Abstract:
A system for establishing a virtual environment is disclosed. According to an embodiment, the system includes at least one computer terminal for use by a participant for interfacing to the virtual environment and an operation module coupled to the computer terminal for manipulating the virtual environment in response to one or more actions by the participant. The operation module may be adapted to assess the mental dexterity of the participant in the virtual environment. The operation module may also be adapted as a marketing tool for soliciting donations.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates to a system and method of utilizing interactive graphics. According to an embodiment, the use of interactive graphics may be directed to a virtual environment (i.e. three-dimensional, 360-degree virtual reality imaging). According to an embodiment, the interactive graphics may be utilized for recruiting one or more persons for membership, employment, admission, or the like into an organization, such as, for example, an institute of education, a corporation, a professional society, a club, or the like. According to an embodiment, the interactive graphics may be utilized for soliciting and securing gifts from potential donors to a non-profit organization, educational institution, and other donor worthy organizations. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Recruiting persons (i.e., “candidates”) for membership, employment, or admission is a critical aspect to the success, image, and/or public perception of an organization or institution. The person, entity, or agent who seeks candidates directly, or, on the behalf of the organization, is typically referred to as a “recruiter.” Typically, information available to the candidate about the organization is conveyed by way of printed materials, video, film, or electronically, for example, by way of the Internet. On the other hand, information available to the organization/recruiter about the candidate is limited and typically conveyed by way of a resume, grade transcripts, one or more personal references provided by the candidate, background checks, and the like. 
   The Internet increases the reach and efficiency of an information seeker while decreasing the disseminating costs of the information provider. With respect to recruiting techniques, it is clear that both the organization/recruiter and candidate may mutually benefit by taking advantage of the Internet&#39;s capabilities of disseminating and receiving information, respectively. 
   Regarding, for example, the recruiting of student-candidates by educational institutions (e.g. universities), a fundamental aspect of the recruiting process is to provide the student-candidate with a sense of student life, campus atmosphere, and/or available social and/or internship/career experience offerings from surrounding communities. Prior to the existence of the Internet, a student-candidate could only obtain an understanding of the campus and surrounding communities through anecdotes of current- or former-students, pictures, articles, or personal visits, which may be inconvenient and costly especially if the student-candidate does not reside relatively close to the university. 
   By using the Internet, one may acquire a sense of a cityscape through three-dimensional, 360-degree panoramic photographs available from, for example, IPIX® of San Ramon, Calif. As more powerful computers are allowing greater dynamic informational content to be viewed by an end-user, the increasing capability of graphic processors have enabled a generation of hardware that can create photo-realistic computer-generated environments that may be provided over the Internet at the consumer level. Accordingly, one may take a virtual tour of a cityscape at his/her own convenience from any location, such as, for example, one&#39;s residence, a computer terminal kiosk, or the like. 
   Accordingly, although a three-dimensional, 360-degree visualization of an environment may be made available to, for example, a student candidate by way of the Internet using conventional means, such three-dimensional, 360-degree visualizations of an environment, such as, for example, a virtual university campus, are typically focused on the presentation of exterior spaces (i.e. a facade view, side-wall view, rear-wall view, or bird&#39;s-eye, overhead view of a house, building, courtyard, or the like). Additionally, known 360-degree visualizations, such as, for example, in an aircraft flight simulator, are made available to assess a person&#39;s physical dexterity; however, such physical dexterity assessments of a person interacting with a virtual environment do not necessary provide feedback regarding a person&#39;s mental dexterity (e.g. I.Q., social skills, “the drive to succeed,” and the like). 
   Additionally, it is also known that alumni are often solicited by their alma mater for financial gifts, and in return, the university often offers recognition for the gifts such as by naming a campus building in recognition of the donor. The university&#39;s solicitation methodology for securing a financial gift can often be a critical aspect of the of the university-donor relationship. Typically, if, for example, a building is to be constructed in the donor&#39;s name, the donor would like to “see ahead of time what they are paying for.” Accordingly, an in person, on-site meeting is typically conducted with the potential donor being present with one or more educational institution representatives along with architectural planners, landscape architects, sculptors, or the like to provide the potential donor with a sense of what a building, landscaping, signage, statue, or the will look like by viewing hand-drawn or computer-generated hardcopies of a building, landscaping, signage, statue, or the like. Such in-person meetings require careful planning, time, and money. 
