In recent weeks, we've seen some interesting Microsoft patents getting published. These include an AI device with a fisheye camera and multiple microphones, a new automated quick task system for Cortana, an intelligent file-targeting system, and more.
Now, the tech giant has patented a system that allows for enhanced, automatic generation of storytelling content associated with the creation of some user-generated content.
Real-world situations where this would be applicable could include sharing of content through social media, such as the process of adding location and people tags with uploaded photos. To clarify a bit further, applications such as Microsoft Photos and Google Photos enabling automatic grouping of certain photos to create albums, and Paint 3D generating videos of the process through which objects were created in the app, also qualify as examples where this idea is suitable.
As such, Microsoft proposes a more enhanced system that produces the background story behind the creation of content, and then presents it in an appropriate way as well. This would enable users to avoid distractions associated with the maintenance of information. One technique that could be used in the gathering of required information includes the recording of significant events during the task. Certain points can, for example, help determine a specific mood or theme for the story, and then further collect only that content which fits the chosen theme. The kind of changes tracked over the course of the process may also depend upon the kind of application being utilized by a user.
Moving on, what is referred to as a 'showbox creator' could autonomously generate information based on the gathered content, some of which can serve as the starting point for the tasks ahead. This could also access information sources such as search engines and news sources to identify events relevant to the content that are occurring at similar points in time. As an example, GPS information could be used to identify user location and capture live-time events in their locality, helping describe the circumstances surrounding the process in a better manner.
Moreover, the same showbox application can also be utilized for publication and presentation purposes. To assist with the involvement of users with the aforementioned operations, a suitable interface may be provided. For example, Paint 3D consists of a 'lineage' feature that tracks and records events during object creation, that can be changed by users. Various events can also be presented and then incorporated in the story in the form of a timeline.
Notably, the aforementioned techniques are not necessarily limited to single-user applications only, and may extend to the involvement of a variety of contributors, resulting in a more sophisticated end-product. As can be expected from a patent of this nature, some of the techniques described are slightly vague and may be applied in a variety of ways in different Microsoft applications. However, there's no still no guarantee that the firm plans to introduce something like this in the future.
