WO2000070783A1

WO2000070783A1 - Interactive participation system for audience

Info

Publication number: WO2000070783A1
Application number: PCT/IN1999/000017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mohan Tambe; Samar Jit Singh; Pullat Devadas Menon
Original assignee: Mohan Tambe; Samar Jit Singh; Pullat Devadas Menon
Priority date: 1999-05-18
Filing date: 1999-05-18
Publication date: 2000-11-23
Also published as: AU4796999A

Abstract

The invention describes an audience interaction system for enriching the interaction of a presenter with his audience by allowing him to acquire/evaluate their spontaneous feedback in terms of their preferred choices or voiced responses.

Description

INTERACTIVE PARTICIPATION SYSTEM FOR AUDIENCE

FIELD OF INVENTION INTERACTIVE SYSTEM.

Presentations are one of the most important part of any social discourse, where a presenter communicates to the audience. Up till now this communication was largely one way. This made the audience take a passive role, and could give very limited responses back to the presenter. A presentation would become much more effective, if there were devices suitable for gathering the feelings and opinions of the audience. This way, the audience would be able to actively participate in an event and indeed could mould it. The presenter with these devices would feel the same convenience while interacting with the audience as in a one-to-one interaction.

The audience feedback till now has been very limited to some public expressions such as nodding, clapping, yawning or booing. This expression was influenced by the nature of the events and the audience itself. The expressions would become liberal with body language and vocal chanting in a cricket match or a rock concert, while in a formal event the expressions could be very reserved. In all these cases, the expressive and vocal minority could easily influence the rest to join them. Thus the feedback could many times be quite misleading.

The present invention has been developed to bridge this communication feedback gap and allow, through electronic means, the audience to interact with the presenter in a more effective manner. The audience feed-back can become quite accurate, since people can't get influenced by each-other's opinion till the presenter announces the consolidated feed-back to the audience. The audience feedback can be of a "spontaneous" nature, when they nod their heads or give a murmur of approval to indicate that the presenter can go ahead This continuous feedback plays an important role to indicate to the presenter the comprehension, interest and enthusiasm of the audience The spontaneous audience feedback can also come in when they are judging the quality of a program or the performers before them This can be judged by giving responses on a scale of 0 to 10, representing the worst to the perfect respectively This way, they can judge the participants of a beauty contest, a diving competition, or performance of artists in a music program They can even indicate during a play the best, worst, boring, and the OK moments This feedback plays a vital role in judging the success of the present event and shaping the future events

The audience feedback can also be of an "elicited" nature, where the presenter elicits the responses of audience to specific questions with a choice of options Each member of the audience is supposed to select one of the options The aggregate of the responses are available to the presenter, who can communicate it back to the audience for enlightening them During the course of a lecture, a presenter can now gauge audience reactions to specific issues, before he strategizes his further presentation Another need in a public discourse is in allowing a person in the audience to give his vocal opinion when so desired by the presenter. It is necessary for the presenter to be able to choose amongst the several people who wish to speak over the public address system, and controlling the time for which they can speak.

In events like quizzes, the responses of the audience may be elicited for a question, where the possible answers are not specified. For example, the presenter may just ask what is the capital of France. In this case each member of the audience who may know the answer, should be able to speak the right answer in the Audience device with him. The presenter can then announce the right answer and can find out from his Presenter device, the identities of those who gave the earliest correct responses.

The present invention facilitates Spontaneous/Elicited/Oral feedback from the audience to the presenter and informs them about their collective responses.

PRIOR STATE OF THE ART

Since the advent of the public address system in auditoriums and public places, it has been possible for a person in an audience to voice his opinion when asked for. A person could draw attention only by raising hands, and had to come to a microphone, or wait for a wireless microphone to be passed around. In some event audience were allowed to write their queries or requests on a slip of paper, which were gathered and passed to the presenter for answering.

For specific purposes such as voting, some conference halls were equipped with dedicated consoles at each desk wired to a voting system. These consoles had few buttons which could be pressed during the voting, the results could subsequently be displayed on an LED display. These were all, custom built, non-portable and very expensive.

