Patent Application
20100088084
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of non-verbal communication translation, and more particularly to a method to enable non-verbal communication to be translated in a virtual world in a similar fashion as spoken/written language translation.
In a virtual world, just as in the real world, communication is greater than language alone. Types of non-verbal communication include gestures, facial expressions, posture, dress/clothing, physical inter-personal distance, body movements, eye behavior (i.e. eye contact, eye movement, etc), and conversational cadence. However, a non-verbal sign may hold one meaning in one culture, while the same non-verbal sign may hold another meaning in another culture. These differences in non-verbal communication arise from the diversity of accepted norms in groups with different cultural, regional, or generational upbringings. When two or more people of different cultures interact in a virtual world, not only does the language need to be translated, but also the body language. The problem today is that non-verbal communication is not translated within a virtual world setting, possibly leading to confusion and mixed messages.
The present disclosure is directed to a method for translating non-verbal communication in a virtual world environment. The method may comprise: receiving a first signal from a first user comprising a first non-verbal communication associated with an avatar within the virtual world environment having a first meaning within a first context; determining a second meaning for the first non-verbal communication within a second context; translating the first non-verbal communication to a second non-verbal communication when the first meaning is at least substantially different from the second meaning; providing at least one of the first non-verbal communication and the second non-verbal communication to a second user within the second context, wherein the at least one of the first non-verbal communication and the second non-verbal communication are selected for providing the second user with a non-verbal communication at least substantially conveying the first meaning; and providing the second meaning to the first user for alerting the first user to the second meaning within the second context when the first meaning is at least substantially different from the second meaning.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate subject matter of the disclosure. Together, the descriptions and the drawings serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
The numerous advantages of the disclosure may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure is directed to a method for translating non-verbal communication in a virtual world environment. The method may comprise: receiving a first signal from a first user comprising a first non-verbal communication associated with an avatar within the virtual world environment having a first meaning within a first context; determining a second meaning for the first non-verbal communication within a second context; translating the first non-verbal communication to a second non-verbal communication when the first meaning is at least substantially different from the second meaning; providing at least one of the first non-verbal communication and the second non-verbal communication to a second user within the second context, wherein the at least one of the first non-verbal communication and the second non-verbal communication are selected for providing the second user with a non-verbal communication at least substantially conveying the first meaning; and providing the second meaning to the first user for alerting the first user to the second meaning within the second context when the first meaning is at least substantially different from the second meaning.
This invention may comprise of the following components:
In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented as sets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed are examples of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.
It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
