Abstract:
The invention generally provides a transparent projection screen material with sound dampening properties and methods for using a screen to manipulate light and sound. Methods and materials of the invention can improve live sound and sound recordings by inhibiting ambient sound from reaching listeners or microphones and reducing feedback.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/601,198, filed Feb. 21, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention generally relates to systems and methods for presenting audio-visual spectacles using transparent sound dampening projection screens. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Communication with an audience typically requires the presentation of sound or images. Public spaces for communication often have poor acoustic qualities. Ambient noise or resonant properties of construction materials and dimensions in, for example, concert halls, open air venues, small rooms, and retail spaces can make the presentation of desirable sound quality difficult. The presentation of visual images is typically done by displaying of signs or video, for example, by putting a TV monitor in a public space. The control of sound is typically done by “brute force” methods such as, for example, avoiding feedback in PA systems by simply turning the volume down. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The invention provides integrated audio/visual display materials enabling 3D holographic compositing of live spectacles with displayed images and videos and sound manipulation properties. Methods and materials of the invention offer visual displays with concealed sound sources and highly tunable sound dampening properties. Materials of the invention can be used to impede the transmission of sound waves from a speaker to a connected microphone, thereby breaking a feedback loop and preventing undesirable and painful feedback. Further, due to transparency and functional invisibility, material of the invention can be provided as screens across sound sensitive areas that do not interfere with visual perception in those areas. Further, materials of the invention operate as projection screens. Thus, material of the invention can reveal a spectacle disposed behind it while simultaneously displaying an image projected onto it, both with great clarity and visibility, while also baffling and dampening intrusive or unwanted sound, improving the properties and qualities of sound recording and playback, for example, by cutting an amount of ambient noise that reaches a microphone or listener, and breaking a feedback cycle. 
         [0005]    In certain aspects, the invention provides an audiovisual display system that includes a substantially flat screen with a translucent mesh defining an obverse surface and a reverse surface; a projector configured to project an image onto the obverse surface; and a speaker configured to transmit a sound wave towards the reverse surface. A computer device is included and operably coupled to the speaker and the projector. Additionally, the system may include a microphone. The mesh of the screen provides sound-dampening benefits. Accordingly, the speaker can face the reverse side of the screen. The microphone can face the obverse side, and the screen diminishes amplitude of sound from the speaker, thus preventing a feedback loop. Also, the mesh material is both translucent and also useable as a projection screen. This allows images to projected onto the screen, while other material is disposed behind the screen. Installations comprising this arrangement have been found to be particularly attention-grabbing and very effective communication tools. 
         [0006]    In certain embodiments, the mesh is made up of synthetic fibers. The fibers may have a cross-sectional geometry that is substantially uniform along a length, such as a triangular cross-sectional shape. The synthetic fibers may have a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about 100 microns, e.g., about 20 microns. The synthetic fibers can be spaced away from one another by a minimum spacing distance that is about 50 microns, preferably about 100 microns. In some embodiments, the minimum spacing distance is about 450 microns. The synthetic fibers can be arranged in at least a warp set and a woof set, wherein fibers within each set are substantially parallel to one another. In some embodiments, some of the synthetic fibers (e.g., the warp) are substantially perpendicular to others of the synthetic fibers (e.g., the woof). In a preferred embodiment, at least the obverse surface is gray. 
         [0007]    In related aspects, the invention provides a method of presenting an audiovisual display that includes processing, with a computer comprising a memory coupled to a processor, a digital file to generate an audio signal defining a sound and an image signal defining an image and using a projector to project the image onto an obverse surface of a substantially flat screen comprising a translucent mesh defining the obverse surface and a reverse surface while also playing, using a speaker to transmit a sound wave towards the reverse surface, the sound. An object (such as a sign, statue, poster, etc.) may be disposed behind the screen such that the reverse surface faces the object and the method can include using a light fixture to illuminate the object, to make the object visible to a person looking at the obverse surface. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, at least a part of the digital file is obtained through the use of a microphone while the microphone is disposed so that the obverse surface faces the microphone, and the method further can include diminishing the sound using the mesh to avoid a feedback loop between the microphone and the speaker. In certain embodiments, the mesh comprises synthetic fibers having a substantially triangular cross-section, a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about 100 microns, or both. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows interaction of a sound wave with a screen material of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a detail view of screen material of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows interaction of a sound wave with a fiber of screen material of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows sound and sight tuning on a stage by materials and methods of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows sound and sight tuning at a trade show booth with methods and materials of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows sound and sight tuning in a gallery according to the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows sound and sight tuning in a studio. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows sound and sight tuning in a vehicle by materials and methods of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows a backseat monitor and audio-enabled HUD according to the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  shows a sound/sight manipulating installation in a noisy lobby. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  shows an arrangement of material according to the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  shows an arrangement of material according to the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  shows an arrangement of material according to the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  shows an arrangement of material according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The invention generally provides a transparent projection screen material with sound dampening properties and methods for using a screen to manipulate light and sound. In general, screen material of the invention includes fabric-like material formed by a network of fine strands. In certain embodiments, the strands are a synthetic material, for example, acrylic fibers. Fibers according to the invention preferably have roughly a geometric cross-section, with either a precise or irregular geometry. In a preferred embodiment, fibers have a triangular cross-section. 
