System for interactive display of a magic show

An interactive system for motion picture display of a magic show has a remote information site, such as a television station or internet web site having one of a series of cameras for recording simultaneously different views of a same motion element of a live magic show from predetermined different camera angles and a (video) recording of different views of a magic show pre-recorded simultaneously by a series of cameras set at predetermined different camera angles and television or computer for accessing at least some of the different views locally by one of line and wireless means and operable by an individual member of an audience to switch channels to switch different views for display, alternatively, on a screen, during the magic show. A view access fee can be collected. The different views may be stored on a DVD/CD or hard drive.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and system for displaying, interactively, motion elements of a magic show and for instructing the performance of magic tricks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Individual members of an audience watching a performance of a magic trick frequently believe that some key aspect of the trick being performed, for example, a motion element of the trick such as a surreptitious movement of the magician's hand when “palming” a card, is being concealed or masked from the spectator's view. They are often convinced that, if only they had a different view of that motion element of the trick during performance, they could guess the secret or solution underlying the magic trick. In addition, many tricks rely for their magical effect on several different spectacular aspects which cannot all be appreciated fully from a single view. Furthermore, when learning to perform a magic trick, the student magician often needs to view, or review, a particular stage of the trick from different angles to understand fully the subtleties of a magician's diverting gesture or hand movement when handling a prop.

To meet the above needs, it is desirable for different views of motion elements of the trick to be available to an individual member of the audience on demand.

Conventionally, it has been the role of the production team making a motion picture such as a television show or video to decide which one (or more) of several camera angles will be displayed to an audience at any particular time. However, even the most skillful production team cannot correctly anticipate or even appreciate the different views, desired at any particular time by every audience member, as individual requirements vary, not least according to personal learning requirement, or whim.

When a popular or important event such as a live presidential address is broadcast, different news channels will often broadcast the same event simultaneously. Thus, switching between channels will provide an individual audience member with views from different camera angles on respective different individual channels. However, this is a haphazard and circumstantial occurrence without inevitable result and out of the control of the audience.

Instructional magic videos of the prior art do not permit the audience to select a camera angle during the display or demonstration of a trick.

It is also prior art to provide so-called “dual-channel” television systems in which, while displaying a show on one channel, the viewer can select and inset, on the screen a frame/window of a different show broadcast simultaneously on a different, viewer-selected channel. However, that is for the purpose of monitoring the progress of the show on the different channel, e.g. a football game, while concentrating on the show on the main channel. The camera angles of respective individual shows cannot be selected by the viewer.

Security systems of the prior art provide selectable different camera angles of the same area of a building. Web sites can also provide different views of different locations in buildings, selectable by the user on demand.

An object of the invention is to provide a system for an interactive motion picture display of a magic show during which respective individual members of a remote audience can, select respective particular camera angles of motion elements of a magic trick from a predetermined set of different camera angles taken simultaneously of the motion elements of the magic trick for display on a screen.

The motion picture display may be provided by broadcasting from a remote site by wireless or line means, for television via different channels, or by web internet access via different pages or addresses, for example by hyperlinks, or as a locally stored video such as a CD/DVD or downloaded on a computer storage medium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, in a system for broadcasting or otherwise displaying a magic show, views of motion elements of a particular trick taken from different predetermined camera angles are broadcast or displayed simultaneously on different channels, pages or addresses so that an individual member of the audience can switch between the different channels, pages or addresses to select any one or more of the views of a same motion element, precisely when desired.

For example, one camera may be focused on the magician's hands in close up; a second camera overhead providing a plan view and a third camera behind the magician providing a “backstage” view. Another camera may provide a highlighting effect of a significant portion of the displayed image, such the magician's hands, by fogging out the surrounding image.

The magic show may be accessible from a site having a chat room for a text chat or voice chat with other members of the audience or with the magician or both.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the drawing, the web page providing a grahical user interface has a central area11with a frame or window displaying another web page showing the performance of a magic show. Arrayed immediately below the window is a row of buttons,1–4, marked Cam1, Cam2, Cam3, Cam4, individually clickable to change the window to different web pages displaying the same subject of the magic show taken simultaneously from respectively different camera angles. A message board5is located on the left hand side for live magic chat discussing possible trick secrets/solutions with a text message input or notepad area6immediately below previously posted text messages.

Video images corresponding to the different camera angles are stored at the web site, the images being accessible for display in the window via a hyperlink to respective web pages.

Individual members of the audience can switch between different camera angles as and when desired throughout the performance of the show and discuss the effectiveness of the different views in solving the magic trick via the chat room/message board.

In other embodiments, buttons clickable to effect additional payment for a different or premium view from a different camera angle such as a “close-up” or a “back-stage” view. Buttons for bookmarking may also be provided permitting subsequent review of any stage of the trick performance.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a series of predetermined different views from different camera angles of a magic show are broadcast (by cable or wireless) over different television channels, with both the different views and their corresponding channels being identified to prospective audience members who can, on an individual basis, switch between selected channels at any time throughout the performance to watch their selected view on their own television set.

Live footage can be archived to provide an instructional library for magicians.

Contests could be held with the audience voting on possible solutions of the magic tricks for a fee.

The system includes a voice recognition device as an alternative to clicking to switch between alternative camera angles.

In another embodiment, a set of menu windows showing the magic trick at the same stage as the main window replaces the message board.