Prior-art also consists of portable systems based on PCs, which allow wireless polling from remote keypads distributed to the audience. A video-projector attached to a PC is necessary in order to display the questions, options and statistics of responses from the audience. The nature of feedback is confined to a single numeric digit, which is sufficient for selecting one of the options displayed on the screen. The entire presentation is controlled by a PC based software, and is inflexible in allowing impromptu questions to be asked to the audience by the presenter, or gauging the general reactions of the audience. This system can only be used where a video-projection infrastructure is available, and where the presenter can prepare a presentation beforehand on the specified customized presentation software. This therefore isn't suitable for use in a seminars where presentations would have been prepared with different software, transparencies, slide projector or can even be just oral. ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

• It is able to take away infrastructural dependencies, and can allow interactive sessions with the public to be held in almost any venue for any event.

• There is no dependence on a computer and its presentation software

• There is no dependence on availability of projection equipment, or public address system.

• Individuals can now give their spontaneous feedback, elicited feedback, as well as voice feedback - all this under the control of the presenter.

• The presenter can ask impromptu questions and options in a verbal manner . The audience can replay the verbal question and answers from their devices, and respond by selecting a suitable answer.

• The audience can give verbal answers to questions without predefined answers.

• Audience can record their queries/requests verbally as they occur to them, on their Audience devices. These can be automatically collected by the presenter or an assistant and answered at a suitable time. • The invention also provides a Registering device, which allows an individual to register his Audience device, before it can be used in the event.

OBJECTIVES OF INVENTION

• To provide the functionality of an electronic nervous system which interfaces to the members of an audience and makes them appear as one entity, while preserving their individuality.

• To allow a presenter to have an interactive session with the audience, whereby he can gauge their collective feelings and opinions, and on that basis steer his presentation.

• To allow the presenter to get a continuous "go-ahead" type of feedback from the audience, which normally they would have expressed by nodding their head or murmuring their assent.

• To allow opinions on any question to be collected from all the members of the audience, and disseminate the collective responses back to the audience.

• Allow the presenter to put forward questions and answers in a pre- prepared textual manner or impromptu verbal manner.

• To allow any member of the audience to give a verbal response, different from the specified options. • Allow the audience to give even verbal responses to open ended questions,

• Allow the presenter to permit any member of the audience, who wishes to speak, to address others through the public address system for a limited time.

• To allow an interactive dialog between a presenter and the audience to occur at any venue, even without a video projection facility.

• To allow an additional presenter (such as session chairman) to have an additional device allowing him to interact with the audience and supplement the main presenter.

• To allow feedback to be obtained by a TV presenter from the TV audience at their homes.

• To make available uniquely identifiable audience interaction devices to people, which will facilitate authorization for participation in any public event.

• To allow a new generation of adaptable presentation packages to emerge on PCs, which can interact with the Audience interaction system and adapt the pace, style and direction of presentation depending on the audience feedback. To add functionality to the audience device so that it is retained by people even when they are not participating in an audience interaction session. One such functionality is that of using the audience device as a verbal memo recorder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The audience interaction system described in this invention comprises of four functionally distinctive hardware devices: Controlling device, Registering device, Presenter device and Audience device. Except for the Controlling device, other devices can be present in multiple units.

The Controlling device controls all the entities in the audience interaction system, through a wireless transceiver. It is able to broadcast messages as well as send messages to only a specific Audience device using their unique ID numbers. It is able to poll, each of the Audience devices using their unique ID numbers, for retrieving messages from them.

The Controlling device can interface to a video projector, if it is present, and can show the questions, answers and cumulative statistics on the display screen. It can also display on a TV set using video-out signal, or a VGA monitor using VGA-out signal. It also allows a Video/VGA signal from a PC to be looped through it for presentation on the video display. The presenter can now switch between the display of the PC and display of the Controlling device for interspersing a PC based presentation, with audience feedback during it. The Controlling device provides an audio-out signal, which can be connected to a public address system. It also provides an audio-in signal, allowing audio generated by a PC to be looped through it.

