Dialog between TV movies and human viewers

• US 4,305,131 A
• Filed: 03/31/1980
• Issued: 12/08/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Best
• Inventors: Best, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US06/136,100
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 364/415, 364/521, 364/419, 364/410, 340/148, 340/725, 35/8 A, 35/9 A, 35/35 C, 358/93, 358/102, 358/903, 352/5, 360/72.2, 179/1 SA, 179/1 SM, 179/1 CN
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/105 Synthesis of the lips movements from speech, e.g. for talking heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/005 Programmed access to indexed parts of tracks of operating discs, by guiding the disc
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2587 Laser Discs; Optical disc using analog recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/00 Details of television systems scanning details or combination thereof with generation of supply voltages H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

A video amusement system by which one or more viewers influence the course of a motion picture as if each viewer were a participant in a real-life drama or dialog. A speech-recognition unit recognizes a few spoken words such as "yes" and "run" spoken by a viewer at branch points in the movie, thus simulating a dialog between the screen actors and the viewer. The apparatus may read an optical videodisc containing independently addressable video frames, blocks of compressed audio, and/or animated cartoon graphics for the multiple story lines which the movie may take. A record retrieval circuit reads blocks of binary-coded control information comprising a branching structure of digital points specifying the frame sequence for each story line. A dispatcher circuit assembles a schedule of cueing commands specifying precisely which video frames, cartoon frames, and portions of audio are to be presented at which instant of time. A cueing circuit executes these commands by generating precisely timed video and audio signals, so that a motion picture with lip-synchronized sound is presented to the viewer. Recordings of the viewers'"'"' names may be inserted into the dialog so that the actors speak to each viewer using the viewer'"'"'s own name. The apparatus can thus provide each viewer with an illusion of individualized and active participation in the motion picture.

Claims

1. An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of a first portion of said sound movie which is linked to a plurality of second portions thereof, the first portion including voice sounds to elicit from an operator of the apparatus a spoken response corresponding to one second portion in said plurality of second portions thereof; and

means for analyzing said spoken response and determining therefrom which second portion of said sound movie corresponds to said spoken response,

said controlling means further controlling presentation of the second portion of said sound movie which corresponds to said spoken response and which includes voice sounds responsive to the spoken response, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the movie and the operator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of alternative responses for speaking by said operator and which correspond to said second portions of the sound movie, thereby prompting the operator to make a spoken response which said analyzing means distinguishes from other alternative responses in said displayed plurality.

3. An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein being linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including voice sounds to elicit from the operator a spoken response corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof;

means for analyzing said spoken response and determining therefrom which second scene in said sound movie corresponds to said spoken response; and

means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said spoken response and which includes voice sounds responsive to said spoken response,

said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the movie and the operator.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each scene in said sound movie comprises video portions and audio portions, the apparatus further comprising means for selecting from a plurality of alternative audio portions one selected audio portion which includes said voice sounds responsive to the operator'"'"'s spoken response,

said scheduling means further scheduling said selected audio portion for a point in time in synchronism with one video portion, thereby synchronizing presentation of said one video portion with one of said plurality of alternative audio portions depending on the operator'"'"'s spoken response.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a scene in said sound movie comprises video portions and alternative audio portions which include alternative spoken names, the apparatus further comprising:

means for selecting from a plurality of alternative audio portions one selected audio portion which includes the name of said operator,

said scheduling means further scheduling said selected audio portion for a point in time in synchronism with one video portion, thereby synchronizing presentation of said one video portion with said operator'"'"'s name.

6. An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie in accordance with a branching data structure of digital pointers which specify alternative sequences of said scenes, a portion of said data structure linking a first scene to a plurality of second scenes, the first scene eliciting from the operator a spoken response which corresponds to one digital pointer in said data structure portion; and

means for analyzing said spoken response and determining therefrom which one digital pointer in said data structure portion corresponds to said spoken response,

said controlling means further controlling presentation of the second scene linked to said first scene by said one digital pointer, the second scene including voice sounds responsive to said spoken response, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the movie and the operator.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising disc-shaped record carrier means storing said branching data structure.