   As such, there is a need to provide a candidate, such as, for example, a student candidate, with the ability to navigate through a three-dimensional, 360-degree visualization of, for example, a virtual environment, such as, for example, a university campus, while remotely interacting with, for example, interior spaces of a building, other potential participants in the virtual environment, and/or other interactive features provided in the virtual environment, such as, for example intellectual puzzles/problems that may assist a recruiter in assessing a candidate&#39;s mental dexterity relating to their qualifications for various positions (i.e. acceptance into an academic institution, employment or the like). Additionally, there is a need to provide more information about a candidate to a recruiter other than by conventional means and methodologies associated with resumes, personal references, background checks, and the like. Additionally, there is a need to provide an efficient methodology for soliciting and securing financial gifts from potential donors to an educational institution or other donor worthy organizations. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a representative view of a system and method for using virtual environments according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the system and method for using virtual environments according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart for operating the system and method from the candidate computer terminal side according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart for operating the system and method from the recruiter computer terminal side according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a plurality of candidate interaction options of the system and method according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  is a representative view of a system and method for using virtual environments according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the system and method for using virtual environments according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart for operating the system and method from the candidate computer terminal side according to an embodiment; and 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  represent a flow chart for operating the system and method according to an embodiment. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A system and method for using virtual environments is shown generally at  10  in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment. As illustrated, the Internet is generally represented at  12  in the form of a cloud, one or more candidates is/are shown generally at  14 , and a recruiter is shown generally at  16 . An internet server is generally shown at  17 . Each candidate  14  and recruiter  16  is generally shown in the form of a computer workstation having a communication path  20 ,  23 , respectively, with the Internet  12 . According to an embodiment, the system and method  10  is particularly useful in facilitating a cohesive transmittal of information between the recruiter&#39;s organization and the potential candidates  14  by way of the Internet  12 . According to an embodiment, the recruiter  16  may engage and evaluate the candidates  14  based on their interests, analytical capability, virtual social interactions (with other potential candidates  14  and/or the organization/recruiter  16 ), or any other test that can be envisioned (i.e. to assess the candidate&#39;s mental dexterity). According to an embodiment, the candidate&#39;s mental dexterity may be scored in the form of a quotient (i.e. the candidate  14  amasses points that are divided by a total number of potential points to create “a mental dexterity quotient”). Additionally, the candidate  14  may receive information about the organization associated with the recruiter  16  for the purpose of accepting/denying a potential invitation from the organization relating to an admission to the organization, a job offer, or the like. 
   The “institutional end” of this system  10  does not require the presence of a live person (represented by a recruiter  16 ). Although recruiter  16  can be a live person, it is also contemplated that “recruiter functions” discussed herein could be implemented algorithmically in software to create a virtual recruiter  16 , or the like. Therefore, according to an embodiment, the institutional end of the system  10  may include a live person/recruiter  16  that operates a terminal, or, a virtual recruiter  16  implemented in software. According to an embodiment, automated software may be located, for example, at a server  17  to perform the function of operating a virtual recruiter  16 , or, the virtual recruiter  16  may be implemented in a computer other than server  17 , such as, for example, a computer workstation  16 . Communication to/from a recruiter  16  and server  17  may be enabled over a communication path  21 . Communication between the Internet  12  and server  17  may be enabled over a communication path  22 . Communication between the server  17  and an operation module  18  may be enabled over a communication path  25 . 
   In the case that the recruiter  16  is a live person operating the recruiter computer terminal, the recruiter  16  may include, for example, headhunters, human resource managers, admission officers, faculty, staff, leaders, managers, or the like. The candidates  14  may include, for example, potential students for a primary school, secondary school, university, or the like. Alternatively, the candidates  14  may include a(n) un/skilled worker seeking employment from a company, business, corporation, or the like. Alternatively, the candidates  14  may include one or more persons interested in joining a social group/club including, for example, a professional society, country club, or the like. As such, in the case that the recruiter  16  is a live person, the recruiter  16  may be part of/directly employed by, or, an agent of, for example, the primary school, secondary school, university, company, business, corporation, professional society, country club, or the like. 
   According to an embodiment, the system and method  10  may permit a recruiter  16  of an academic institution to ascertain a student candidate&#39;s mental dexterity (e.g. intelligence, I.Q., social maturity, and/or interest/appeal level). As such, the system and method  10  may increase the overall efficiency of the admissions process by facilitating a better understanding of the likelihood that a qualified student candidate  14  will accept an admission invitation. If desired, the academic institution may encourage/require that student candidates  14  participates in the system and method  10  as part of an admissions application process to supplement academic records, personal essays, and standardized test scores including, but not limited to Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, American College Test (ACT) scores, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores, or the like. The system and method  10  may enable a recruiter  16  to quickly and efficiently sort the eager, academically well-qualified student candidates  14  from less eager and/or less qualified student candidates  14 . 