The Controlling device has a serial/parallel data communication port, which allows interfacing to a PC. The software on the PC can now control the operation of the Controlling device, and indirectly control the Audience devices, the Presenter device and the Registering Device.

The Registering device is a standalone unit, which is polled in a wireless manner by the Controlling device. It has a serial ID port, which is brought in contact with an Audience device in order to detect its unique ID number. This can be then associated with the name of the person having the Audience device, by typing the same through the alphanumeric keyboard and seeing it on the LCD screen. The data can be sent to the Controlling device, in order that it can allow the registered Audience device to participate.

The Registering device is also used for keying in before-hand, the questions and options which will have to be presented to the audience.

These are transmitted to the Controlling device and stored out there. The Registering device can also be used for on-line typing of the questions and options as they get asked orally by the presenter, and having these sent to the Controlling device, which in turn will send them to the Audience devices. The person with the Registering device, has now a much more enhanced role. Apart from registering the the Audience devices and entering the associated information, he now actively assists the presenter for a more effective presentation. For this he can communicate with the presenter using his microphone and speaker. The audience can now instead of writing chits and having them sent to the presenter, just have their query recorded in their Audience device. The registering person can now retrieve the verbal queries, recorded in the audience devices and can type out the relevant queries so that they can be easily read by the presenter on his Presenter device for subsequent answering. The Registering person can before a presentation, type in the Questions and Options which a presenter

wants to raise with the audience. He can also type in, as the oral questions and options are posed by the presenter and have the written equivalents transmitted to the Audience devices. The Registering person can also evaluate the verbal responses given by members of audience to open-ended questions, and select out the relevant responses.

The Presenter device is a stand-alone unit which can communicate in a wireless manner with the Controlling device. There can be more than one Presenter devices if required. The function keys on the Presenter device allows the presenter to initiate several actions such as display of questions, gathering of responses and display of results. The sliding selector allows selection between various questions, options and responses, which are displayed on the LCD screen.

The microphone is available for address through the public address system. It is also used for recording the verbal questions and options spoken the presenter, to be relayed to the Audience devices. A speaker is provided in order that the presenter can review the recorded queries/responses of the audience, as well get verbal messages from the person using the Registering device.

The Audience devices are compact, hand-held, battery powered units, to be used by each member of the audience. Each device is manufactured with a unique ID number. This ID number can be retrieved through the Serial ID Port, by the Registering device. The Audience device communicates with the Controlling device in a wireless manner. It can receive, broadcast or directed messages from the Controlling device. It can send data only when polled by the Controlling device. The Controlling device has to initially enable an Audience device by giving a specific command, before the latter can send data.

The questions and options sent by the Controlling device are shown on the LCD display of the Audience device. The user can select any of the option through the sliding selector. The selection can be actually polled by the Controlling device only after the Send key has been pressed. The Audience device has a Mike key which allows a request for speaking to be sent to the presenter. The presenter can enable a mike of a particular user, at which point the Mike LED of the user lights up, and he can be heard over the public address system. The Audience device also allows a user to record in the memory different messages as selected by the Sliding selector. The voice recording is done by pressing the Record key, and can be heard by pressing the Listen key at any Sliding selector position. The voice recording can also be retrieved by the Controlling device as necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Accompanying drawings which are incorporated into and constitute a

part of the description of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and serve to explain the principles of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and not as a definition of the limits of the invention of which reference should be made to the claims appearing at the end of the description.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the devices comprising one of the embodiment of the present invention. It shows the Controlling device which in a wireless manner controls the Presenter device with the presenter, Registering device at the registration desk and the Audience device with each member in the audience. FIG. 2 illustrates in the form of blocks the construction of one embodiment of the Controlling device as described in the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates in the form of blocks the construction of one embodiment of the Registering device and the Presenter device.

