Computerized interactor systems and methods for providing same

• US 6,940,486 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Inventors: Cohen, Jonathan R., Hindus, Debby, Johnson, Bonnie M., Singer, Andrew J., Stifelman, Lisa J., Verplank, William L., Wallters, Scott C., Withgott, M. Margaret
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr A.
• Application Number:
  US09/823,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345/161, 345/163, 345/179, 345/173, 379/219, 379/202.01, 370/278, 370/464, 370/465, 370/468, 370/276, 370/280, 370/281, 370/294, 370/295
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

A computerized interactor system uses physical, three-dimensional objects as metaphors for input of user intent to a computer system. When one or more interactors are engaged with a detection field, the detection field reads an identifier associated with the object and communicates the identifier to a computer system. The computer system determines the meaning of the interactor based upon its identifier and upon a semantic context in which the computer system is operating. The interactors can be used to control other systems, such as audio systems, or it can be used as intuitive inputs into a computer system for such purposes as marking events in a temporal flow. The interactors, as a minimum, communicate their identity, but may also be more sophisticated in that they can communicate additional processed or unprocessed data, i.e. they can include their own data processors. The detection field can be one-dimensional or multi-dimensional, and typically has different semantic meanings associated with different parts of the detection field.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising:

at least one physical control member having an identity; and

a network of workstations, comprised of a plurality of workstations, each having a plurality of fields receptive to said physical control member, an interface coupled to one of said fields and operative to develop an identity signal representative of said identity of said physical control member and a processor coupled to said interface and receptive to said identity signal, said processor processing said identity signal to develop a control signal for a computer system to be controlled; and

a plurality of control members for reception by said fields and wherein each of said fields comprises a plurality of positions at which respective ones of said plurality of physical control members may be selectively manually placed and removed thereby to provide a plurality of selectable and changeable arrangements of said plurality of control members at said plurality of positions of each of said fields;

wherein said audio conferencing system comprises a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio application system being responsive to said control signal from said computer system to provide at least one audio sound having a volume and a directional characteristic which is based on said physical control members being selectively operated for reception by said fields.

2. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of control members may be manually placed in and removed from said plurality of positions by a plurality of users of the system.

3. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising:

at least one physical control member having an identity; and

a network of workstations, comprised of a plurality of workstations, each having a plurality of fields receptive to said physical control member, an interface coupled to one of said fields and operative to develop an identity signal representative of said identity of said physical control member and a processor coupled to said interface and receptive to said identity signal, said processor processing said identity signal to develop a control signal for a computer system to be controlled, said control member comprises identification circuitry and wherein each of said fields comprises internal circuitry adapted for connection with said identification circuitry of said control member, said internal circuitry of each of said fields being coupled to a corresponding interface;

wherein said audio conferencing system comprises a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said network of workstations for each of said workstations, said audio application system being responsive to said control signal from said computer system to provide at least one audio sound having a volume and a directional characteristic which is based on said physical control members being selectively operated for reception by said fields.

4. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said fields comprises a plurality of positions at which said physical control member may be selectively manually removably positioned in order to at least temporarily connect said identification circuitry of said control member with said internal circuitry of a particular field of said plurality of fields.

5. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 4 wherein said particular field comprises at least one channel having a slanted surface for supporting said physical control member and wherein said computer system comprises a plurality of magnet elements for biasing said physical control member into a selected position.

6. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising:

at least one physical control member having an identity; and

a network of workstations, comprised of a plurality of workstations, each having a plurality of fields receptive to said physical control member, an interface coupled to one of said fields and operative to develop an identity signal representative of said identity of said physical control member and a processor coupled to said interface and receptive to said identity signal, said processor processing said identity signal to develop a control signal for computer system to be controlled wherein one of said fields includes a detection board representing a virtual audio space and said at least one physical control member is a first control member representing a first user of said computerized audio conferencing system;

and wherein said audio conferencing system comprises a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio application system being responsive to said control signal from said computer system to provide at least one audio sound having a volume and a directional characteristic which is based on said physical control members being selectively operated for reception by said fields.

7. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 6, further including a second control member representing a second user of said computerized audio conferencing system, wherein when said first and second control members are positioned upon a particular detection board of a first workstation operated by said first user, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by said second user appears to be spatially located as indicated by the positions of said first and second control members upon said detection board.

8. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 6, wherein said first control member is one of said plurality of physical control members representing a plurality of users, wherein when a subset of said plurality of control members including said first control member is positioned upon a first detection board corresponding to a first workstation operated by said first user, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by users corresponding to said subset of said plurality of control members appears to be spatially located as indicated by the positions of said plurality of control members that have been positioned upon said detection board.

9. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising:

at least one physical control member having an identity; and

a network of workstations, comprised of a plurality of workstations, each having a plurality of fields receptive to said physical control member, an interface coupled to one of said fields and operative to develop an identity signal representative of said identity of said physical control member and a processor coupled to said interface and receptive to said identity signal, said processor processing said identity signal to develop a control signal for computer system to be controlled wherein one of said fields includes a detection board representing a portion of a virtual audio space, and for a first workstation, a first user of said first workstation is deemed positioned at a fixed point within the virtual audio space such that when a second control member representing a second user of a second workstation is positioned upon said detection board, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by said second user appears to be spatially located as indicated by the relation between the position of said second control member and said fixed point;

and wherein said audio conferencing system comprises a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio application system being responsive to said control signal from said computer system to provide at least one audio sound having a volume and a directional characteristic which is based on said physical control members being selectively operated for reception by said fields.

10. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 9, wherein said fixed point is located upon said detection board.

11. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 9, wherein said fixed point is located off of said detection board.

12. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of fields, each said field being associated with a specific one of a plurality of networked computer workstations;

b) placing a physical control member into a selected field of the plurality of fields wherein the member has a status that is function of the position of the member received by the selected field and of time the member is received by the field;

c) developing an identity signal in response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said identity signal representative of an identity of said physical control member;

d) developing a control signal for each said control member'"'"'s response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said control signal representative of the location of said physical control member in said field;

e) providing a plurality of interfaces, each said interface being associated with a specific one of said plurality of networked computer workstations, and each said interface being coupled to said computer workstations and said field;

f) communicating the location of said control member within said field to said computer workstation using said control signal;

g) providing an audio conferencing system interconnected to each of said workstations comprising a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio conferencing systems being responsive to said control signal from said computer system; and

h) providing audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of said control members selectively operated for reception by said field and correspond to the location of said control member within said field.

13. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of fields, each said field being associated with a specific one of a plurality of networked computer workstations;

b) placing a plurality of physical control members into selected fields of the plurality of fields wherein each field comprises a plurality of positions at which control members may be selectively manually placed and removed thereby providing a plurality of selectable and changeable arrangements of said plurality of control members at said plurality of positions of each field;

c) developing an identity signal in response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said identity signal representative of an identity of said physical control member;

d) developing a control signal for each said control member'"'"'s response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said control signal representative of the location of said physical control member in said field;

e) providing a plurality of interfaces, each said interface being associated with a specific one of said plurality of networked computer workstations, and each said interface being coupled to said computer workstations and said field;

f) communicating the location of said control member within said field to said computer workstation using said control signal;

g) providing an audio conferencing system interconnected to each of said workstations comprising a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio conferencing systems being responsive to said control signal from said computer system; and

h) providing audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of said control members selectively operated for reception by said field and correspond to the location of said control member within said field.

14. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of fields, each said field being associated with a specific one of a plurality of networked computer workstations;

b) placing a physical control member into one of said plurality of fields wherein said control member comprises identification circuitry and wherein each field comprises internal circuitry adapted for connection with said identification circuitry of said control member, said internal circuitry of each field being coupled to said corresponding interface;

c) developing an identity signal in response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said identity signal representative of an identity of said physical control member;

d) developing a control signal for each said control member'"'"'s response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said control signal representative of the location of said physical control member in said field;

e) providing a plurality of interfaces, each said interface being associated with a specific one of said plurality of networked computer workstations, and each said interface being coupled to said computer workstations and said field;

f) communicating the location of said control member within said field to said computer workstation using said control signal;

g) providing an audio conferencing system interconnected to each of said workstations comprising a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio conferencing systems being responsive to said control signal from said computer system; and

h) providing audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of said control members selectively operated for reception by said field and correspond to the location of said control member within said field.

15. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 14, wherein each field comprises a plurality of positions at which said control member may be selectively manually removable positioned in order to at least temporarily connect said identification circuitry of said control member with said internal circuitry of a particular field.

16. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 15, wherein a particular field comprises at least one channel having a slanted surface for supporting said control member and wherein the system comprises magnet elements for biasing said control member into a selected position.

17. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of fields, each said field being associated with a specific one of a plurality of computer workstations including a networked data server computer executing data server software and network library software, wherein each workstation is executing application software implementing a local audio application system and network library software;

b) placing a physical control member into one of said plurality of fields;

c) developing an identity signal in response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said identity signal representative of an identity of said physical control member;

d) developing a control signal for each said control member'"'"'s response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said control signal representative of the location of said physical control member in said field;

e) providing a plurality of interfaces, each said interface being associated with a specific one of said plurality of networked computer workstations, and each said interface being coupled to said computer workstations and said field;

f) communicating the location of said control member within said field to said computer workstation using said control signal;

g) providing an audio conferencing system interconnected to each of said workstations comprising a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio conferencing systems being responsive to said control signal from said computer system; and

h) providing audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of said control members selectively operated for reception by said field and correspond to the location of said control member within said field.

18. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of fields, each said field being associated with a specific one of a plurality of networked computer workstations wherein one of said fields includes a detection board representing a virtual audio space;

b) placing a plurality of physical control members into selected fields of the plurality of fields wherein at least one physical control member is a first control member representing a first user of said computerized audio conferencing system;

c) developing an identity signal in response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said identity signal representative of an identity of said physical control member;

d) developing a control signal for each said control member'"'"'s response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said control signal representative of the location of said physical control member in said field;

e) providing a plurality of interfaces, each said interface being associated with a specific one of said plurality of networked computer workstations, and each said interface being coupled to said computer workstations and said field;

f) communicating the location of said control member within said field to said computer workstation using said control signal;

g) providing an audio conferencing system interconnected to each of said workstations comprising a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio conferencing systems being responsive to said control signal from said computer system; and

h) providing audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of said control members selectively operated for reception by said field and correspond to the location of said control member within said field.

19. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 18, wherein an additional control member represents an additional user of said computerized audio conferencing system, wherein when said first and additional control members are positioned upon a particular detection board of a first workstation operated by said first user, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by said additional user appears to be spatially located as indicated by the positions of said first and additional control members upon said detection board.

20. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 18, wherein said first control member is one of a plurality of control members representing a plurality of users, wherein when a subset of said plurality of control members including said first control member is positioned upon a first detection board corresponding to a first workstation operated by said first user, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by users corresponding to said subset of said plurality of control members appears to be spatially located as indicated by the positions of said plurality of control members that have been positioned upon said detection board.

21. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of fields, each said field being associated with a specific one of a plurality of networked computer workstations;

b) placing a physical control member into one of said plurality of fields wherein one of said fields includes a detection board representing a portion of a virtual audio space, and for a first workstation, a first user of said first workstation is deemed positioned at a fixed point within the virtual audio space such that when a second control member representing a second user of a second workstation is positioned upon said detection board, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by said second user appears to be spatially located as indicated by the relation between the position of said second control member and said fixed point;

c) developing an identity signal in response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said identity signal representative of an identity of said physical control member;

d) developing a control signal for each said control member'"'"'s response to said placement of said physical control member into said one of said plurality of fields, said control signal representative of the location of said physical control member in said field;

e) providing a plurality of interfaces, each said interface being associated with a specific one of said plurality of networked computer workstations, and each said interface being coupled to said computer workstations and said field;

f) communicating the location of said control member within said field to said computer workstation using said control signal;

g) providing an audio conferencing system interconnected to each of said workstations comprising a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio conferencing systems being responsive to said control signal from said computer system; and

h) providing audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of said control members selectively operated for reception by said field and correspond to the location of said control member within said field.

22. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 21, wherein said fixed point is located upon said detection board.

23. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 21, wherein said fixed point is located off of said detection board.

24. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising:

at least one physical control member having an identifiable identity;

at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space and receptive to said control member wherein said detection board comprise a plurality of positions at which respective ones of said control member may be selectively manually placed and removed thereby to provide a plurality of selectable and changeable arrangements of said control member at said plurality of positions of said detection board and wherein the member has a status that is a function of the position of the member received by said detection board and of a time said member is received by said detection board;

the member has a status that is a function of the position of the member received by the selected field and of a time the member is received by the field;

a network of workstations each having an interface coupled to said detection board and operative to develop an identity signal representative of said identity of said control member wherein each of said workstations has an audio application system including a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio application system being responsive to said control signal from said audio conferencing system to provide audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of control members selectively operated for reception by said detection space; and

a processor coupled to said interface and receptive to said identity signal, said processor processing said identity signal to develop a control signal for a system to be controlled.

25. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising:

at least one physical control member having an identifiable identity;

at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space and receptive to said control member wherein said detection board comprise a plurality of positions at which respective ones of said control member may be selectively manually placed and removed thereby to provide a plurality of selectable and changeable arrangements of said control member at said plurality of positions of said detection board and wherein said control member comprises identification circuitry and wherein said detection board comprises internal circuitry adapted for connection with said identification circuitry of said control member, said internal circuitry of said detection board being coupled to a corresponding interface;

a network of workstations each having an interface coupled to said detection board and operative to develop an identity signal representative of said identity of said control member wherein each of said workstations has an audio application system including a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio application system being responsive to said control signal from said audio conferencing system to provide audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of control members selectively operated for reception by said detection space; and

a processor coupled to said interface and receptive to said identity signal, said processor processing said identity signal to develop a control signal for a system to be controlled.

26. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 25, wherein said detection board comprises a plurality of positions at which said control member may be selectively manually removably positioned in order to at least temporarily connect said identification circuitry of said control member with said internal circuitry of said detection board.

27. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising:

at least one physical control member having an identifiable identity;

at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space and receptive to said control member wherein said detection board comprises a plurality of positions at which respective ones of said control member may be selectively manually placed and removed thereby to provide a plurality of selectable and changeable arrangements of said control member at said plurality of positions of said detection board;

a network of workstations each having an interface coupled to said detection board and operative to develop an identity signal representative of said identity of said control member wherein each of said workstations has an audio application system including a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio application system being responsive to said control signal from said audio conferencing system to provide audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of control members selectively operated for reception by said detection space wherein said network further includes a data server computer executing data server software and network library software, and wherein each workstation is executing application software implementing a local audio application system and network library software;

a processor coupled to said interface and receptive to said identity signal, said processor processing said identity signal to develop a control signal for a system to be controlled.

28. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising:

at least one physical control member having an identifiable identity;

wherein one of said at least one physical control member is a first control member representing a first user of said computerized audio conferencing system;

at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space and receptive to said control member wherein said detection board comprises a plurality of positions at which respective ones of said control member may be selectively manually placed and removed thereby to provide a plurality of selectable and changeable arrangements of said control member at said plurality of positions of said detection board;

a network of workstations each having an interface coupled to said detection board and operative to develop an identity signal representative of said identity of said control member wherein each of said workstations has an audio application system including a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio application system being responsive to said control signal from said audio conferencing system to provide audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of control members selectively operated for reception by said detection space; and

a processor coupled to said interface and receptive to said identity signal, said processor processing said identity signal to develop a control signal for a system to be controlled.

29. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 28, further including a second control member representing a second user of said computerized audio conferencing system, wherein when said first and second control members are positioned upon a particular detection board of a first workstation operated by said first user, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by said second user appears to be spatially located as indicated by the positions of said first and second control members upon said detection board.

30. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 28, wherein said first control member is one of a plurality of control members representing a plurality of users, wherein when a subset of said plurality of control members including said first control member is positioned upon a first detection board corresponding to a first workstation operated by said first user, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by users corresponding to said subset of said plurality of control members appears to be spatially located as indicated by the positions of said plurality of control members that have been positioned upon said detection board.

31. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising:

at least one physical control member having an identifiable identity;

at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space and receptive to said control member wherein said detection board comprises a plurality of positions at which respective ones of said control member may be selectively manually placed and removed thereby to provide a plurality of selectable and changeable arrangements of said control member at said plurality of positions of said detection board;

a network of workstations each having an interface coupled to said detection board and operative to develop an identity signal representative of said identity of said control member wherein each of said workstations has an audio application system including a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said audio application system being responsive to said control signal from said audio conferencing system to provide audio sounds having volume and directional characteristics which are a function of control members selectively operated for reception by said detection space, wherein a first user of a first workstation is deemed positioned at a fixed point within said virtual audio space such that when a second control member representing a second user of a second workstation is positioned upon said detection board, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by said second user appears to be spatially located as indicated by the relation between the position of said second control member and said fixed point; and

a processor coupled to said interface and receptive to said identity signal, said processor processing said identity signal to develop a control signal for a system to be controlled.

32. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 31, wherein said fixed point is located upon said detection board.

33. A system for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 31, wherein said fixed point is located off of said detection board.

34. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system

comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space, said detection board including plurality of positions;

b) providing a plurality of physical control members;

c) placing one of said physical control members into said detection board at one of said positions wherein said control member has a status that is a function of its position received by said detection board and of a time said member is received by said detection board;

d) developing an identifiable identity signal corresponding to each said plurality of control members;

e) developing a control signal corresponding to said selected position of each said control members within said detection board;

f) providing a network of workstations each including one of said detection boards, an interface, a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said interface being coupled to said detection board and operative to communicate said identity signal and said control signal to said corresponding workstation; and

g) transmitting audio sounds on said network of workstations having volume and directional characteristics corresponding to said selected position of said control members within said detection board.

