for inputting three-dimensional coordinates of points of interest on a plurality of images obtained from an object as three-dimensional shape information, comprising:

• presenting means for presenting to a user a first image and a second image as a stereo image;
• detecting means for detecting at a predetermined timing, left and right lines of sight of the user;
• calculating means for calculating three-dimensional coordinates of a point of interest at which the user is gazing, based on the left and right line-of-sight data detected by said detecting means;
• and
• input means for inputting a group of three-dimensional coordinates of points of interest, obtained by said detecting means and said calculating means with respect to a number of points of interest, in a memory as three-dimensional shape information of the object.

A three-dimensional line-of-sight indicating method of inputting user's indication based on points of interest viewed by a user on a left image and a right image obtained from an object, comprising the steps of:

• presenting to the user the left and right images as a stereo image;
• detecting left and right gazing points corresponding to left and right lines-of-sight on the left and right images, of eyes of the user, respectively;
• calculating three-dimensional coordinates of a point of interest at which the user is gazing, based on the detected left and right gazing points and a convergence angle between the left and right line-of-sight;
• and
• outputting the calculated three-dimensional coordinates of the point of interest as user's indication data.

A three-dimensional line-of-sight indicating apparatus for inputting user's indication based on points of interest viewed by a user on a left image and a right image obtained from an object, comprising:

• presenting means for presenting to the user the left and right images as a stereo image;
• detecting means for detecting left and right gazing points corresponding to left and right lines-of-sight of eyes of the user;
• calculating means for calculating three-dimensional coordinates of a point of interest at which the user is gazing, based on the detected left and right gazing points and a convergence angle data between the left and right line-of-sight;
• and
• outputting means for outputting the calculated three-dimensional coordinates of the points of interest as user's indication data.