3-D Immersion Technology in a Virtual Store

Abstract

A system creates an enhanced virtual shopping experience, and includes means for generating a 3-D mesh model of a person's body contours; means for digitizing the three-dimensional shape of a piece of clothing when worn by the correspondingly sized body; means for measuring surface friction and intensity/frequency of vibrations produced during sliding tactile contact with the material of the clothing, for digitally approximating a material's texture; and a means for obtaining three dimensional visual images of the interior of a store. A 3-D headset is configured to receive the three-dimensional visualization of the store interior, and provide it to a person that may also wear a wired glove and body suit configured to provide tactile feedback or feedback through the use of electrodes. A software algorithm digitally inserts the person's mesh model into the three-dimensional store visualization, and allows manipulation of it therein, including realistic simulated contact of objects therein using reverse-electro-vibrations sent to the body suit.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system to enable an enhanced virtual shopping experience, said system comprising:
 means for generating a 3-D mesh model of a person's body contours;   means for digitizing the three-dimensional shape of a piece of clothing when worn by the correspondingly sized body;   means for measuring the surface friction and the intensity and frequency of the vibrations produced during sliding tactile contact with the material of the piece of clothing, for digitally approximating a texture of the material;   means for obtaining three dimensional visual images of the interior of a store;   a 3-D headset configured to receive the three-dimensional visualization of the interior of the store, and to provide the visualization to the wearer;   a wired glove and body suit configured to provide feedback to the wearer;   a software algorithm configured to enable said 3-D mesh model of the person's body to be digitally inserted into said three-dimensional visualization of the interior of the store; said software algorithm further configured to manipulate said 3-D mesh model within the store, and to provide a current to a portion of said glove or suit to provide reverse-electro-vibration thereto, to correspond to the object that is in contact with the wearer, to create the appropriate sensation of contact that simulates actual contact.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the shopping experience can be enhanced through the interaction or use of social media. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein an Avatar is generated by the system 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein one Avatar can interact and shop with other Avatars. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein the Avatars can be manipulated through the use of social media. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the model can be viewed in real time. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the model can be viewed in lag time. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1  where the user is provided with a first person experience. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the stores can be viewed in real time. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the stores can be viewed in lag time. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the feedback is tactile feedback. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the feedback is electronic feedback.