FIG. 4 illustrates in the form of blocks the construction of one embodiment of the battery-powered Audience device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In details now and referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows in a diagrammatic form, one embodiment of the present invention. 101 is the Controlling device which may be kept at a central place near the presenter. 101 has wireless transceivers through which it polls all the Audience devices 104, Registering device 102 and the Presenter device 103. The Controlling device 101 , can interface to a video- projector through video-out signal, and can interface to a VGA monitor through the VGA-out signal. 101 gives an audio-out signal for interfacing with a public address system. 101 can also take a VGA/video-input from a computer, and allow it to be looped to the VGA/video-output signal under program control - this is used for inserting the special display screens generated by the Controlling device in between the regular presentation from a PC. 101 also provide an RS-232 (or an equivalent communication interface), whereby the PC can exercise control on the Controlling device, and through it control the Audience devices 104, Presenter device 103 and Registering device 102 of the present invention. The Registering device 102 is used for registering the Audience devices 104, through the Identity (ID) detector port. Additional information such as the name, profession etc. can be typed in through the alphanumeric keyboard in the Registering device 102. 102 can then pass the information to the Controlling device 101 so that the latter can poll the authorized Audience devices 104. 102 also contains a microphone and speaker, which facilitates communication between the registering person and the presenter. The Presenter device 103, allows the presenter to select through the sliding selector and function keys as to which question he wants the audience to respond. The LCD screen of 103, allows the presenter to review the questions and options before-hand. 103 contains a microphone for allowing the presenter to address the audience. 103 also contains a speaker, through which the presenter can hear the recorded queries from the members of the audience. The Audience device 104, is a battery operated, compact hand-held device which can be conveniently used for giving feedback. The user can see the question and the options on the LCD screen by sliding the sliding selector. He can press the Send key on the chosen option, in order to have the option communicated to the Controlling device 101. When the user wants to speak on the public address system, he can press the Mike key, which would get lighted when he is authorized by the presenter to speak through the built-in microphone. It is possible for the Audience device, 104 to replay the oral questions and options spoken by the presenter and recorded in the digital memory. The Listen key on the Audience device 104, has to be pressed in order that the item pointed by the sliding selector can be heard through the inbuilt speaker. It is also possible for the user to record a verbal comment at any of the sliding selector positions, by pressing the Record key and speaking into the built-in microphone. The recorded message can be picked up by the Controlling device 101 for subsequent review by the presenter. The ID port of the Audience device 104, is used for imparting a unique ID number to the Registering device 102.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the Controlling device which is based on a powerful embedded Microprocessor 207. The Microprocessor 207 has sufficient DRAM 204 for storing data, digitized voice and graphic bit-map screens. The Flash ROM 205 is used for storing the program code, as well as question, options and result data. An RS232 port 208, is connected to the serial input and output signals of the Microprocessor 207. The RS232 port 208 allows communication with an attached PC, alternatively the same can be achieved using some

other communication interface/protocol. A VGA/video 203, display chip-set is used for generating a VGA signal as well as a composite video signal, and is controlled by the microprocessor 207. A VGA switch 202, is used for routing either the VGA signal from VGA/video 203, or VGA-IN signal coming from an attached computer to the VGA- OUT signal going to an external display device. A VIDEO switch 201 is used for routing either the video signal from VGA/video 203 or VIDEO- IN signal from an attached computer to the VIDEO-OUT signal going to an external display device. An RF antenna 214 is used for transmitting/receiving of voice/data modulated over radio frequencies. The RF modulator 213 receives data from the Microprocessor 207, modulates it and transmits it over radio frequencies. The RF demodulator 212 is used for demodulating radio frequencies and sending the decoded data to the Microprocessor 207. The FM receiver 210 receives frequency-modulated audio signal and generates a decoded analog audio signal, which is sent to the A/D convertor 211. The A/D convertor 211 , converts the analog audio signal to digital samples and sends the same to Microprocessor 207. The Microprocessor 207 sends digitized audio stored in DRAM 204, to the D/A convertor 206. The D/A convertor 206 generates an analog audio signal which is fed to the Audio mixer 209. The Audio mixer 209 is controlled by the Microprocessor 207 so that it can route external AUDIO-IN signal, the D/A convertor 206 signal or the FM receiver 210 signal to the AUDIO-OUT port.

