Patent ID: RE40293

Claim:
A method for facilitating real-time interaction between a user and a digitally represented visual environment within which the user's moving image is integrated, said method including the use of a computer, electronic memory, a display, a video camera, and a video input device, the method comprising the steps of: storing a first computer generated digital image in said electronic memory; assigning a velocity of movement to said digital image, said velocity of movement including a rate of movement and a direction of movement of said digital image; recording the image of said user using said video camera; simultaneously displaying the image of said user and said stored first digital image onto said display, at a predetermined refresh rate; digitally repositioning said displayed first digital image on said display according to said assigned velocity of movement; comparing the relative position of said displayed image of said user and said displayed first digital image; determining when said displayed first digital image and the displayed image of said user are within a predetermined distance on said display; changing said velocity of movement of said displayed first digital image in response to determining that said displayed first digital image and the displayed image of said user are within said predetermined distance; and simultaneously displaying said first digital image at said new velocity of movement, and the image of said user.