8. An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating an audio signal of a voice speaking a plurality of words to elicit from a human operator a spoken response;

means for processing a video signal for presentation with said audio signal as a sound movie which includes an image of a speaking person;

means for analyzing said spoken response to determine which one word in said plurality of words most closely resembles a portion of said spoken response; and

means for selecting from a plurality of recorded voice sounds a selected voice sound corresponding to said one word,

said generating means further generating an audio signal which includes said selected voice sound for presentation with an image of said speaking person.

9. An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and an animated cartoon sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating an audio signal including voice sounds which communicate to the operator of the apparatus a plurality of alternative voice sounds to speak in response;

means for generating a video signal including animated cartoon images of a talking face, wherein said voice sounds and said talking face comprise scenes in said cartoon movie;

means for controlling presentation of a first scene in said cartoon movie which is linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, each second scene corresponding to one voice sound in a plurality of alternative voice sounds communicated in said first scene; and

means for analyzing a spoken response from said operator and determining therefrom which selected voice sound in said first scene corresponds to said spoken response,

said controlling means further controlling presentation of the second scene in said cartoon movie which corresponds to said selected voice sound and which includes voice sounds responsive to the selected voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the cartoon movie and the operator.

10. An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein including a talking face and corresponding voice sounds which communicate to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses which correspond to alternative second scenes in said sound movie;

means for receiving from said operator a response signal which corresponds to a selected verbal response in said communicated plurality thereof; and

means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said response signal and which includes a talking face and corresponding voice sounds responsive to said selected verbal response;

said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a conversation between the movie and the operator.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means displaying said plurality of alternative verbal responses.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of finger activatable means each juxtaposed with one displayed verbal response in said plurality thereof.

13. An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie which include a talking face and corresponding voice sounds, wherein a first scene is linked to a plurality of alternative second scenes;

means for communicating to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses to said first scene which correspond to alternative second scenes in said sound movie;

means for receiving from said operator a response signal which corresponds to a selected verbal response in said communicated plurality thereof; and

means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said response signal and which includes a talking face and corresponding voice sounds responsive to said selected verbal response;

said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a conversation between the movie and the operator.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a scene in said sound movie comprises video portions and alternative audio portions which include alternative spoken names, the apparatus further comprising:

means for selecting from a plurality of alternative audio portions one selected audio portion which includes the name of said operator in the voice of said talking face;

said scheduling means further scheduling said selected audio portion for a point in time in synchronism with one video portion, thereby synchronizing presentation of said one video portion with said operator'"'"'s name in the voice of said talking face.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each scene in said sound movie comprises video portions and audio portions, the apparatus further comprising:

means for selecting from a plurality of alternative audio portions one selected audio portion which corresponds to said response signal;

said scheduling means further scheduling said selected audio portion for a point in time in synchronism with one video portion, thereby synchronizing presentation of said one video portion with one of said plurality of alternative audio portions depending on the operator'"'"'s response.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for storing a branching data structure of digital pointers which specify alternative sequences of said scenes, wherein said scheduling means schedules said second scene in accordance with the digital pointer in said data structure which corresponds to said response signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of said alternative second scenes includes an action by a screen actor which is specified by the corresponding verbal response,

said scheduling means further scheduling a second scene which includes an action by said screen actor which is specified by said response signal, thereby simulating control by said operator over the actions of the screen actor.

18. An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein being linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;

means for analyzing a vocal expression from said operator and determining therefrom which second scene in said sound movie corresponds to said vocal expression; and

means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said vocal expression and which includes voice sounds responsive to said vocal expression,

said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the movie and the operator.

19. An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of a first scene in a sound movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including images of a talking person and corresponding voice sounds to elicit from said operator a spoken response corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof; and

means for analyzing said spoken response and determining therefrom which selected second scene in said sound movie corresponds to said spoken response, the selected scene including an image of said talking person performing an action in accordance with said spoken response;

said controlling means further controlling presentation of said selected second scene, thereby simulating control by said operator over an action performed by the talking person.

20. An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein being linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;

means for communicating to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses to said first scene which correspond to alternative second scenes in said sound movie;

means for analyzing a verbal response from said operator and determining therefrom which selected second scene in said sound movie corresponds to said verbal response, the selected scene including an image of a talking person performing an action in accordance with said verbal response;

said controlling means further controlling presentation of said selected second scene, thereby simulating verbal control by the operator over an action performed by the talking person.