         [0024]    Material strands will generally have a diameter between about 5 and 100 microns, preferably between about 10 to about 20 microns, averaged along a length of the fiber. Generally, fibers will be formed into networks comprising a warp set of parallel fibers and a woof set of parallel fibers such that an angle is formed between the warp set and the woof set. Within a set, the fibers are generally substantially parallel to each other, and between about 50 and about 5,000 microns apart. Preferably, the parallel fibers are between about 100 and about 1,000 microns apart, for example, all approximately about 500 microns apart (e.g., between about 450 and about 550 microns apart). The angle between sets generally will be above about 40 degrees and in certain embodiments, greater than about 60 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the fibers are substantially perpendicular to each other. Such a network of fibers offers a fine mesh to function as a transparent projection screen material 
         [0025]    A fine mesh screen material can be made by weaving the fibers together, fusing them, adhering them, or synthesizing the material in substantially grid-like pattern (e.g., polymerizing acrylonitrile into a screen-like form, or molding material into the form). Generally, the screen material is neutral grey or uncolored. In some embodiments, the material is treated to confer a matt charcoal gray finish. 
         [0026]    The screen material can be provided or stored in rolls, for example, as rectangles of material about 50 yards by about 15 yards, or about 1 yard by about 39 yards, or any other convenient measurement. 
         [0027]    The screen material can be placed as flats. A flat, generally, is a panel of the screen material. A flat can include a portion of the screen material stretched around a frame. Screen material can be fixed to the frame of a flat by adhesive or sewing or fusing (e.g., back onto itself or onto a fusible material in the frame). A frame can be closed loop of material such as metal, plastic, or wood. Screen material can also be fixed to a straight “bar” of material and stretched to another bar, parallel to the first one. A flat can also be formed by hanging screen material from a fastening point, for example, from hooks or from an adhesive strip. Generally, a flat will have a two dimensional, substantially flat, substantially planar surface. However, in certain embodiments discussed in greater detail below, a flat can have other surface morphologies. 
         [0028]    A flat comprising screen material of the invention exhibits the useful property of being transparent while operating as a projection screen. That is, an image can be projected onto the screen material and be visible. Also, a spectacle on one side of the screen is visible to a person or camera on the far side of the screen. More significantly, the screen material is substantially invisible to the naked eye when it is not purposefully made visible (e.g., by projecting an image onto it). 
         [0029]    Furthermore, the translucent properties of the screen material allow for multiple layers of projection or objects behind the screens or flats, enhancing depth perception. Projecting onto multiple layers can create visual depth of great richness. Any number of screens can be positioned (e.g., substantially parallel and spaced apart), each with visual material projected thereon to create three-dimensional visuals having apparent depth. 