35. A method for controlling a computerized audio system comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space, said detection board including plurality of positions;

b) providing a plurality of physical control members wherein each said plurality of control members comprises identification circuitry and wherein said detection board comprises internal circuitry adapted for connection with said identification circuitry of each said plurality of control members, said internal circuitry of said detection board being coupled to a corresponding interface;

c) placing one of said physical control members into said detection board at one of said plurality of positions;

d) developing an identifiable identity signal corresponding to each said plurality of control members;

e) developing a control signal corresponding to said selected position of each said control members within said detection board;

f) providing a network of workstations each including one of said detection boards, an interface, a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said interface being coupled to said detection board and operative to communicate said identity signal and said control signal to said corresponding workstation; and

g) transmitting audio sounds on said network of workstations having volume and directional characteristics corresponding to said selected position of said control members within said detection board.

36. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 35, wherein said detection board comprises a plurality of positions at which each said control members may be selectively manually removably positioned in order to at least temporarily connect said identification circuitry of each said plurality of control members with said internal circuitry of said detection board.

37. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space, said detection board including plurality of positions;

b) providing a plurality of physical control members;

c) placing one of said physical control members into said detection board at one of said plurality of positions;

d) developing an identifiable identity signal corresponding to each said plurality of control members;

e) developing a control signal corresponding to said selected position of each said control members within said detection board;

f) providing a network including a data server computer executing data server software and network library software, and a plurality of workstations wherein each workstation is executing application software implementing a local audio application system and network library software and wherein each workstation includes one of said detection boards, an interface, a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said interface being coupled to said detection board and operative to communicate said identity signal and said control signal to said corresponding workstation; and

transmitting audio sounds on said network of workstations having volume and directional characteristics corresponding to said selected position of said control members within said detection board.

38. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space, said detection board including plurality of positions;

b) providing a plurality of physical control members wherein one of said plurality of control members is a first control member representing a first user of said computerized audio conferencing system;

c) placing one of said physical control members into said detection board at one of said plurality of positions;

d) developing an identifiable identity signal corresponding to each said plurality of control members;

e) developing a control signal corresponding to said selected position of each said control members within said detection board;

e) providing a network of workstations each including one of said detection boards, an interface, a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said interface being coupled to said detection board and operative to communicate said identity signal and said control signal to said corresponding workstation; and

f) transmitting audio sounds on said network of workstations having volume and directional characteristics corresponding to said selected position of said control members within said detection board.

39. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 38, further including the step of providing a second control member representing a second user of said computerized audio conferencing system, wherein when said first and second control members are positioned upon a particular detection board of a first workstation operated by said first user, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by said second user appears to be spatially located as indicated by the positions of said first and second control members upon said detection board.

40. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 38, wherein said first control member is one of a plurality of control members representing a plurality of users, wherein when a subset of said plurality of control members including said first control member is positioned upon a first detection board corresponding to a first workstation operated by said first user, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by users corresponding to said subset of said plurality of control members appears to be spatially located as indicated by the positions of said plurality of control members that have been positioned upon said detection board.

41. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one two dimensional detection board representing a virtual audio space, said detection board including plurality of positions;

b) providing a plurality of physical control members;

c) placing one of said physical control members into said detection board at one of said plurality of positions;

d) developing an identifiable identity signal corresponding to each said plurality of control members;

e) developing a control signal corresponding to said selected position of each said control members within said detection board;

f) providing a network of workstations each including one of said detection boards, an interface, a microphone and a speaker for audio communication between said workstations, said interface being coupled to said detection board and operative to communicate said identity signal and said control signal to said corresponding workstation; and

g) transmitting audio sounds on said network of workstations having volume and directional characteristics corresponding to said selected position of said control members within said detection board wherein a first user of a first workstation is deemed positioned at a fixed point within said virtual audio space such that when a second control member representing a second user of a second workstation is positioned upon said detection board, said first user is provided audio feedback such that noise generated by said second user appears to be spatially located as indicated by the relation between the position of said second control member and said fixed point.

42. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 41, wherein said fixed point is located upon said detection board.

43. A method for controlling a computerized audio conferencing system as recited in claim 41, wherein said fixed point is located off of said detection board.