Interactive entertainment device
阅读说明:本技术 交互式娱乐设备 (Interactive entertainment device ) 是由 T·蒙克顿 M·克拉克森 于 2018-06-22 设计创作,主要内容包括:一种娱乐系统,包括主显示器、多个座椅以及4D效果系统,该4D效果系统包括一个或多个被配置为向坐在所述多个座椅上的用户提供辅助感官刺激的设备,其中:多个座椅中的每个座椅具有与该座椅相关联的辅助显示设备和用户输入设备,其中,该辅助显示设备被配置为显示与主显示器不同的内容,该用户输入设备被配置为接受响应于辅助显示器上显示的内容的一个或多个用户输入;其中,该4D效果系统基于从与所述多个座椅中的一个或多个座椅相关联的用户输入设备接收的输入,选择性地接合所述设备中的一个或多个,以向所述多个座椅中的所述一个或多个座椅提供辅助感官刺激。(An entertainment system comprising a main display, a plurality of seats, and a 4D effects system comprising one or more devices configured to provide secondary sensory stimuli to users sitting on the plurality of seats, wherein: each seat of the plurality of seats having a secondary display device associated with the seat and a user input device, wherein the secondary display device is configured to display different content than the primary display, the user input device configured to accept one or more user inputs responsive to the content displayed on the secondary display; wherein the 4D effects system selectively engages one or more of the devices to provide ancillary sensory stimuli to one or more of the plurality of seats based on input received from a user input device associated with the one or more of the plurality of seats.)
1. An entertainment system comprising a main display, a plurality of seats, and a 4D effects system, the 4D effects system comprising one or more devices configured to provide secondary sensory stimuli to users sitting on the plurality of seats, wherein:
each seat of a plurality of seats having a secondary display device and a user input device associated with the seat, wherein the secondary display device is configured to display content related to content of the main display, and wherein the content displayed on the secondary display is different from the content displayed on the main display, wherein the user input device is configured to accept one or more user inputs in response to the content displayed on the secondary display;
wherein the 4D effects system selectively engages one or more of the devices to provide secondary sensory stimuli to one or more of the plurality of seats based on input received from the user input device associated with the one or more of the plurality of seats.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary display device and user input device are the same device.
3. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary device is a touchscreen tablet.
4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the auxiliary device is a head-up display unit.
5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the 4D effects system comprises one or more of: a water unit, an atomization unit, a smoke unit, an olfactory unit, or a motion unit.
6. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises a controller configured to synchronize the 4D effects system with one or more user inputs on the auxiliary device.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize the 4D effects system with content displayed on the primary display.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the synchronization is based on a time code associated with the content displayed on the primary display.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the timecode is a SMPTE timecode.
10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein user input by a first user on their user input device causes a secondary sensory stimulation effect directed to the first user.
11. The system of any one of claims 1-9, wherein user input by a first user on its user input device elicits a secondary sensory stimulation effect directed to one or more different users.
12. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary device displays one of a game, a video, or a quiz.
13. A method of providing auxiliary sensory stimuli to a user of an entertainment system, the entertainment system comprising a primary display, a plurality of seats having auxiliary displays and user input devices, and a 4D effects system, the 4D effects system comprising one or more devices configured to provide the auxiliary stimuli, the method comprising the steps of:
displaying primary content on the primary display;
displaying auxiliary content on the auxiliary display for each of a plurality of seats, wherein the auxiliary content is related to the primary content of the primary display, and wherein the auxiliary content is different from the primary content displayed on the primary display;
accepting, at the user input device, one or more user inputs responsive to the content displayed on the secondary display; and
selectively engage one or more of the devices in the 4D effects system to provide ancillary sensory stimuli to one or more of the plurality of seats based on input received from the user input device associated with the one or more of the plurality of seats.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises: synchronizing the 4D effects system with one or more user inputs on the secondary device.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the content displayed on the primary display is synchronized with the 4D effects system.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the synchronizing is based on a time code associated with the content displayed on the primary display.
17. A method according to any of claims 13-16, wherein user input by a first user on its user input device causes a secondary sensory stimulation effect directed to the first user.
18. A method according to any of claims 13-16, wherein user input by a first user on its user input device elicits a secondary sensory stimulation effect directed to one or more different users.
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an interactive tablet computer for use in a 4D entertainment environment. In particular, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a tablet computer that enables an individual user, for example in a theater, to interact with content displayed on a home screen to create a 4D experience. Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for enabling such interactions.
Background
In environments such as movie theaters, where a user is presented with a main screen on which content (e.g., a movie) is displayed, so-called 4D entertainment is known. In addition to the main screen, sensory stimuli are provided to the user, for example in the form of seat movement, lightning, smell, or blowing air and water onto the user/audience member. Such auxiliary sensory stimuli are typically provided to the user to coincide with content displayed on the main screen. For example, a specific scent may be provided to coincide with the visual image.
As a result, all users of the entertainment share the same common experience, which is enhanced by providing further sensory stimuli.
In such systems, the sensory experience of the user is predetermined and shared among all users. Thus, although the user experience is an immersive experience, the degree of interaction with the content is limited.