FIG. 3, shows an embodiment of the Registering device and the Presenter device, which have essentially the same logic and circuit. The external differences as shown in FIG. 1 arise from different keypad and LCD screen layout on the cabinet. Registering device and Presenter device is based on a powerful embedded Microprocessor 309. The Microprocessor 309 has sufficient DRAM 302, for storing data and digitized voice. The Flash ROM 303, is used for storing the program code as well as data. A serial ID port 316 is connected to the serial input and output signals of the microprocessor 309. The serial ID port 316 allows communication with an Audience device. 316, although not needed on the Presenter device, is still provided for a wired communication with the Controlling device or a PC. An RF antenna 315 is used for transmitting/receiving of voice/data modulated over radio frequencies. The RF modulator 314 receives serial data from the Microprocessor 309 modulates it and transmits it over radio frequencies. The RF demodulator 313 is used for demodulating radio frequencies and sending the decoded data to the Microprocessor 309. A condensor Mike 310 generates an analog output which is fed to an A/D convertor 311. The A/D convertor 311 digitizes the analog input and sends digital date to the Microprocessor 309. The Microprocessor 309 can output digitized speech data to the D/A convertor 308, which generates an analog output which is fed to an Audio amplifier 306, which in turn drives a speaker 305. There is a FM modulator 312, which is connected to the Antenna 315, and gets input from an Analog

switch 307. The Analog switch 307 which is controlled by the Microprocessor 309 can select between the output of the Mike 310 and output of the D/A convertor 308.

FIG 4. shows an embodiment of the Audience device. A powerful Microcontroller 412 interfaces to an external RAM 418 for storage of digitized speech and data. It uses the external Flash ROM 419 for storage of program which can be updated as required. Microcontroller 412 has input and output serial communication lines, which terminate on an ID port 417. The ID port can interface with external serial communication devices for exchanging information, and allowing the Flash ROM 419 to be updated. The serial output line from the Microcontroller 412 goes to the RF modulator 415, which transmits the data over radio frequencies through the attached antenna 414. The Antenna 414 also receives radio frequencies sent by Controlling device of FIG 2, and demodulates them into data using RF demodulator 416. The RF demodulator 416 gives data which is fed to the Microcontroller 412. A condensor Mike 407 generates an analog output which is fed to an A/D convertor 408. The A/D convertor 408 digitizes the analog input and generates digital signal for the Microcontroller 412. The Microcontroller 412 can output digitized speech data to the D/A

convertor 406, which generates an analog output which in turn is fed to an Audio amplifier 402, which in turn drives a Speaker 401. There is a FM modulator 404, which is connected to the Antenna 403, and gets input from an Analog switch 405. The Analog switch 405 which is controlled by the Microcontroller 412 can select between the output of the Mike 407 and output of the D/A convertor 406. The Microcontroller 412 also drives an LCD display 410. It also drives some LEDs 409. The Microcontroller 412, senses the general switches 413, which include the Record key, Listen key, Mike key and the Send key. The Microcontroller 412 also senses the position of the Sliding selector 411. The Sliding selector as shown in FIG. 1 , can be in position 'Q' where a question can be heard/displayed, in position O used for indicating "Other Option", or in positions '1' to '10' for selecting various options. Although the embodiment describes an implementation of the Sliding selector 411 with discrete switches, in other embodiments the sliding selector can be constructed in various ways, such as pressure sensing pads, linear resistive strips or capacitive strips. The sliding selector in the other embodiments can allow detection of even intermediate positions between the discrete numbers.

While an embodiment of the present invention with few mentioned variations have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that many changes, modifications and variations could be made without departing from the scope or the spirit of the invention. Many of the blocks in the Figures, are shown separately for clarity and description purpose, although in practice many of them may get combined together in the same device. For example, in FIG 4, the A/D block 408 and the D/A block 406 can be integrated within the microcontroller 412. According to the prevailing state-of-art in electronics, it would be possible to combine lot of these blocks into a separate custom ASICs, to achieve a higher degree of compaction. All these applications of the state-of-art, would in no way affect the basic principle behind the devices described in this invention.

