Importance

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Abstract

An animated figure, e.g. a doll, having the capability of moving its eyebrow, eyelids, eyes and mouth in conjunction with an audio reproducer, i.e. speaker, in its interior is electrically connected to a control box. The control box, which may be powered by household A.C. or by batteries, is connected to the audio and video outputs of a conventional videocassette recorder, (VCR). The VCR is connected to a conventional television set or television monitor. A videocassette recording having a video/audio story line recorded thereon, also contains control data in the video track for animating the dolls moveable parts, as well as routing selected portions of the audio track to the doll's speaker. A preferred video encoding scheme is utilized to embed the control data in the video signal by raising selected horizontal line periods to a new, white level. The illusion created to the human viewer is that of the doll having an animated conversation with characters on the television monitor. An interactive input device may also be connected to the control box. A human viewer can influence the actions and spoken words of the doll, as well as the action and language on the TV monitor, by manipulation of the interactive input device. The illusion created is that the human is now an active participant with the animated doll in the story unfolding on the television monitor. Various alternate system's configurations are presented.

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First Claim