FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a virtual reality that includes a virtual audience which watches a virtual show in the virtual reality. (As used herein, references to the “present invention” or “invention” relate to exemplary embodiments and not necessarily to every embodiment encompassed by the appended claims.) More specifically, the present invention relates to a virtual reality that includes a virtual audience which watches a virtual show in the virtual reality where the virtual audience comprises actual audience members co-located on seats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention. The following discussion is intended to provide information to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that statements in the following discussion are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Existing solutions for storytelling in shared virtual reality do not support a large group of audience members to be physically co-located and also to be able to see the head positions and head orientations of all of the other audience members. This lack of awareness of the position and attention focus of other audience members can lead to a lack of group engagement in an audience. In effect, each audience member feels as though they are the only person experiencing the physically collocated story.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a system for viewing a shared virtual reality. The system comprises a plurality of virtual reality headsets. Each headset producing a shared virtual reality that is viewed by persons wearing the headsets. The system comprises a communication network to which each headset is in communication to send and receive a virtual orientation and a virtual position associated with each person of the persons wearing the headsets. The system comprises a computer in communication with each headset through the network which transmits a virtual audience that is viewed by each headset. The virtual audience formed from the virtual orientation and the virtual position associated with each person wearing the headset over time as each person views the virtual story, so each person views in the headset the person is wearing the virtual story, the virtual orientation and virtual position of each other person of the persons wearing the headset.

The present invention pertains to a method for viewing a shared virtual reality. The method comprises the steps of placing a virtual reality headset on a head of a person. There is the step of watching a virtual story in the virtual reality in the headset from a virtual audience in the virtual reality. The virtual audience comprising and corresponding to virtual orientations and virtual positions of other persons wearing other virtual reality headsets which also show the virtual story at a same time. The virtual audience and virtual story viewed by the person based on the virtual position and virtual orientation of the person.

The present invention pertains to a non-transitory readable storage medium which includes a computer program stored on the storage medium in a non-transient memory for viewing a shared virtual reality having the computer-generated steps according to the system or method described above.