21. An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein including a talking person having moving lips and corresponding voice;

means for selecting from a plurality of alternative voice recordings one selected voice recording which includes the name of said operator in the voice of said talking person; and

means for scheduling presentation of said selected voice recording for a point in time in synchronism with the moving lips of said talking person,

said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled voice recording at said point in time, thereby simulating a personalized conversation between the movie and the operator.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means storing said plurality of alternative voice recordings.

23. An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and an animated cartoon sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of scenes in said movie which include cartoon representations of a talking face with synchronized voice sound, wherein a first scene is linked to a plurality of alternative second scenes;

means for communicating to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses to said first scene which correspond to alternative second scenes in said movie;

means for receiving from said operator a response signal which corresponds to a selected verbal response in said communicated plurality thereof; and

means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said cartoon movie which corresponds to said response signal and which includes said talking cartoon face and corresponding voice sounds responsive to said selected verbal response;

said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a conversation between the cartoon movie and the operator.

24. An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and an animated cartoon sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing a plurality of portions of digitally coded data including portions of graphics data describing picture elements and the positions thereof in a plurality of cartoon pictures, and for storing digitized audio data for presentation as sound portions with the cartoon pictures, and for storing control data specifying ordered pluralities of portions of said graphics data and corresponding audio data for presentation as an animated cartoon sound movie, wherein said control data specifies a first portion of said graphics and audio data and a plurality of alternative second portions of said graphics and audio data;

means for controlling presentation of a first portion of said animated cartoon sound movie from said first portion of graphics and audio data including voice sounds which elicit from the operator a spoken response corresponding to one second portion of said graphics and audio data in said plurality of alternative portions thereof; and

means for analyzing said spoken response and determining therefrom which second portion of graphics and audio data corresponds to said spoken response,

said controlling means further controlling presentation of a subsequent portion of said animated cartoon sound movie from the second portion of graphics and audio data corresponding to said spoken response and which includes voice sounds responsive to the operator'"'"'s spoken response, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the movie and the operator.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

means for constructing a schedule of commands, each command specifying a point in time for presentation of a cartoon picture in said movie.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for inserting a variable portion of digitized audio data into a sequence of said portions of digitized audio data, so as to modify the sound portions presented with said animated cartoon pictures.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said animated cartoon movie includes a cartoon representation of the face of a talking person and said digitized audio data includes a representation of voice sounds corresponding to the moving lips of said talking person, the apparatus further comprising means for synchronizing a cartoon picture of said face with a portion of said audio data so as to synchronize said moving lips with said voice sound.

28. An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein including a talking face and corresponding voice sounds which communicate to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses which correspond to alternative second scenes in said sound movie;

means for generating a plurality of prompting messages, each message corresponding to one verbal response in said plurality thereof;

means for receiving from said operator a response signal which corresponds to a selected prompting message in said generated plurality thereof; and

means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said response signal and which includes a talking face and corresponding voice sounds responsive to said selected prompting message;

said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a conversation between the movie and the operator.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a scene in said sound movie comprises video portions and alternative audio portions which include alernative spoken names, the apparatus further comprising:

means for selecting from a plurality of alternative audio portions one selected audio portion which includes the name of said operator in the voice of said talking face;

said scheduling means further scheduling said selected audio portion for a point in time in synchronism with one video portion, thereby synchronizing presentation of said one video portion with said operator'"'"'s name in the voice of said talking face.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a scene in said sound movie comprises video portions and alternative audio portions which include representations of voice sounds corresponding to the moving lips of said talking face, the apparatus further comprising:

means for selecting from a plurality of alternative audio portions one selected audio portion;

said scheduling means further scheduling said selected audio portion for a point in time in synchronism with one video portion, thereby synchronizing said moving lips with said voice sound.

31. A method of inserting an utterance into sound accompanying a movie comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory means a digitized audio recording of said utterance,

scheduling a sequence of video frames comprising said motion picture,

scheduling a first audio signal in synchronism with said video frames,

scheduling said utterance recording to begin during one video frame in said sequence thereof,

electronically trimming a beginning portion of predetermined duration from said utterance recording so as to shift with respect to time said utterance recording relative to said sequence of video frames,

mixing said trimmed utterance recording with said first audio signal, thereby producing a second audio signal,

presenting said sequence of video frames as a movie and said second audio signal as an accompanying sound in accordance with said schedules.