   Regarding traditional student admission application procedures, it is known that a student candidate  14  may be inclined to accept an admission invitation from his/her 1 st  choice institution while also applying to 2 nd , 3 rd , or 4 th  choice institutions. The application to the 2 nd , 3 rd , or 4 th  choice institutions may be executed by the student candidate  14  for his/her own self-assessment, or, alternatively, as insurance in the event that the 1 st  choice institution does not extend an admission invitation to the candidate  14 . Accordingly, the conventional admission application to 2 nd , 3 rd , or 4 th  choice institutions may be made solely based upon name/reputation and/or reviews of the 2 nd , 3 rd , or 4 th  choice institutions without the candidate  14  ever seriously considering a potential admission invitation from 2 nd , 3 rd , or 4 th  choice institutions, should one be extended. As such, the system and method  10  may also serve as an admission application deterrent for less eager/serious student candidates  14  who are less likely to apply to a 2 nd , 3 rd , or 4 th  choice institution that utilizes/requires the use of the system and method  10  if the student candidate&#39;s interest in attending the 2 nd , 3 rd , or 4 th  choice institution is not relatively serious. A student candidate  14  that is interested in a particular academic institution and also participates in the system and method  10  would have an advantage over less eager/serious/qualified student candidates  14  who practice the conventional admission application method/process by providing the academic institution with only an application fee, academic resume, essay, SAT score, ACT score, GMAT score, LSAT score, or the like. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an operation module of the system and method  10  is shown generally at  18 . The operation module  18  is hosted by, or, hosted on behalf of the recruiter  16 . Although the operation module  18  is shown remotely with respect to the location of the recruiter  16  in  FIG. 1 , it will be appreciated that the operation module  18  may be located proximate, integral, and/or networked with the recruiter&#39;s computer workstation  16 . Accordingly, if the operation module  18  is remotely located, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the operation module  18  may communicate with the Internet  12  over a communication path  24  and/or with the recruiter  16  over a communication path  25 ; otherwise, the operation module  18  may communicate over the Internet  12  over the communication path  23 . It will be appreciated that that operation module  18  may be remotely located, or, located proximate the Internet server  17 . If located remotely away from the Internet server  17  as shown in  FIG. 1 , the operation module  18  may communicate with the Internet server  17  over communication paths  22 ,  25 . In addition to one or more computer workstations in  FIG. 1 , the candidate  14  and/or recruiter  16  may also utilize sensory stimulating technologies including, but not limited to, a virtual reality head-mounted display, force feedback actuators, sound devices, olfactory stimulating devices, or the like. 
   Additionally, the system and method  10  may include one or more telephones, IP telephones, microphones, or the like so that the candidate  14  and/or recruiter  16  may communicate verbally over the Internet  12  using well-known voice over IP (VoIP) technologies. Accordingly, such equipment may used as a primary component to enable communications between one or more candidates  14 , recruiters  16 , or the like. Alternatively such equipment may be used to supplement the keyboard to enable voice and text communications between one or more candidates  14 , recruiters  16 , or the like. 
   In an application, according to an embodiment, the operation module  18  integrates system-level technologies to produce a compelling mechanism that remotely interfaces with, informs, guides, entertains, and/or evaluates a candidate  14  over the Internet  12 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the system-level technologies may include, but are not limited to, a navigation module  28 , a puzzle/problem module  30 , a chat/networking module  32 , and an evaluator module  34 . As illustrated, the candidate  14  has bi-directional communication with each of the navigation, puzzle/problem, and chat/networking modules  28 ,  30 ,  32  over the communication channel  20 . The recruiter  16 , may similarly have bi-directional communication with each of the navigation and chat/networking modules  28 ,  32 . If desired, the recruiter  16  may permit feedback to the candidate  14  from the evaluator module  34  over the communication channel  20 . 
   The navigation module  28  may include a real-time graphics engine, a virtual reality engine, an immersive graphics medium, a physics engine, or the like. ‘Navigation,’ through the interactive graphical environment, can be adapted to encompass the range of traditional input devices (i.e., a keyboard/mouse/joystick), as well as imminent implementations of gyroscopic motion-tracking devices, or, alternatively, advanced eyeball tracking devices or the like. 
   The puzzle/problem module  30  may include application specific software authored for/by the organization/recruiter  16  that includes questions pertaining to, or, about the organization. It will be appreciated that the puzzles/problems may be customized based on case studies, logic problems, memory tests, trivia questions, strategy games, or the like. ‘Puzzle/Problem Solving’ is designed to captivate and evaluate the candidate  14 . The puzzles/problems are designed to pose an intellectual challenge while providing sensory clues to the candidate  14 . 
   The chat/networking module  32  may include an online networked utility. ‘Networking’ will allow communication among various candidates  14  within the interactive graphical environment. The chat/networking module  32  may be implemented as a client/server system to engage many candidates  14  simultaneously. The client/server system permits communication between the local client hardware and the centralized server that receives a report at the end of the candidate&#39;s virtual environment experience. 
   The evaluator module  34  may include a database and report generation utility that can be standardized to feed Customer Relationship Management tools and the like. An embedded evaluator is included in the evaluator module  34  and may selectively choose to provide feedback to the candidate  14 , based upon the recruiter&#39;s pre- or post-defined criteria. The evaluation performed by the evaluator module  34  forms the core of the recruiting function and serves to test, monitor, and evaluate the candidate  14  during his/her interaction with the program. The evaluation may be a summary of the candidate&#39;s experience and can be provided in a customizable format. The format can be designed to feed any Customer Relationship Management Tools or Data Mining Utilities to assist in deciphering or correlating information. The evaluation may contain a score and any other additional data that can be used by, for example, admissions staff in an academic institution as a qualifying criterion. Feedback may be provided during and/or after the virtual environment experience to help guide candidates  14  and/or recruiters  16  through admissions process. 