         [0030]    Screen material of the invention is both transparent and functional as a projection screen. An item can be positioned behind the screen and illuminated (i.e., directly, or exposed to any amount of light such as ambient light or dim light) and the can be made to appear as if the screen material were not present. Also, images can be projected onto the material. Projecting images is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,361; U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,209; U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,519; U.S. Pub. 2012/0314284; U.S. Pub. 2012/0154753; and U.S. Pub. 2011/0037952, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0031]    Materials of the invention can also be used to present three dimensional visual displays. Exemplary 3D displays are discussed in U.S. Pub. 2003/0117583, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0032]    The screen material further operates to substantially disrupt the transmission of sound and exhibits salutary acoustic properties when used or disposed according to the disclosures of this invention. Without being bound by any theory or mechanism of action,  FIG. 1  illustrates a sound wave  11  impinging on a surface of a flat  101  of the screen material. While sound wave  11  is generally illustrated with a transverse wave line, this is for convenience of illustration only and the illustrated effect is exhibited on longitudinal waves such as sound waves as transmitted through the air. Flat  101  can be any dimension, and is shown in  FIG. 1  as a straight black line with circles on the ends. These circles are for ease of recognition among the various figures discussed herein, and flat  101  need not have any particular structure at its edges. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , incoming sound wave  11  impinges on flat  101 . Sound wave  11  is unable to progress wholly intact through flat  101 . Instead, flat  101  breaks up sound wave  11  and causes its energy to be dissipated as an incoherent array of minor waves  21 . Where sound wave  11  may have been clearly audible to a human listener, minor waves  21  generally will not be. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is an angled close-up view of screen material of the invention. A rectangle is drawn for scale, encompassing an area of approximately 1,000 microns 2  on the screen material.  FIG. 3  shows a strand have a triangular cross-section breaking incoming wave  11  into minor waves  21 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a flat being used in a staged performance in an audio visual display according to certain embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 4 , performer  107  is on stage  127 . Flat  101   a  defines a substantially flat screen on stage  127  with an obverse surface facing the house and a reverse surface facing performer  107 . Performer  107  and any objects (e.g., clothing or props) in this vicinity of performer  107  are visible from the house. A second person  119  (who could be an audience member) is shown out in the house (i.e., audience area). Microphone  109  is placed to capture sound from performer  107 . Speaker  113  is placed to operate as a monitor for performer  107 , while speaker  117  is placed to address second person  119 . Light source  131  illuminates performer  107 . Projector  123  projects an image onto the obverse surface of flat  101   a.  Further use of screen in performance is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,325, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Speaker  113  and projector  123  can be operably connect to, and controlled by, a computer. Microphone  109  could be connected to the computer, either directly or via a sound board or PA system. 
         [0036]    When flats  101   a  and  101   b  are used as shown in  FIG. 4 , second person  119  can see both performer  107  and the image projected by projector  123  due to the unique light handling properties of the screen material. Further, flat  101   b  cuts the intensity of sound transmitted from speaker  113  to microphone  109 . While  FIG. 4  presents a simplified view, flat  101   b  can have any useful shape or disposition. Flat  101   b  can be a small circle of screen material near microphone  109 , a large rectangle of screen material near speaker  113 , or both. 
         [0037]    When used as shown in  FIG. 4 , flat  101   a  dampens the sounds from the audience area (e.g., from second person  119 ) that reaches performer  107  and microphone  109 . This aids microphone  109  in capturing a clear sound from performer  107 , and aid performer  107  in hearing a clear sounds from monitor speaker  113 . 
         [0038]    Any place where a microphone may be used to capture one source of sound (a performer) preferentially over another source of sound (audience noise), screen material of the invention may be used to dampen unwanted sound and keep it from bleeding back to the microphone. Further, any arrangement wherein a speaker is playing sound being captured by a microphone, feedback can be inhibited by placing screen material of the invention between them. 
         [0039]    Furthermore, due to the fact that an image can be projected onto flat  101   a  by projector  123 , monitor  113  or other stage equipment can be concealed from second person  119 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows another method of using one or more of flat  101 , here in the context of a trade show booth area, to provide an audiovisual display system. As shown in  FIG. 5 , performer  107  (here, a salesperson or company representative) stands among displays. Displays are shown that include one or more of projector  123  facing an obverse side of flat  101  (e.g., projector  123   b  faces an obverse side of flat  101   b  and projector  123   c  faces flat  101   c ) so that the flats are showing media designed for the trade show. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the displays has a speaker  113  concealed behind it facing a reverse side of the flat, with the result that audio can be synced to video on the “screens” provided by flats  101   b  and  101   c.    
         [0041]      FIG. 5  also shows a camera  128 , here pointed at a second person  119  (who is also interrogated with a microphone  109 ). Thus, this trade show booth can display “audience reactions” on flat  101   b  by using a microphone  109  and a camera  128  to capture sound and video of second person  119 . The sound and video can be played through speaker  113  and projector  123 , for example, simultaneously with the participation of second person  109  or later. Thus, other attendees of a trade show can have their attention drawn to the activities in this trade show booth. Further,  FIG. 5  shows a flat  101   a  along the back of the trade show booth area and three of flat  101   d  overlapping each other and disposed forward of the trade show booth area. These flats can disrupt and deaden ambient sound. Where a trade show is conducted in a noisy convention hall, for example, placing flats  101  around an area can create a local enclave of relative quiet, allowing for more sensitive acoustic operations. 