Disclosure of Invention
Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide an entertainment system as claimed in the appended claims.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an entertainment system comprising: a main display, a plurality of seats, and a 4D effects system, the 4D effects system comprising one or more devices configured to provide secondary sensory stimuli to a user seated on the plurality of seats, wherein each seat of the plurality of seats has a secondary display device and a user input device associated with the seat, wherein the secondary display device is configured to display different content than the main display, and the user input device is configured to accept one or more user inputs responsive to the content displayed on the secondary display; wherein the 4D effects system selectively engages one or more of the devices to provide ancillary sensory stimuli to one or more of the plurality of seats based on input received from a user input device associated with the one or more of the plurality of seats.
The present invention thus provides an enhanced system in which the user experience and interaction is improved. In particular, when displaying primary content, there is a shared common experience that is subsequently enhanced by the secondary tablet display. Furthermore, since each user is able to interact with their own auxiliary display (e.g., in the case where the auxiliary display is a touch screen, allowing direct user interaction or interaction through a separate keyboard device or the like), each user may experience a degree of personalized experience. Furthermore, since the 4D effects system is driven by user input, the degree of personalization is further improved, thereby improving the user experience. This is in contrast to existing systems where all users experience the 4D effect equally.
There is also provided a method of providing auxiliary sensory stimuli to a user of an entertainment system, the entertainment system comprising a main display, a plurality of seats having auxiliary displays and user input devices, and a 4D effects system, the 4D effects system comprising one or more devices configured to provide auxiliary stimuli, the method comprising the steps of: displaying primary content on a primary display; displaying, at the secondary display device, different content than the primary display for each of the plurality of seats; accepting, at a user input device, one or more user inputs responsive to content displayed on the secondary display; and selectively engage one or more of the devices in the 4D effects system to provide ancillary sensory stimuli to one or more of the plurality of seats based on input received from a user input device associated with the one or more of the plurality of seats.
Drawings
One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the apparatus; and
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method of an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
An
The
The
The
In the
As is known in the art, the
In addition to providing a 4D effects system, a secondary display is provided for some, preferably all, of the seats, in the form of
In one embodiment, the tablet computer is a well-known touch screen device that is connected to a central controller (not shown) via a wired or wireless connection.
In use, primary content to be viewed by all users sitting in the seat is displayed on the
Thus, each user may interact with the auxiliary content on their tablet computer through content selection, swipe gestures, and so forth. When a user makes an input on their tablet, the input is sent to the central controller. As explained in further detail below, if the individual user input on their tablet meets predetermined criteria, the sensory effect from the
For example, the
Thus, by rendering the primary content on the
In other embodiments, the interactive tablet of each seat is replaced by a head-up display (HUD) unit. The unit includes a projection unit and a screen on which an image is rendered. Preferably, the screen is located in the line of sight of the user when the user is looking at the primary display. The HUD unit allows 3D images to be presented to the user, thereby further improving the user experience. In such an embodiment, the user is presented with another user input device, such as a keypad, to enable the user to interact with the content displayed on the HUD. In other embodiments, the HUD includes a touch screen that serves as a user input device.
Fig. 2 is a control block diagram of the apparatus shown in fig. 1.
In FIG. 2, a
As is known in the entertainment industry, timing and synchronization is controlled using SMPTE timecodes. The use of SMPTE timecodes allows audio and 4D effects to be synchronized with media content provided by the
The
The
Depending on the nature of the content displayed on the secondary displays, each secondary display may display content that is different between all secondary displays or the same content (which is different from the content displayed on the main display). The secondary display is further controlled by the
In this way, the present invention provides a means for enabling a user to experience a personalized 4D experience.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a process of the present invention.
In step S102, the content is displayed on the main display. The user is typically unable to interact with the content on the primary display. The media controller will cause the occurrence of a 4D sensory effect at a predefined location of the content to coincide with the main content based on the time code of the content.
In step S104, content is displayed on the secondary display associated with the user' S seat. The content is typically displayed simultaneously with the content on the main screen and is different from the content displayed on the main display. In other words, the secondary display is not a mirror image of the primary screen, but displays its own content.
In step S106, interactive contents are displayed on the auxiliary display. In some embodiments, steps S104 and S106 are performed simultaneously, as the content displayed on the secondary display is always interactive.
In step S108, the user interacts with the content displayed on their secondary display. For example, the interactive content is a game, and the user plays the game by pressing the user input device at step S108. In one embodiment the user input device is a touch screen, so the display and the user input device are the same, or in an alternative embodiment the user input device is separate from the display. For example, the user input device is a keypad, a device with buttons, or the like.
In step S110, the user' S input is processed and transmitted to a central controller configured to control the 4D effects system.
At step S112, the central controller determines whether 4D is required, and if so, the degree of effect, based on the user input received at step S110. The type of the effect and the degree and location of the effect may be determined according to the contents displayed on the main screen or the auxiliary screen. In one embodiment, the controller has a rules engine that determines which 4D is provided and at what stage.
At step S114, if it is determined at step S112 that an effect is required, the controller generates an appropriate signal to initiate a 4D effect for the given location.
Steps S108 to S114 loop until the auxiliary display no longer displays any interactive content. Thus, the user is able to experience a variety of 4D effects that will result from input entered on the user input device.
Thus, the present invention provides a means for providing an enhanced user experience in which each user experiences different experiences based on their input and interaction with their auxiliary device.