The audience interaction system facilitates many unique modes of

interaction/feedback between the presenter and the audience, which are direct outcome of the functionality designed into the Controlling device, Presenter device, Registering device and the Audience devices. Although many modes of interaction are possible, some of the prominent modes are described below. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to these modes alone.

"Go-ahead signal" :

This is equivalent to the continuous feedback given to a presenter by a small audience, in terms of nodding of their heads or murmuring assent. A large audience now can just press the Send key for giving the same feedback. An audio-feedback is available to the presenter as well as the audience, indicating the percentage of the audience who have given the "go-ahead" signal. This feedback is in terms of a particular tone whose intensity and modulation is proportionate to the percentage of the audience which has responded in the earlier moments.

"Rate the Performance" :

This is equivalent to the rating given by judges to a performance or a performer in a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represent the perfect. Now, it would be possible for each member of the audience to give their ratings for the performance or the performer. For this they just have position the Sliding selector at an appropriate number and press the Send key. The Controller device would cumulate all the response in the given time and be able to present the statistic under the directions of the presenter. The presenter initiates the rating session by pressing a function key and stops it by pressing another function key. During the session he can see the responses building up on the LCD screen of his Presenter device, where after the cumulated statistics can be displayed on a projected screen as well as displayed on the LCD screens of the audience devices.

"Request for Microphone" :

If a member of the audience wants to be heard by the presenter as well as the audience, he presses his Mike key. The presenter can see on the LCD screen of his Presenter units, the ID or names of the people who have requested for mike in a chronological order. He can then select any of them, and press a function key whereby the concerned Mike gets enabled. The concerned member of the audience, would see the LED in the Mike button of his Audience device light up, where after he can speak and address the gathering. The presenter can at any time disable the Mike, which will make the LED in the Mike button, go off.

"Send Verbal Requests" :

During a presentation at any time any member of the audience may have a certain query or a request for the presenter. Traditionally, he would have to write this down on a chit of paper, and have it sent to the presenter. Now, he can simply press the Record button on his Audience device and speak into his mike, after which he can press the Send key for having his request sent to the presenter. The presenter would be able to see on his Presenter device a list of people who have sent their request. At an appropriate time he can pause his presentation, to take up answering of these requests. At which time he can select any of the requests, where upon it can be heard on the public address system, and then proceed to answer it. In actual practice, it would be easier for these requests to be first filtered by the person at the Registering device, who can send only the filtered list to the Presenter device. The person at the Registering device, can even type out the selected verbal requests, so that the presenter can easily glance through them. The Registering device will be specially useful, if the queries are being generated in a different language, and have to be communicated in the language of the presenter.

"Objective Question-Answers" :

The presenter can prepare before hand a set of objective type questions with a list of optional answers. These can be typed in through the Registering unit and stored in the Controller device's memory. Alternatively these can be prepared on a computer and downloaded through a communication link to the Controller device. The presenter can at any time select the appropriate question through his Presenter device, and have it sent to the Audience devices. The members of the audience can select any option through the sliding- selector, and press the Send key to have it sent to the Controller device. There can be maximum ten options, numbered from 1 to 10, however, a person can answer with the '0' option if he doesn't agree with the specified options. The presenter can see the audience responses as they build-up on his Presenter device, and at a suitable point press a function key for terminating the answering time. Where after the cumulative statistics for each option including the '0' option can be displayed on the projection screen, and can be sent to the audience devices, for display on the LCD screens. All the results gets stored in the Controller device, for subsequent analysis through a PC.

It is possible for the presenter to verbally ask questions which have not been prepared before-hand, and spell out the possible options to be selected by the audience. He would use the sliding-selector to indicate what he is going to record, i.e. question or the option number, and press the Record key while actually recording. These voice recording would be broadcast to all the Audience devices, and stored in their

memories. Each member of the audience can review the question and possible answers by just pressing the Listen key and moving the sliding selector to the appropriate number. Each member can then press the Send key at the desired option. The subsequent sequence will be the same as described earlier.

