A video amusement system by which one or more viewers influence the course of a motion picture as if each viewer were a participant in a real-life drama or dialog. A speech-recognition unit recognizes a few spoken words such as "yes" and "run" spoken by a viewer at branch points in the movie, thus simulating a dialog between the screen actors and the viewer. The apparatus may read an optical videodisc containing independently addressable video frames, blocks of compressed audio, and/or animated cartoon graphics for the multiple story lines which the movie may take. A record retrieval circuit reads blocks of binary-coded control information comprising a branching structure of digital points specifying the frame sequence for each story line. A dispatcher circuit assembles a schedule of cueing commands specifying precisely which video frames, cartoon frames, and portions of audio are to be presented at which instant of time. A cueing circuit executes these commands by generating precisely timed video and audio signals, so that a motion picture with lip-synchronized sound is presented to the viewer. Recordings of the viewers' names may be inserted into the dialog so that the actors speak to each viewer using the viewer's own name. The apparatus can thus provide each viewer with an illusion of individualized and active participation in the motion picture.

Dialog between TV movies and human viewers

A video entertainment system by which human viewers conduct simulated voice conversations with screen actors or cartoon characters in a branching story game shown on a television screen. The actors and cartoon characters reply responsively with lip-sync sound to words spoken by viewers. Different audio and video frames are generated from a videodisc and data memory to provide one of several alternative replies or alternative actions at each branch point in the game, depending on what the viewer says to a speech-recognition unit. A simple speech-recognition unit can be used because the number of words to be recognized at each branch point is restricted to just a few words. A menu of prompting words is displayed on a hand-held unit to inform viewers of what words they can use at each branch point. The prompting words are programmed to be phonetically distinct to be easily distinguishable from each other. Viewers can input questions or make other remarks by speaking a displayed code word which stands for a whole sentence. Pressing a button next to a sentence displayed on the hand-held unit may cause a recording of the displayed sentence to be played in lieu of a viewer speaking it. Viewers can chat with simulated images of famous people, call the plays in a ball game, make executive decisions as a king or general, and participate in simulated adventures with interesting game characters who respond to each viewer's words and answer back responsively.

TV Movies that talk back

A user-application program for computerized telephone ordering is generatedy a system designer who selects and interconnects pre-defined program modules and subroutines using a graphics terminal. The application program allows TOUCH-TONE input data and voice response. The present invention describes a Dialog Production System (DPS) for generating application programs for instructing a computer-controlled voice response system to provide computer-controlled voice services. The DPS includes interaction modules, each defining a basic end-user transaction which can be performed by the system, and methods for specifying module interconnection. Each interaction module controls the intercommunications with other modules and controls the devices which interface to the system. To design a dialog program to implement the desired voice service the system designer uses a graphic terminal to select and interconnect the modules to define the sequence of transactions needed to implement the desired voice service.

Method and apparatus for generating computer- controlled interactive voice services

A watch (1), instrument panel and the like includes a face (6) with a UV-reactive jewel and, optionally, other indicia. A UV-LED (4) is provided in the watch (1) or is directed at the instrument to illuminate the jewel (2). The jewel (2) then disperses the radiation from the UV-LED toward the other indicia.

Ultraviolet illumination of indicia, watches and other instruments

The invention relates to a hand-held computer comprising a peripheral frame (10) which contains all the connections and in which cards are removably plugged. A flat display (21), mounted on said frame, is topped by a transparent plate (22) which forms a matrix of touch-sensitive areas or points. The matrix is also mounted on the frame (10). The screen and the plate occupy the maximum of the upper surface of the casing and are electrically connected to the other circuits of the computer by contact with the frame on which they are mounted. The computer may be provided with phoneme recognition means, with hand-writing recognition means or with TV or radio receiving means by insertion of appropriate cards.

Hand-held computer

A system for operator interaction is provided using a stored program digital data processor and an audio message sub-system to process digital information and to provide audio messages for operator interaction. The system utilizes a digital data processor to execute program routines to process digital information and to communicate with an operator using audio messages. Digital message information is stored in a digital memory. The digital message information is accessed in response to operator generated signals to provide audio messages, in contrast to the prior art visual messages using displays and printers.

Apparatus and method for providing interactive audio communication

A calculator system is provided using a stored program data processor and an audio message subsystem to process digital information and to provide audio messages for operator interaction. The calculator system utilizes a digital data processor to execute program routines to process digital information and to communicate with an operator using audio messages. Digital message information is stored in a digital memory and is accessed in response to operator generated signals to provide audio messages.

Gilbert Peter Hyatt

Papers

Apparatus and method for providing interactive audio communication

Electronic calculator system having audio messages for operator interaction