32. A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human viewer of the movie, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of video frames, each having a video frame identifier;

storing a plurality of ordered schedules of said video frame identifiers, each schedule thereof being associated with one preestablished set of features characterizing human voice sounds;

linking said plurality of schedules with a branching data structure of digital pointers including branch points each of which point to a plurality of alternative schedules;

electronically recognizing a voice sound as most resembling one of said set of features, thereby indicating a selected set of features;

selectively retrieving from said plurality of schedules the schedule associated with said selected set of features;

retrieving from said plurality of video frames the video frames identified by said retrieved schedule in the sequence specified therein; and

presenting said retrieved video frames as a movie.

33. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon sound movie and a human viewer of the movie, comprising the steps of:

storing a branching data structure which specifies alternative scene sequences in an animated cartoon movie, each scene sequence comprising a plurality of movie scenes;

presenting to said viewer a first scene of said cartoon movie specified by a first portion of said data structure, wherein a plurality of second portions of said data structure branch from said first portion thereof;

presenting in said first scene a plurality of alternative choices so as to elicit a spoken response from said viewer;

accepting from said viewer a spoken response corresponding to one choice in said plurality of alternative choices;

selecting from said plurality of second portions of said data structure one second portion thereof corresponding to said accepted spoken response; and

presenting to said viewer a subsequent scene of said cartoon movie specified by said selected second portion of said data structure responsive to said viewer'"'"'s spoken response, thereby simulating a conversation between the viewer and the animated cartoon movie.

34. A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

presenting a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including a moving picture of a talking face and a voice sound expressing a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response which resembles one of said prompting words, each said prompting word corresponding to a second scene in said plurality of second scenes;

comparing electronically said spoken response to said plurality of prompting words to determine which selected word in said plurality resembles said spoken response; and

presenting the second scene corresponding to said selected word including said talking face and a voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the movie.

35. A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

presenting a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including a moving picture of a talking face and a voice sound expressing a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response which resembles one of said prompting words, each said prompting word corresponding to a second scene in said plurality thereof and having a distinguishing phonetic feature;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which distinguishing phonetic feature is present therein and thereby selecting a word in said plurality of prompting words which resembles said spoken response; and

presenting the second scene corresponding to said selected word including said talking face and a voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the humand and the movie.

36. A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first and second scenes including a moving picture of a talking face;

presenting with said first scene a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second scene in said plurality thereof;

determining electronically which selected word in said plurality of prompting words corresponds to said spoken response; and

displaying the second scene corresponding to said selected word including said talking face accompanied by voice sounds responsive to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the movie.

37. A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first and second scenes including a moving picture of a talking face;

presenting with said first scene a plurality of phonetically distinct voice sounds to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said voice sounds, each said voice sound corresponding to a second scene in said plurality of second scenes;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected voice sound in said plurality corresponds to said spoken response; and

displaying the second scene corresponding to said selected voice sound accompanied by further voice sounds which are responsive to said selected voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the movie.

38. A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including a moving picture of a talking face accompanied by voice sounds expressing a plurality of prompting words;

displaying said plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response which includes one of said prompting words, each said prompting word corresponding to a second scene in said plurality of second scenes;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words is included in said spoken response; and

displaying the second scene corresponding to said selected word including said talking face accompanied by voice sounds responsive to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the movie.

39. A method of providing a human viewer of a motion picture story with simulated individualized participation therein, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first scene in said motion picture story linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene presenting a plurality of alternative choices corresponding to said second scenes;

presenting a plurality of prompting words, each word corresponding to a choice in said plurality of alternative choices and corresponding to a second scene in said plurality thereof to elicit a spoken response which includes one of the prompting words;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words is included in said spoken response; and

displaying the second scene corresponding to said selected word, thereby simulating participation by said human in the motion picture story.

40. A method of simulating a voice conversation between a motion picture and a human viewer who is watching the motion picture, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first portion of said motion picture linked to a plurality of second portions thereof, the first portion including an image of a talking face;

presenting with said first portion a plurality of vocal expressions to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said vocal expressions, each said vocal expression corresponding to a second motion picture portion in said plurality thereof;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected vocal expression in said plurality of vocal expressions corresponds to said spoken response; and

displaying the second portion of said motion picture corresponding to said selected vocal expression, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human viewer and the talking face in the motion picture.