         [0042]    Further, in any embodiment of the invention, a speaker may be integrally mounted with a screen material of the invention. For example, a speaker cabinet may form a support for screen material, or screen material can provide a cover for a speaker. Speakers with screens are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,537, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows an audiovisual display in a museum gallery benefiting from an acoustic treatment provided by the invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , an object (painting  161 ) is hung on a wall and illuminated by light source  151 . Wall  145  presents a smooth, hard surface. It is common in museums for such a wall to be marble. Hall  141  has a smooth hard floor and connects to an outer corridor with heavy foot traffic. In an arrangement like this, human activity in area  141  can be a source of excessive and intrusive noise to a person viewing painting  161 . Here, flat  101   b  substantially directly dampens sound coming from area  141  and flat  101   a  further substantially dampens acoustic reflections off of the smooth hard walls. Painting  161  is disposed proximal to a reverse surface of flat  101   a.  Flats  101   a  and  101   b  are each shown disposed parallel to, and approximately a foot away from, a wall. It is an insight of the invention that this arrangement provides good sound dampening qualities in acoustically significant frequency ranges. This beneficial dampening affect can be heightened by adding a second, third, or Nth flat  101  parallel to, and spaced away from, the wall and either of flat  101   a  or flat  101   b.    
         [0044]    Further, methods and materials of the invention offer creative audiovisual displays. As shown in the museum gallery in  FIG. 6 , flat  101   a  operates as a screen to display an image or video projected by projector  123 . Speaker  113  is configured to transmit sound waves towards a reverse surface of flat  101   a  to play audio. Due to the arrangement of light source  151 , flat  101   a,  speaker  113 , and projector  123 , a person in the gallery would: see painting  161 ; see images and video projected by projector  123 ; hear audio from speaker  113 ; not see speaker  113 ; and not hear ambient noise emanating from area  141 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  shows a TV studio layout using materials and methods of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , chair  171  is covered by microphone  109  and light source  151 , while being surrounded by flats  101   b  and  101   c.  Couch  177  is also proximal to a microphone and a light source. Flat  101   a  provides a cyclorama behind couch  177 . Cameras  123  are trained on the furniture. Further, chair  171  is recorded by two of microphone  109 —one separated from chair  171  by a flat  101 , and one not so separated. 
         [0046]    Screen material of the invention is particularly useful for dampening sound in the mid-high to treble ranges. For example, when recording human speech with a microphone, any sound generally describable as a hiss, whistling, or tweeting can be dampened. Here, in the studio arrangement depicted in  FIG. 7 , a TV producer can use the arrangement to produce a talk show. A person can sit in chair  171  and talk and be recorded by microphone  109   b.  If the person has sibilant esses, a producer can cut power to microphone  109   b  and power on microphone  109   d.  Then, flat  101   d  will dampen the person&#39;s speech, particularly cutting out sibilance. 
         [0047]    Further as shown in  FIG. 7 , light sources  151  illuminate people on the furniture. No light source is projected onto flats  101   c  and  101   d.  Projector  123  projects images or videos onto the cyclorama provided by flat  101   a.  Thus, cameras  128  see people on the furniture and see anything projected onto flat  101   a,  while not picking up flats  101   c  and  101   d.  Flats  101   c  and  101   d  dampen any sound emanating from the pit or audience area, thereby improving sound quality recorded on the stage. 
         [0048]      FIG. 8  shows materials and methods of the invention employed to allow a back-seat passenger in an automobile to view a video while acoustically isolating a driver. In particular, due to the light manipulating qualities of the screen material of the invention, minor  205  offers a driver a view out the back of the vehicle despite the presence of flats  101 . Projector  123  can project a video onto flat  101  and speaker  201  can play sound to a back-seat passenger. Flats  101  can dampen any sound that would otherwise be transmitted to the front of the vehicle, providing for a safer driving experience. 
         [0049]      FIG. 9  shows materials and methods of the invention employed to create a back-seat monitor (e.g., for babies) and a heads-up display (HUD) for a driver. As shown in  FIG. 9 , camera  128  is trained on a back seat passenger, as is microphone  109 . Projector  123  projects video (optionally from the back seat camera, optionally from a car&#39;s computer or any other source) onto flat  101 . Speaker  113  plays sound (optionally from microphone  109 ). By disposing one or more of flat  101  around a driver or passenger, that person can be acoustically isolated so that distraction is minimized. For example, speaker  113  can be directed at the front seat passenger, and acoustically segregated from the driver. 