In cases where some people opted for the O' option, to indicate a choice different from the options given to them, they can verbally record their choice. They simply have to speak while pressing the Record key and then press the Send key. The '0' option is sent immediately to the Controlling device, so that it can be included in the statistics display. The voice recordings from the Audience devices are retrieved and stored in the Controlling device, so that they can be later sequentially heard and manually analyzed either from the Registering device, the Presenter device, or a connected PC.

"Verbal Answers for open-ended Questions" :

In many cases, such as during quizzing, it is not desirable to spell out the possible answers. The aim is to find out the people who can give the right answers, and amongst them the fastest responders. In such a situation, the presenter sends only a pre-prepared textual or a verbal question. The audience is now supposed to press the Record button on their Audience devices and speak in the right answer. The presenter comes to know about the number of people who have responded and can stop the response at any time. The presenter can now speak out the correct answer, and request the members of the audience who got it right to respond by pressing their Send key. Where after the Presenter device will display the list of the people who claim to have given the correct answer, in the order of their having recorded

their answers. The presenter can now check these answers in the chronological order, and announce the people who got it right first.

"Memo recordings" :

The Audience device can be used as a memo recorder, when not in use in an actual audience interaction session. Now verbal memos can be recorded and played from any position indicated by the sliding

selector. For recording a memo the user has to press the Record key and speak into the mike for the allowed time (indicated by the period for which the Record LED is on). For listening to the memo he presses the Listen key and moves the sliding selector to the appropriate number. For convenience sake, the digit corresponding to the sliding selector position is spoken from the pre-recorded memory, before his memo recording is played back. He can delete any recording by just pressing the Record key and immediately releasing it.

Claims

I Claim :

1. An audience interaction system includes in combination at least one presenter device to be held by the presenter(s); at least one audience device held by the audience; and at least a controlling device capable of communicating with the said presenter device and the audience device to acquire/evaluate their spontaneous/elicited feedback in terms of their preferred choices or voiced responses.

2. An audience interaction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the said audience held devices have selector, which allow

viewing of the questions, options and associated statistics.

3. An audience interaction system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said selector is a sliding selector.

4. An audience interaction system as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein the said selector facilitates sending of analog feedback for rating

any presentation in a scale of 0 to 10, representing the worst to the perfect respectively.

5. An audience interaction system as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein the said send key on the audience device allows the selected options to be polled from the controlling device.

6. An audience interaction system as claimed in claims 1 to 5 wherein the system allows feeding of a video-out signal from the said controlling device to a video-projector or a TV display for displaying the questions, options and statistics to the audience.

7. An audience interaction system as claimed in claim 6 wherein a LED display sub-system may be interfaced through communication port to the controlling device for display of the same information.

8. An audience system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the controlling device may interface to a PC using a port, and may allow downloading of prepared questions/options and uploading of statistics accumulated during the usage.

9. An audience interaction system as claimed in claims 1 to 8 wherein PC based presentation software allows to control the controlling

device for conducting interactive sessions with audience devices and collecting the statistics.

10. An audience interaction system as claimed in claims 1 to 9 wherein the presenter device in turn control the presentation software on the PC.

11. An audience interaction system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the PC based presentation software may be adaptable, such that it can automatically according to the audience feedback, change the pace, style and direction of the presentation.

12. An audience interaction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said audience devices have microphones along with mike key.

13. An audience interaction system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the said microphones are built-in microphones with the audience devices.

14. An audience system as claimed in claims 1 to 13 wherein the controlling device may transmit digitised speech recording of questions and options to the audience for retaining in their memory.

15. An audience interaction system an claimed in claim 14 wherein the said digitised speech in the memory may be spoken out through a speaker in the audience device, with selection occurring through the selector.

16. An audience interaction system as claims 14 and 15 wherein the said recording device is a registering device which can communicate to the controlling device in a wireless manner.

17. An audience interaction system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the registering device through electronic or wireless contract, can sense the unique ID number of each audience device and can in turn send a message to the controlling device permitting the audience device to be used.

18. An audience interaction system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the registering device allows association of other relevant information such as a name, photograph along with the ID number.

9. An audience interaction system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the registering device has an LCD display and alphanumeric keyboard, which can be used for entering the question, options into the controlling device for use during the event.