   During the course of the navigation of the virtual environment, the navigation module  28  may invoke the puzzle/problem module  30  and/or chat/networking module  32  as indicated at communication lines  36 ,  38 . To invoke the puzzle/problem module  30 , for example, the candidate  14  may navigate to a visible/invisible target in the virtual environment, and, upon arriving at the target, a puzzle/problem may appear or be opened for the candidate  14  to solve, and, the candidate&#39;s answer may be scrutinized. To invoke the chat/networking module  32 , for example, the candidate  14  may navigate to a virtual candidate  14  and/or recruiter  16 , which may appear as a virtual person, and, upon arriving at the location of the virtual person, a chat window may appear for selection. Alternatively, the candidate  14  may click on a graphical “chat button” appearing in the computer terminal monitor to request/initiate a chat with other candidates  14  and/or a recruiter  16  that are available and currently navigating the virtual environment. Puzzle/problem scores, chat/networking logs, and/or navigation logs may be provided to the evaluator module  34  over communication lines  40 ,  42 ,  44 , respectively. The tallied scores and log reports of the candidate  14  can be saved locally in, or, remotely from the operation module  18  for later analysis by the recruiter  16 . 
   As indicated, the navigation module  28  is employed to permit the candidate  14  to explore interactive graphics provided by the organization/recruiter  16  that may be in the form of a three-dimensional, 360-degree virtual environment (i.e. virtual reality imaging). According to an embodiment, the virtual environment may replicate existing facilities on a university campus including dormitories, classroom buildings, student activity buildings, libraries, social halls, bookstores, stadiums, gymnasiums, offices relating to admissions/registrars/professors/academic advisor, deans, or the like. The generation of the interactive graphics to the candidate  14  can be achieved through the real-time graphics engine, virtual reality engine, or any desirable immersive graphical mechanism. As such, a networked exploration of a virtual space is provided where multiple candidates  14  can interact by means of a seamlessly integrated interface provided by the operation module  18 . According to an embodiment, one or more candidates  14  may elect to have a virtual tour guide, virtual admissions representative, or virtual faculty member lead/participate in a virtual exploration in addition to answering any questions that the candidate  14  may have. 
   In addition to the exploratory interactions that a candidate  14  may take advantage of by using the system and method  10 , the recruiter  16  may harvest additional information about the candidate  14  for later evaluation during admission selection process. As the candidate  14  navigates the virtual environment, the puzzle/problem module  30  and chat/networking module  32  may be invoked, as describe above, or, at any desirable time by default programming, or, by the recruiter  16 . 
   For example, if a candidate  14  is interested in attending the university&#39;s law school, the candidate  14  may navigate the virtual campus to the location of the law school, and, upon entering the grounds of the virtual law school, the puzzle/problem module  30  may be invoked and the candidate  14  may be presented with facts or statistics about the law school that may be un/familiar to the candidate  14 . As such, the candidate  14  may be prompted with the following information: “Welcome to University Law School. The first dean of the law school was Joseph John Doe in the year 1858.” As the candidate  14  continues to navigate the virtual law school campus, the candidate  14  may be engaged with additional facts relating to the law school, such as, for example, current staff and what their specialties are, and, at a time later, be asked questions relating to facts that may or may not have been presented, such as: “Who was the first dean of the law school?,” “In what year was the first dean installed?,” or “Who currently instructs a course on Antitrust Law?” If questions are answered in/correctly, the candidate  14  may increase/decrease a score or number of points that may have an overall bearing on a final score/number of points accumulated during the virtual environment experience. 
   As the puzzle/problem module  30  manages and delivers information to the candidate  14 , the chat/networking module  32  may retain a log of conversations that the candidate  14  holds with other candidates, agents of the recruiters, or the recruiters  16  themselves to determine a sense of the candidate&#39;s responses, approach, and strategy in articulating their thoughts. Upon exhausting the puzzles/problems and exiting the virtual environment, the embedded logic of the evaluator module  34  assesses the candidate&#39;s intellect by providing a score, which may be weighed by the speed and accuracy that puzzles/problems were solved. Additionally, the log of chats held by the candidate  14  may be stored for later review by the recruiter  16 . If desired, the log of chats may be scored in view of the candidate&#39;s use of proper grammar and/or spelling. The candidate  14  may then be assigned a “virtual environment rating,” which may be available in a standardized score/rating format as a supplement to an academic institution&#39;s admissions criteria by the evaluator module  34  based on his/her interaction with the customized puzzles/problems and/or chat log. 
   Additional information about the candidate  14  may be obtained by using the embedded evaluator to monitor the candidate&#39;s navigational responses instigated by visual triggers incorporated into the graphical user interface. For example, the embedded evaluator may observe the amount of time that users spends looking at certain types of virtual bulletin boards as an indication of the candidate&#39;s interests, their inclination towards an art, or the candidate&#39;s proclivity towards aspects of the campus facilities. Further information may be ascertained from the interactions that take place among multiple candidates over an online network. Additionally, the embedded evaluator may look for key words used during networked interactions by the candidate  14  to gain a sense of his/her personality traits, tastes, characteristics, word skills, and the like. The embedded evaluator may, in response to a key/flagged-word evaluation, prompt the candidate  14  by offering navigation suggestions, in the form of, for example, pop-up windows or pop-up navigational arrows, that are triggered by the detection of the key/flagged words from a chat log. 
