Like a motion-controlled video gaming system, the Virtual Music Instrument employs a camera that is mounted on a computer screen and aimed at someone, capturing their gestures.

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Paid services offer more extensive remote access, including the ability to turn on a phone, operate its camera, pull up a virtual copy of its home screen and monitor activity on the device.

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Preparing a song is complicated, and involves preparing an array of specialized digital sound files, lyrics, transcriptions and even instructions for virtual camera angles, lighting and choreography for the animated characters that perform the music within the game itself.

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Use of a special range-imaging camera also allows the software to add people within virtual spaces.

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They can also use the TV's built-in camera to create a virtual mirror to monitor their exercise routines.

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While virtual reality has tried (and till now failed) to entice us into a virtual world, augmented reality overlays digital, virtual information onto the real world with the help of a simple camera, screen and software in between.

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This person said Apple has experimented with the ability to leave virtual sticky notes on the device and for the gadget to automatically recognize individuals via a built-in camera.

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While Apple maintained the top spot for the ninth time in a row through US customers' happiness with the hardware design and ease of use, most of its major competitors made big strides in reliability, speed and camera quality in the past half-year -- to the point where there was a virtual dead heat for second place between HTC, Motorola, Nokia and Samsung.

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