         [0050]    In any circumstance in which screen material of the invention will be used to display projected material (e.g., a HUD instrument panel), material projected by projector  123  can be digitally processed to be projected with a distortion (e.g., shear, keystone distortion, or other) that complements a disposition of the screen material with the result that, from the perspective of a viewer, projected material appears undistorted. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a computer including a processor and a memory operably coupled to a projector. 
         [0051]    Any suitable computer and connected hardware can be used for any embodiment disclosed herein. Any computer can be used, such as a laptop or desktop PC, a portable device such as a smartphone, or another computing device (such as a tablet). Generally, a computer device will include a processor coupled to a memory with one or more input and output mechanisms. Additionally, a computer may communicate with a server via a network. A processor may include any data processing device such as a silicon microchip such as the one sold under the trademark CORE 17 by Intel (Santa Clara, Calif.). A memory may generally include a tangible, non-transitory storage medium, such as a solid-state drive (SSD), flash drive, hard drive, USB drive, or similar. Input and output mechanisms can include one or more of a keyboard, pointer (e.g., mouse, trackpad), monitor, touchscreen, network device (e.g., Wi-Fi card, network-interface card), data connection (e.g., USB port), speaker, microphone, button, or a combination thereof. A server may itself include one or any number of computer device generally including a processor operably coupled to a memory such as, for example, a rack-mounted server such as the one sold under the trademark BLADE by Hitachi Data Systems (Santa Clara, Calif.) or other computer devices. 
         [0052]    Other hardware that can be operably connected to a computer includes one or more of projector  123 , a microphone  109 , a speaker  113 , a monitor, or a combination thereof. 
         [0053]    Any suitable projector can be used. In some embodiments, a projector with an output between about 600 ANSI lumen and about 12000 ANSI lumens is used. In some embodiments, the output is within the range from 2000 ANSI lumens to 4500 ANSI lumens. In certain embodiments, projector  123  is the SP-H03 projector sold under the trademark PICO by Samsung (Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea). Projector  123  can be provided by the RLM-W8 8,000 lumen WUXGA DLP projector sold by Barco, Inc. (Duluth, Ga.). In some embodiments, projector  123  is configured with a lens that provides an 0.8:1 throw ratio, meaning that the distance between the projector and the screen (the throw distance) can be about 0.8× the width of source surface. 
         [0054]    Microphones suitable for use as microphone  109  include the stage-floor microphone sold under the name Bartlett TM-125C by Bartlett Microphones LLC (Weaverville, N.C.); the wireless transmitter microphone sold under the name SKM 5200 by Sennheiser Electronic Corporation (Old Lyme, Conn.); or the vocal microphone sold under the name SM58 by Shure Incorporated (Niles, Ill.). Any suitable speaker can be used for speaker  113  such as a PA speaker or a home or commercial audio speaker. 
         [0055]      FIG. 10  shows use of materials and methods of the invention to optimize an acoustic environment as it relates to the architectural qualities of a space.  FIG. 10  represents a building lobby (e.g., hotel, bank, other) having smooth hard floors and walls. Such a large, wide open lobby with marble or granite floors and walls can be acoustically resonant creating excessive echo of every transient sound. As shown in  FIG. 10 , a concierge&#39;s desk  189  is staffed by person  107 . Fountain  185  operates in the center of the lobby. Person  107  working for a shift may have difficulties hearing customers intercom pages due to foot traffic throughout the lobby and (for example) fountain  185  without the benefit of materials and methods of the invention. 
         [0056]    A number of flats  101   a - 101   i  have been disposed around the lobby, dampening the transmission and resonance of ambient sound, thereby enabling person  107  to hear their regular business. Further, flats  101  are not visible unless made so, and thus do not interfere with the overall appearance of the lobby. As shown in  FIG. 10 , a corporate logo sign  141  is placed on the back wall and illuminated by light  151  (suspended above flat  101   b,  so that light passes directly from light  151  to sign  141  without hitting a surface of flat  101   b ). Thus, sign  141  is made to be visible to people in the lobby. Also shown in  FIG. 10  is projector  123 , preferably mounted in a discrete place such as on the ceiling. Flat  101   h  operates as a display screen for projector  123 . Speaker  113  is concealed behind flat  101   h  by virtue of the fact that an image is projected onto the flat. Thus, a person in the lobby can see the images or videos projected by projector  123 , not see speaker  113 , hear speaker  113 , and hear a very diminished amount of ambient sound. 