   For example, if the student chats with other candidates  14  about fraternities/sororities and spends time looking at a virtual flyer placed on a bulletin board in an academic building for an upcoming event at a fraternity/sorority house, navigation arrows may be provided to direct the candidate  14  to the location of the fraternity/sorority house. If desired, information about the candidate&#39;s interests in the fraternity/sorority event may trigger the evaluator module  34  to provide the fraternity/sorority with a notice that the candidate  14  is possibly interested in becoming new member. Upon gaining this insight, the fraternity/sorority may contact the candidate  14  during rush week regarding rush week events should the candidate  14  be invited to and join the university. Additionally, the candidate&#39;s profile may be flagged to provide additional information about the fraternity/sorority by way of any desirable means, such as email, conventional hand delivery mail, or the like. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a flow chart  100  for operating the system and method  10  from the candidate computer terminal side is shown according to an embodiment. First, at step S. 1 , the candidate  14  registers a username/password and personal information with a recruiter  16  and/or internet server  17  on the institutional end of the system  10 . The personal information may include the name, address, telephone, email address, social security number, resume, academic records, personal essays, a SAT score, an ACT score, a GMAT score, a LSAT score, or the like. The registration may take place, for example, by way of an electronic communication over the Internet  12 , or, by way of, a paper-based system via traditional mail service. Then, at step S. 2 , software that enables interaction with the operation module  18  is requested/obtained by way of, for example, an electronic download over the Internet  12 . Alternatively, the software may be acquired on a CD-ROM from the organization/recruiter  16  and installed on the candidate&#39;s computer terminal. 
   At step S. 3 , the candidate  14  executes the software for interacting with the operation module  18  and navigates the virtual environment as described above. At step S. 4 , during the navigation of the virtual environment, the puzzle/problem module  30  and/or the chat/networking module  32  may be invoked as described above. Then, at step S. 5 , the operation module  18  will detect if and when the puzzles/problems made available to the candidate  14  have been exhausted. Upon exhausting the puzzles/problems, the operational module  18  will tally a score of the un/solved puzzles/problems at step S. 6 . 
   At step S. 7 , the candidate  14  may, at any time, manually exit the virtual environment; alternatively, upon exhausting the puzzles/problems, the operation module  18  may automatically cause the candidate  14  to exit the virtual environment, signaling the end of the program. According to another embodiment, the candidate  14  may automatically exit the virtual environment if access time to the virtual environment is set and limited, for example, by the organization/recruiter  16  such that the candidate  14  is offered a limited amount of time to locate and solve puzzles/problems in a similar fashion associated with standardized tests. At step S. 8 , the operation module  18  may prepare a chat/networking log report, and then, at step S. 9 , the score of the puzzles/problems, navigation and chat/networking log is saved and compiled by the operation module  18  as a “virtual environment rating” for later processing and/or analysis by the recruiter  16 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart  200  for operating the system and method  10  from the recruiter computer terminal side is shown according to an embodiment. First, at step S. 10 , a live recruiter  16  (i.e. a person) or a virtual recruiter  16  (i.e., an automated program) navigates/accesses the virtual environment, with, for example, an assigned username/password. Then, at step S. 20 , the recruiter  16  may receive a request to chat/network with a candidate  14 ; alternatively, the recruiter  16  may locate a candidate  14  in the virtual environment at step S. 30  for unsolicited chatting/networking. Upon engaging the candidate  14  at either step S. 20  or S. 30 , the chat/networking module  32  is invoked at step S. 40  from the recruiter computer terminal side. 
   At step S. 50 , the recruiter  16  may receive a request from the candidate  14  for a tour of the virtual environment. If a tour is requested, the recruiter  16  may obtain control of the candidate&#39;s navigation capabilities at step S. 60 , conversely, if no request for a tour is placed, the flow chart is advanced to step S. 80 . Upon completing the tour, should one be requested, the recruiter  16  may return navigation controls back to the candidate  14  at step S. 70  for independent exploration of the virtual environment. Then, at step S. 80 , the recruiter  16  may request/initiate a navigation and chat/networking log report by the operation module  18 , which may include notes prepared by the recruiter  16  of his/her impression of the candidate  14 . At step S. 90 , the navigation and chat/networking report, which may or may not include the recruiter&#39;s notes, are saved by the operation module  18 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a flow chart  300  illustrating a plurality of interaction options of the system and method  10  from the candidate computer terminal side is shown according to an embodiment. Although the flow chart  300  illustrates three general option branches starting, respectively, at steps S. 200   a , S. 200   b  and S. 200   c , it will be appreciated that the disclosure is not limited to the three illustrated examples and that any desirable option may be programmed, as determined by the organization. 
