1. A method for processing input by a computing device, the method comprising:
receiving images of a control device that includes an object section having a spherical shape;
determining locations of the control device in space during a period of time utilizing image analysis to identify a circular area corresponding to the spherical shape;
receiving inertial sensor information obtained by sensors in the control device;
determining a plurality of orientations of the control device based within the period of time based on the sensor information;
tracking movement of the control device based on the determined locations and the determined orientations; and
translating the movement of the control device into input for a game executing in the computing device, the input for the game being translated into a motion of an object in the game, wherein operations of the method are executed through a processor.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control device includes wireless capability for communication with the computing device, wherein the inertial sensor information is received utilizing the wireless capability.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement of the control device is tracked in a three-dimensional space.
4. The method as recited in claim 1, further including:
receiving sound cues originated at the control device; and
combining the sound cues with the image analysis to track the control device movement.
5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement of the control device enables the control device to act as a pointing device on a display.
6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement of the control device created by a user holding the control device creates a corresponding motion of a flashlight held by an avatar in the game, wherein the avatar illuminates areas of a display with the flashlight based on the motion of the flashlight held by the avatar.
7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement of the control device is utilized to move a cursor on a display based on the orientation of the control device, and wherein pressing a button on the control device selects an item associated with the cursor.
8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control device is defined to be used as a weapon to fire virtual bullets on a display.
9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control device is used as a pointer to draw a line on a display.
10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control device is used as a virtual sword and the movement of the control device translates into movement of the virtual sword in the game.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for processing input by a computing device, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:
program instructions for receiving images of a control device that includes an object section having a spherical shape;
program instructions for determining locations of the control device in space during a period of time utilizing image analysis to identify a circular area corresponding to the spherical shape;
program instructions for receiving inertial sensor information obtained by sensors in the control device;
program instructions for determining a plurality of orientations of the control device within the period of time based on the sensor information;
program instructions for tracking movement of the control device based on the determined locations and the determined orientations; and
program instructions for translating the movement of the control device into input for a game executing in the computing device, the input for the game being translated into a motion of an object in the game.
12. The storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the control device includes wireless capability for communication with the computing device, wherein the inertial sensor information is received utilizing the wireless capability.
13. The storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the movement of the control device is tracked in a three-dimensional space.
14. The storage medium as recited in claim 11, further including:
program instructions for receiving sound cues originated at the control device; and
program instructions for combining the sound cues with the image analysis to track the control device movement.
15. The storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the movement of the control device enables the control device to act as a pointing device on a display.
16. The storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the movement of the control device created by a user holding the control device creates a corresponding motion of a flashlight held by an avatar in the game, wherein the avatar illuminates areas of a display with the flashlight based on the motion of the flashlight held by the avatar.
17. The storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the movement of the control device is utilized to move a cursor on a display based on the orientation of the control device, and wherein pressing a button on the control device selects an item associated with the cursor.
18. The storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the control device is defined to be used as a weapon to fire virtual bullets on a display.
19. The storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the control device is used as a pointer to draw a line on a display.
20. The storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the control device is used as a virtual sword and the movement of the control device translates into movement of the virtual sword in the game.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A transgenic non-human mammal, said mammal comprising:
an amount of amyloid precursor protein expression in neurologic tissues of said mammal sufficient to produce impaired performance of said mammal in memory and learning tests and to induce abnormal neuropathology in a cortico-limbic region of said mammal’s brain, wherein said impaired performance and said abnormal neuropathology are as compared to control mammals.
2. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 1, wherein said amyloid precursor protein expression is at least about two-fold that of endogenous amyloid precursor protein in a control mammal.
3. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 1, wherein said abnormal neuropathology is thioflavin S positive amyloid plaques.
4. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 1, wherein said amyloid precursor protein is encoded by a coding sequence derived from a mutant amyloid precursor protein gene.
5. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 4, wherein said mutant amyloid precursor protein gene is other than a codon 717 mutant.
6. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 4, wherein said coding sequence is substantially free of splice sites.
7. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 4, wherein said coding sequence is substantially free of a Kunitz-protease inhibitor domain.
8. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 1, wherein said mammal is a rodent.
9. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 8, wherein said rodent is a mouse.
10. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 9, wherein a nontransgenic ancestor of said mouse is from a strain having greater longevity as compared with other strains of mice.
11. The transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 1, wherein said expression is obtained using regulatory sequences derived from a prion protein gene operatively linked to a coding sequence encoding said amyloid precursor protein.
12. Progeny of said transgenic non-human mammal according to claim 1.
13. A method for screening for an agent which ameliorates symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, said method comprising:
comparing performance on memory and learning tests of a first transgenic non-human mammal contacted with said agent and a second transgenic non-human mammal not contacted with said agent, wherein said first and said second non-human transgenic mammals express amyloid precursor protein in neurologic tissues in an amount sufficient to impair performance on said memory and learning tests as compared to control mammals, whereby an agent which ameliorates said symptoms is identified by superior performance of said first transgenic non-human mammal as compared to said second transgenic non-human mammal on said memory and learning tests.
14. A method for screening for an agent useful for treating Alzheimer’s disease, said method comprising:
comparing performance on memory and learning tests of a first transgenic non-human mammal contacted with said agent and a second transgenic non-human mammal not contacted with said agent, wherein said first and said second non-human transgenic mammals express amyloid precursor protein in neurologic tissues in an amount sufficient to impair performance on said memory and learning tests as compared to control mammals; and
comparing neuropathology in a cortico-limbic region of the brain of said first and said second transgenic non-human mammals when said first transgenic non-human mammal exhibits superior performance on said memory and learning tests as compared to said second transgenic non-human mammal, whereby an agent which is useful for treating Alzheimer’s disease is identified by a decrease in neuropathologic findings in said first transgenic non-human mammal as compared to said second transgenic non-human mammal.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said decreased neuropathologic findings are one or more findings selected from the group consisting of:
a reduction in number of thioflavin S-positive A deposits;
a reduction in amount of thioflavin S-positive A deposits a reduction of hypertrophic gliosis in cortico-limbic structures of said brain;
a reduction of diminution of 2-deoxyglucose uptake in cortico-limbic structures of said brain;
a reduction of diminution of 2-deoxyglucose utilization in cortico-limbic structures of said brain.
16. A method for screening for an agent useful for treating Alzheimer’s disease, said method comprising:
comparing performance on memory and learning tests of a first transgenic non-human mammal contacted with said agent and a second transgenic non-human mammal not contacted with said agent, wherein said first and said second non-human transgenic mammals express amyloid precursor protein in neurologic tissues in an amount sufficient to impair performance on said memory and learning tests as compared to control mammals; and
comparing age of death of said first and said second transgenic non-human mammals when said first transgenic non-human mammal exhibits superior performance on said memory and learning tests as compared to said second transgenic non-human mammal, whereby an agent which is useful for treating Alzheimer’s disease is identified by a greater age at death of said first transgenic non-human mammal as compared to said second transgenic non-human mammal.
17. A method for screening for an agent which ameliorates symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, said method comprising:
comparing exploratory behavior or locomotor behavior of a first transgenic mouse contacted with said agent and a second transgenic mouse not contacted with said agent, wherein said first and said second transgenic mice express amyloid precursor protein in neurologic tissues in an amount sufficient to produce impaired performance on said exploratory and locomotor behavior as compared to control mice, whereby an agent which ameliorates said symptoms is identified by less impaired exploratory or locomotor behavior in said first transgenic mouse as compared to said second transgenic mouse.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said exploratory or locomotor behavior is assessed using a corner index test.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein a nontransgenic ancestor of said mouse is from a strain selected from the group consisting of FVB, Swiss Webster, and C57B6.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein said amyloid precursor protein is encoded by a coding sequence derived from a K670N-M671L amyloid precursor protein gene.