         [0057]    The invention further provides for the use of screen material indoors or outdoors (e.g., including in certain architectural situations in which an indoor/outdoor boundary may not be completely clear). Material of the invention can be used to provide a business&#39;s outdoor sign or informational display. Use of material outdoors is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,839, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0058]    As discussed above, one insight of the invention is that placing a flat  101  spaced away from a smooth hard surface and approximately parallel to it yields good sound dampening qualities. A flat may be spaced away from a wall by any distance, for example between about a fraction of an inch and about three feet or more. Preferably, a flat is between a few inches and about 18 inches from a wall, for example, about a foot away. The beneficial acoustic effect of a flat can be magnified (i.e., more sound dampened) by using more than one flat.  FIG. 11  shows the use of two of flat  101  disposed about parallel to each other and spaced away from wall  145 . 
         [0059]    The operative surface of flat  101  need not be smooth, planar, or flat to obtain the beneficial properties disclosed herein.  FIG. 12  shows flat  101  having a wavy surface and spaced away from wall  145 . Further, materials and methods of the invention offer assemblages of flats optimized to deaden sound.  FIG. 13  shows a series of three small flats  101  near wall  145 . An arrangement as shown in  FIG. 13  can be particularly beneficial where a source of sound to be dampened is predominately from a certain direction. 
         [0060]    Other shapes may offer advantages.  FIG. 14  shows flat  101  having a zigzag shape. In some embodiments, flat  101  has an irregularly shaped surface. As shown herein, flat  101  generally has a taught surface and that may be preferred where used as a projection screen for good fidelity reproduction of video. However, sound may be manipulated or dampened using flat  101  with a loose screen, such as by hanging screen material, for example, loosely, or draping screen material over a structure. Further, screen material may be disposed in a non-flat, non-planar, or non-taught structure for video reproductive effects. Video or images may be projected onto curtain-like, loose, or crumpled screen material for interesting or innovative effects. Sound with screens is discussed in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,943 and U.S. Pub. 2006/0109548, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0061]    Methods of the invention include coordinating the manipulation of audio and video effects including making sound or video more or less perceivable (hiding and showing). For example, video can be projected synced to sound and ambient sounds can be, captured, recorded, or dampened and suppressed. Objects, people, and backgrounds can be hidden behind screen material with light projected onto it or revealed by illumination. Screen material can be made effectively invisible by not illuminating it, or it can be used as a projection screen. Further, images projected onto the screen can be made to appear as objects in space (e.g., by projecting light through a gobo, flag, or cookie, or by projecting light through a film or from a digital file with “dark” space). Further sound levels for recording or playback can be automatically detected or set. Ambient amounts of light and sound can be detected, and methods of the invention can operate based on the detection of sound or light. For example, in certain embodiments, an advertising video is projected onto a screen responsive to new sounds (e.g., footfalls) being detected. In some embodiments, a microphone captures sound and a computer processor synthesizes sound for playback through a speaker, for example, to complement the captured sound or to constructively interfere with it. These and all other described and inherent functions of the invention can be coordinated through one or more computer devices provided by the invention. For example, where projectors are referred to, a projector can be an LCD projector connected to a computer (e.g., a laptop, desktop, tablet, or kiosk computer with a unique form factor). Devices for capturing or producing light and sound can be triggered, operated, or coordinated by any device including computers or smartphones. For example, a projector can be provided that can connect to a smart phone or other computer device and project images or video therefrom. Thus, for example, a concert attendee or a trade show attendee can send images or videos from their device to a device of a system of the invention, e.g., to have it projected on a screen or to have audio played on a speaker. These and other operations and any devices of the invention can be connected and coordinated by a network, such as a wired network (e.g., LAN, Ethernet connection, etc.) or a wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth, etc.). Thus, the invention provides systems which may include one or more of: a flat, screen material, a projector, a camera, a TV monitor, a computer monitor, a microphone; a speaker, audio cable, video cable, a mixing board, a computer device, a network, networking hardware, server devices and software, computer programs, display material or stands, signs, small hardware (brackets, mounting screws, etc.), or any combination thereof. 
         [0062]    As used herein, the word “or” means “and or or”, sometimes seen or referred to as “and/or”, unless indicated otherwise. 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0063]    References and citations to other documents, such as patents, patent applications, patent publications, journals, books, papers, web contents, have been made throughout this disclosure. All such documents are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
       EQUIVALENTS 
       [0064]    Various modifications of the invention and many further embodiments thereof, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the full contents of this document, including references to the scientific and patent literature cited herein. The subject matter herein contains important information, exemplification and guidance that can be adapted to the practice of this invention in its various embodiments and equivalents thereof.