   First, a student candidate  14  may access a virtual reality law school campus environment as described above in steps S. 1 -S. 3 . Then, at step S. 200   a , the student candidate  14  may navigate to, and discover, a virtual moot court room. Once inside the virtual moot court room, the puzzle/problem module  30  and/or chat networking module  32  may be invoked at step S. 300   a  so that the candidate  14  may participate in a simulated mock cross-examination at step S. 400   a  in which the candidate  14  may choose, for example, a “best question” from a plurality of questions that are expresses in, for example, a multiple-choice-style format. Upon completing the simulated mock cross-examination, a “moot court score” may be tallied at step S. 500   a . Then, at step S. 600   a , the operation module  18  may provide additional information regarding the moot court program at the law school, such as, for example, a website link. At step S. 700   a , the candidate  14  exits the virtual moot court and returns to the virtual reality law school campus. 
   At step S. 200   b , the candidate  14  may navigate to, and discover a virtual student common room/building. Once inside the virtual student common room/building, the puzzle/problem module  30  and/or chat networking module  32  may be invoked at step S. 300   b . At step S. 400   b , the candidate  14  may navigate to and discover a “Woman Law Student” bulletin board. After viewing the “Woman Law Student” bulletin board for a predetermined period of time, the operation module  18  may provide an alert, for example, in the form of a pop-up window, emails, or the like regarding upcoming Woman Law Students events at step S. 500   b . At step S. 600   b , the candidate  14  exits the virtual student common room/building and returns to the virtual reality law school campus. 
   At step S. 200   c , the candidate  14  may navigate to, and discover a virtual stadium. Once on the grounds of the virtual stadium, the puzzle/problem module  30  and/or chat networking module  32  may be invoked at step S. 300   c . Then, at step S. 400   c , the candidate  14  may enter the stadium&#39;s virtual season ticket box office. At step S. 500   c  the candidate  14  may manually, or, as described above in steps S. 50 -S. 70 , take a guided tour of the virtual stadium with a virtual box office agent to pick out the best available seat for an upcoming football season. If desired, the candidate  14  may register for season tickets with the virtual box office agent. At step S. 600   c , the candidate  14  may return to the virtual reality law school campus. 
   Although the above-described examples are related to educating a student candidate  14  that is interested in learning more about a university, and assessing a student candidate  14  by an agent of the university, it will be appreciated that the system and method  10  may be applied to assess any candidate  14  for other types of organizations or institutions. As an example, a recruiter  16  of an electrical engineering firm may pose electrical circuit problems to a candidate  14  to determine the candidate&#39;s abilities prior to conducting a more detailed in-person interview. If the candidate  14  is interested in the position, and must relocate, the recruiter  16  may give the candidate  14  a virtual tour of the local and/or regional area. According to an embodiment, the operation module  18  may include or interface/interact with virtual reality real estate databases to provide the recruiter  16  and/or candidate  14  with virtual tours, availability, and pricing indexes of homes, apartments, condominiums, and the like that are available for sale or rent to assist a potential job candidate  14  that may need to relocate should a job offer be extended. According to another embodiment, the recruiter  16  may be a manager of a country club and offer a potential candidate member  14  a tour of a golf course, tennis courts, dining facilities, swimming pools, and the like. If the candidate member  14  is interested in joining, a “virtual meet and greet” of current members may be conducted prior to joining the club. 
   As such, it will be appreciated that system and method  10  is useful in a number of applications for the benefit of providing information about an organization to a candidate  14  while also assessing the many qualities and capabilities of the candidate  14 . Candidates  14  and organizations/recruiters  16  alike may mutually benefit from the capabilities of the system and method  10  to determine if a mutually beneficial relationship between the candidate  14  and the organization is desirable. 
   A system and method for using virtual environments is shown generally at  600  in  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment. The system and method  600  is generally related to the utilization of interactive graphics for soliciting and securing financial gifts from potential donors to an organization. According to an embodiment, the organization may be, for example, an educational institution, such as, for example, a university or any other donor worthy institution. 
   As illustrated, the Internet is generally represented at  602  in the form of a cloud, one or more potential donors is generally represented at  604 , an educational institution representative, such as, for example, an alumni-relations officer, is shown generally at  606 , and a financial institution representative is shown generally at  609 . Each potential donor  604 , educational institution representative  606 , and financial institution representative  609  is generally shown in the form of a computer workstation having a communication path  610 - 616  with the Internet  602 . Although the term “education institution representative” is used in relation to reference numeral  606 , it will be appreciated that the representative  606  may also be referred to as a solicitor, or the like; as such, reference numeral  606  is not limited to an educational institution, an educational institution representation, agent, or the like, and may, for example, represent a donation/grant solicitor, for any organization, institution, or the like, such as, for example, a charity, religious institution (i.e. a church, synagogue, mosque), non-profit organization, or the like. 