41. A method of employing a standard television receiver and videodisc player to provide a human who is watching the screen of said television receiver with vocal participation in a branching movie presented thereon, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of ordered schedules of video frame addresses, each schedule thereof being associated with one preestablished set of phonetic features characterizing human voice sounds;

linking a first schedule in said plurality of schedules to a plurality of alternative second schedules therein with a branching data structure of digital pointers;

displaying on said screen the video frames specified by said first schedule to elicit a voice sound response;

determining electronically which of said sets of phonetic features resembles the phonetic features of said voice sound response, thereby indicating a selected set of phonetic features;

selectively retrieving from said plurality of second schedules the selected schedule associated with said selected set of phonetic features; and

displaying on said screen the video frames specified by said selected schedule, thereby providing said human with vocal participation in the branching movie which includes said video frames.

42. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of schedules of graphics data, each schedule specifying picture portions of an animated cartoon picture;

generating a first animated cartoon picture specified by a first said schedule linked to a plurality of second said schedules;

emitting with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of alternative voice sounds to elicit a spoken response, each alternative voice sound being associated with a second schedule in said plurality thereof;

determining electronically which alternative voice sound in said plurality thereof resembles said spoken response, thereby determining which selected second schedule corresponds to said spoken response; and

generating a second animated cartoon picture specified by said selected second schedule, thereby simulating a conversation between the human and the animated cartoon motion picture.

43. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of schedules of graphics data, each schedule specifying picture portions of an animated cartoon picture;

generating a first animated cartoon picture specified by a first said schedule linked to a plurality of second said schedules;

presenting with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response correspnding to one of said prompting words, each prompting word being associated with a second schedule in said plurality thereof;

determining electronically which word in said plurality of prompting words corresponds to said spoken response, thereby determining which selected second schedule corresponds to said spoken response; and

generating a second animated cartoon picture specified by said selected second schedule, thereby simulating a conversation between the human and the animated cartoon motion picture.

44. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first animated cartoon picture linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, the first picture including a talking face accompanied by voice sounds;

presenting with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of phonetically distinct verbal expressions to elicit a spoken response which resembles one of said verbal expressions, each verbal expression corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected verbal expression in said plurality of verbal expressions resembles said spoken response; and

displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected verbal expression, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.

45. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first animated cartoon picture linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, the first picture including a talking face accompanied by voice sounds;

displaying a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words corresponds to said spoken response; and

displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.

46. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first animated cartoon picture of a talking face linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures thereof;

generating voice sounds for a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words corresponds to said spoken response; and

displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.

47. A method of providing a human viewer of an animated cartoon story with simulated individualized participation therein, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first animated cartoon picture in said story linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures therein, the first picture presenting a plurality of alternative choices, each choice corresponding to a second cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;

presenting a plurality of prompting words, each word corresponding to a choice in said plurality of alternative choices and corresponding to a second cartoon picture in said plurality thereof to elicit a spoken response which includes one of the prompting words;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words is included in said spoken response; and

displaying the second cartoon picture correspnnding to said selected word, thereby simulating participation by said human in the animated cartoon story.

48. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first animated cartoon picture of a talking face linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures thereof;

generating voice sounds expressing a plurality of prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;

displaying said plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response which includes one of said prompting words;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words is included in said spoken response; and

displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.

49. A method of simulating a dialog between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of schedules of graphics data, wherein a first schedule of graphics data is linked to a plurality of second schedules of graphics data, each schedule specifying picture portions of an animated cartoon picture of a talking face;

generating a first animated cartoon picture specified by said first schedule of graphics data;

generating in synchronism with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of voice sonds including prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second schedule in said plurality thereof;

displaying said prompting words as a plurality of human-readable messages to elicit a response signal corresponding to a selected prompting word;

generating a second animated cartoon picture specified by the second schedule in said plurality of schedules corresponding to said response signal; and

generating in synchronism with said second animated cartoon picture a voice sound which corresponds to and is responsive to said selected prompting word, thereby simulating a dialog between the talking cartoon face and the human viewer.