   According to an embodiment, the system and method  600  is particularly useful in facilitating a cohesive transmittal of information between a potential donor  604 , educational institution representative  606 , and financial institution representative  609  by way of the Internet  602 . According to an embodiment, the potential donor  604  and/or educational institution representative  606  may access, modify, and/or collaboratively edit a feature in the virtual environment for the purpose of illustrating a view of a building, statue, signage, or the like relating to the potential donor&#39;s likeness, namesake, organization, or the like. According to an embodiment, the educational institution representative  606  may take the potential donor  604  on a virtual tour of the virtual environment via the Internet  602  while modifying/editing a feature in the virtual environment for the purpose of illustrating a un/modified view of a building, statue, nameplate, or the like relating to the potential donor&#39;s likeness, namesake, organization, or the like. According to an embodiment, the potential donor  604  and/or educational institution representative  606  may interact with one or more financial institution representatives  609  to facilitate a financial transaction, such as, for example, a grant or donation, from the potential donor  604  to the educational institution  606 . 
   The “educational institutional end” of this system  600  does not require the presence of a live person (represented by an educational institution representative  606 ). Although educational institution representative  606  can be a live person, it is also contemplated that the educational institution representative functions discussed herein could be implemented algorithmically in software to create a virtual educational institution representative  606 , or the like. Therefore, according to an embodiment, the institutional end of the system  600  may include a live person/educational institution representative  606  that operates a terminal or a virtual educational institution representative  606  implemented in software. According to an embodiment, automated software may be located at a server  607  to perform the function of operating a virtual educational institution representative  606  or it may be implemented in a computer other than server  607 . Communication to/from a educational institution representative  606  and server  607  may be enabled over a communication path  611 - 615 . 
   In the case that the educational institution representative  606  is a live person operating a computer terminal, the educational institution representative  606  may include, for example, a university&#39;s chairman, one or more directors from a board, a business development representative, an alumni relations officer, or the like. The potential donors  604  may include, for example, an alumnus, a community leader, a business organization representative, a benefactor, or the like. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an operation module of the system and method  600  is shown generally at  608 . The operation module  608  is hosted by, or, hosted on behalf of the educational institution representative  606 . Although the operation module  608  is shown remotely with respect to the location of the educational institution representative  606  in  FIG. 6 , it will be appreciated that the operation module  608  may be located proximate, integral, and/or networked with the educational institution representative&#39;s computer workstation  606 . In addition to the computer workstation in  FIG. 6 , the potential donor  604  and/or educational institution representative  606  may also utilize sensory stimulating technologies including, but not limited to, a virtual reality head-mounted display, force feedback actuators, sound devices, olfactory stimulating devices, or the like. 
   Additionally, the system and method  600  may include one or more telephones, IP telephones, microphones, or the like so that the potential donor  604  and/or educational institution representative  606  may communicate verbally over the Internet  602  using well-known voice over IP (VoIP) technologies. Accordingly, such equipment may used as a primary component to enable communications between a potential donor  604 , institutional representatives  606 , or the like. Alternatively such equipment may be used to supplement the keyboard to enable voice and text communications between one or more potential donors  604 , institutional representatives  606 , or the like. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the system-level technologies may include, but are not limited to, a navigation module  628 , an environment modification module  630 , a chat module  632 , and a finance module  634 . As illustrated, the potential donor  604  has bi-directional communication with each of the navigation, environment modification, chat, and finance modules  628 - 634  over the communication channel  610 . The educational institution representative  606 , may similarly, have bi-directional communication with each of the navigation, environment modification, chat, and finance modules  628 - 634 . 
   The navigation and environment modification modules  628 ,  630  may include a real-time graphics engine, a virtual reality engine, an immersive graphics medium, a physics engine, or the like. The environment modification module  630  may include application specific software that permits the potential donor  604  and/or educational institution representative  606  to alter, change, modify, or otherwise edit buildings, landscaping, signage, or the like in the virtual environment. ‘Navigation’ and ‘Modification’ in the interactive graphical environment, can be adapted to encompass the range of traditional input devices (i.e., a keyboard/mouse/joystick), as well as imminent implementations of gyroscopic motion-tracking devices, or, alternatively, advanced eyeball tracking devices or the like. 
   The chat module  632  may include an online networked utility. ‘Chatting’ will allow communication between potential donors  604 , educational institution representatives  606 , and financial institution representatives  606  within the interactive graphical environment. The chat module  632  may be implemented as a client/server system to engage many potential donors  604  simultaneously. The finance module  634  may include a database and report generation utility that can be standardized to feed one or more financial databases associated with, for example, the donor&#39;s financial institution  609  over a communication path  616  and the education institution&#39;s financial institution  609 . 
   To invoke the chat module  632 , for example, the potential donor  604  may navigate, in the virtual environment, to an educational institution representative  606 , which may appear as a virtual person, and, upon arriving at the location of the virtual person, a chat window may appear for selection. Alternatively, the potential donor  604  may click on a graphical “chat button” appearing in the computer terminal monitor to request/initiate a chat with an educational institution representative  606  that is available and currently navigating the virtual environment. 
   As indicated, the navigation module  628  is employed to permit the potential donor  604  to explore interactive graphics provided by the organization/educational institution representative  606  that may be in the form of a three-dimensional, 360-degree virtual environment (i.e. virtual reality imaging). According to an embodiment, the virtual environment may replicate existing facilities on a university campus including dormitories, classroom buildings, student activity buildings, libraries, social halls, bookstores, stadiums, gymnasiums, offices relating to admissions/registrars/professors/academic advisor, deans, or the like. 
   The generation of the interactive graphics to the potential donor  604  can be achieved through the real-time graphics engine, virtual reality engine, or any desirable immersive graphical mechanism. As such, a networked exploration of a virtual space is provided where a potential donors  604  can interact by means of a seamlessly integrated interface provided by the operation module  608 . 
   According to an embodiment, one or more potential donors  604  may elect to have a virtual tour guide, virtual admissions representative, or virtual alumni relations officer lead/participate in a virtual exploration in addition to answering any questions that the potential donor  604  may have. In addition to the exploratory interactions that a potential donor  604  may take advantage of by using the system and method  600 , the environment modification module  630  and chat module  632  may automatically save the “modification and chat session” between the potential donor  604  and educational institution representative  606  so that exact changes to the virtual environment and likings of the potential donor  604  may be passed on for later use by a professional, such as, for example, an architect, landscape designer, sculptor, or the like, that may execute design plans in the real world that is being simulated in the virtual environment. Alternatively, if desired, the passing-on of the modification and chat session may be eliminated, and, a professional, such as, for example, an architect, landscape designer, sculptor, or the like, may participate in real time during the virtual tour, chat, or the like by way of a computer terminal workstation that interacts with the system and method  600  over the Internet  602  with the potential donor  602  and/or educational institution representative  606 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a flow chart  700  for operating the system and method  600  from the potential donor computer terminal side is shown according to an embodiment. First, at step S. 701 , the potential donor  604  registers a username/password and personal information with an educational institution representative  606  and/or internet server  607  on the institutional end of the system  600 . The personal information may include the name, address, telephone, email address, a donor&#39;s financial institution name, a donor&#39;s financial institution account number, or the like. The registration may take place, for example, by way of an electronic communication over the Internet  602 , or, by way of, a paper-based system via traditional mail service. Then, at step S. 702 , software that enables interaction with the operation module  608  is requested/obtained by way of, for example, an electronic download over the Internet  602 . Alternatively, the software may be acquired on a CD-ROM from the organization/educational institution representative  606  and installed on the potential donor&#39;s computer terminal. 
   At step S. 703 , the potential donor  604  executes the software for interacting with the operation module  608  and navigates the virtual environment as described above. At step S. 704 , during the navigation of the virtual environment, the environment modification module  630  and/or the chat module  632  may be invoked as described above. Then, at step S. 705 , the operation module  608  will detect if and when the potential donor has indicated that a modification to the virtual environment is completed (e.g., by initiating a “save changes” feature, in, for example step S. 706 ). At step S. 707 , the potential donor  604  may, at any time, manually exit the virtual environment, signaling the end of the program. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , a flow chart  800  for operating the system and method  600  from the educational institution representative computer terminal side is shown according to an embodiment. First, at step S. 801 , a live representative  606  (i.e. a person) or a virtual representative  606  (i.e., an automated program) navigates/accesses the virtual environment, with, for example, an assigned username/password. Then, at step S. 802 , the educational institution representative  606  may receive a request to chat with a potential donor  604 ; alternatively, the educational institution representative  606  may locate a potential donor  604  in the virtual environment at step S. 803  for unsolicited chatting. Upon engaging the potential donor  604  at either step S. 802  or S. 803 , the chat module  632  is invoked at step S. 804  from the educational institution representative computer terminal side as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
   At step S. 805 , the educational institution representative  606  may receive a request from the potential donor  604  for a tour of the virtual environment. If a tour is requested, the educational institution representative  606  may obtain control of the potential donor&#39;s navigation capabilities at step S. 806 . During the course of the tour, the educational institution representative  606  and/or the potential donor  604  may modify or otherwise collaboratively edit the virtual environment, thereby invoking the environment modification module at step S. 808 . Upon completing the tour and environment modifications, the changes to the virtual environment and chat log may be saved at step S. 809 . Then, at step S. 810 , the educational institution representative  606  and/or potential donor  604  may end the tour and exit the virtual environment. 
   As such, it will be appreciated that system and method  600  is useful in a number of applications for the benefit of utilizing interactive graphics for soliciting and securing financial gifts from potential donors to an educational institution. Potential donors  604  that may be remotely located from the educational institution, or, for example, challenged with computer literacy or lacking in proficient hand-eye coordination may benefit by seeing what a building, landscaping, signage, or the like may look like if a donation or grant is to be given to the educational institution. Additionally, the educational institution  606  may benefit may holding a virtual meeting and sale-pitch to the potential donor  604  in a way that maximizes efficiency in the donation/grant solicitation process. 
   The present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to embody the invention in specific forms other than those of the exemplary embodiments described above. This may be done without departing from the spirit of the invention. The exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the preceding description.