The invention relates also to a method for the simultaneous text display of information regarding events or exhibitions, in which method the audience visually following an event or an exhibition is presented with information by means of a text display and in time with the progress of the event or as limited locally to exhibits.

The invention relates also to an apparatus for the simultaneous text display of theatre, opera and the like performances or information regarding events or exhibitions, said apparatus comprising an electronic recording mechanism for storing text in one or more languages, as well as a control mechanism capable of controlling the text for presenting the same in text portions, the display of which can be timed with the progress of a performance or an event or limited locally to the vicinity of exhibits.

In many cases, language problems become a major factors which hinder interaction and adoption of information. This problem is particularly evident in connection with theatre, opera and the like art performances which involve speaking and/or singing. The same problem applies also in sporting and the like vents or in exhibitions (art shows, museums, fairs), which are often international in nature. The currently available simultaneous text displays only function in one language, which is generally the language of a host country. Theatres, for example, are not generally outfitted with text display

units as the presentation language is this particular country's national language. Hence, foreign members of the audience are not able to keep up with the theatre performance.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus, whereby a text relating to a performance, event or exhibition can be presented visually to a patron by means of a personal display unit optionally in his or her own mother tongue or in one or more languages at least other than the local presentation language.

This object is achieved by means of a method of he invention on the basis of characterizing features as set forth in the appended claim 1 or 2 or 3. An apparatus of the invention is capable of fulfilling the objective on the basis of characterizing features as set forth in the appended claim 5.

The non-independent claims disclose preferred embodiments for the method and apparatus.

A few exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1 shows a general system configuration for an apparatus implementing a method of the invention; fig. 2 visualizes a display unit included in the apparatus, and its operating principle; and fig. 3 shows a hardware configuration according to an optional embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a system configuration applicable for describing various embodiments of the invention. Reference is first made to an embodiment, in

which a computer 1 operated by a performance-observing person functions at the same time as a recording mechanism for texts in various languages.

Text portions are stored in the computer's 1 bulk memory in one or more languages other than the presentation language. The computer 1 functions at the same time as a control mechanism for timing the display of text portions with the progress of a performance. The performance-observing person uses the computer 1 to select a text portion for presentation at a given time.

Therefor, there is a person who observes the monitor of the computer 1 for text portions and issues control commands for bringing each text portion in turn to the display in time with the progress of a performance. In addition to this, the text display can naturally be supplied with other information as well, making it easier to keep up with the plot. From the computer 1, text portions are transmitted in a wireless mode via a radio link to an image producing unit 3. As a radio, it is possible to use hardware compatible e. g. with the Bluetooth standard. The computer 1 has its transmitting antenna represented by reference numeral 2.1, and the image producing unit 3 has its receiving antenna represented by reference numeral 2.3.

The image producing unit 3 comprises an electronic appliance capable of converting a text message to a mode compatible with a display unit 5. Hence, the image producing unit 3 functions as a display adapter for the display unit 5. The image producing unit 3 and the display unit 5 constitute together a personal display appliance. Such display appliances are distributed to individual members of the audience. The image producing unit 3 is provided with selector mechanisms 3.1 for selecting a presentation language. In other words, from amongst several texts in various languages, a desired presentation language is selected by means of the selector button 3.1. The selection of a presentation language can be implemented e. g. by sending text information in various languages at various frequencies and by having the image producing unit receive just one selected frequency, which is thus selected in accordance with a desired language. This selection can be performed in the image producing unit 3, e. g. by means of bandpass filters.

Optionally, it is possible to use various codes linked with the temporal alternation of transmissions in various languages.

An electrical signal, which is required for the production of an image, is transmitted in a cable 4 to the display unit 5. Fig. 2 depicts in more detail a principle consistent with one embodiment of the display unit 5. The display unit 5 is positioned in front of one of the eyes of a user. The suspension has been provided by using e. g. a band 6 tightened around the head of a user, or devices resembling spectacle rims, which are supported by the ears and the nose. An electrical image signal 5.1 arrives in a display component 5.2, which converts the electrical signal to light. A sufficient number of light spots produce an image. For example, a display component, and its display adaptation, needed for a black and white display of text, can be implemented in a technically simple and advantageous manner. Naturally, a colour display is also feasible in case the apparatus is to be used also for the transmission of some other type of information or image information. The signal 5.1 can be e. g. a standard VGA image signal or a video signal. The display component 5.2 is very small, just a few millimeters or no more than a few centimeters in diameter. The component can be e. g. a CM8X6P AMLCD display from Colorado MicroDisplay or a P5 scanning LED display from Reflection Technology. The display component has each of its picture elements emitting light rays in every direction. Some of the light is guided to the eye. Between the picture element 5.2 and the eye is fitted optics 5.4 for producing a suitable size and suitably spaced image of the display component 5.2. A convenient focusing distance or range is e. g. 5 meters, whereby the reading of text can be managed while watching the performance. Thus, the optics 5.4 is used to present an image of the display component 5.2 as an enlarged and distanced virtual image, which"hovers"superimposed on the image transmitted from the real world. The image size of a virtual display is typically several tens of inches, which means that even graphically demanding applications are possible. The display unit 5 has its components fitted in a case 5.5, which is suspended in front of the eye. As shown in fig. 3, the optics may also be constituted by a small concave mirror 5.6, which is

positioned above or below a straight line of vision in order to display an enlarged and distanced virtual image 5.7 of the screen of the display component 5.2, which is positioned at a suitable angle below or above the line of vision. Thus, the straight line of vision has no visual impediments and the text can be read by turning the eyes slightly up or down. Fig. 3 illustrates a number of transmitters 1t, along with antennas 2.1 therefor, hooked in a communication link with the computer 1.

As shown schematically in fig. 3, the image producing unit 3 and the display unit 5 can be integrated for a structurally single unit, which is mountable on the head in such a way that the display unit 5 settles in front of one eye or the display unit's components 5.2,5.6 settle above and below the line of vision of one eye. The image producing unit 3 is also provided with a power supply, which can be accommodated in any component 3,5,6 of the set carried by a member of the audience. Preferably, these components and a battery are all combined for a structurally integral appliance, which can be supportedly placed on the head, e. g. the same way as spectacle rims. Such integrated assembly is easy to carry and modern miniature electronics makes it feasible.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, texts in various languages are not transmitted from the computer 1 to the image producing unit 3, but text portions are stored in one or more languages in the image producing units 3.

Thus, the computer 1 operated by a performance-monitoring person, or some other control device for timing the display of text portions, transmits to the image producing units 3 only those messages which control timing of the display of text portions. Thus, there are optional ways of selecting a language for a display text. In a first option, text portions are stored in each image producing unit 3 in a variety of languages, and the image producing unit 3 is provided with selector mechanisms 3.1 for selecting a language. In a second option, text portions are stored in each image producing unit 3 in one language, but in various image producing units in various languages, the

selection of a language being effected by selecting an image producing unit of a desired language.

The inventive apparatus is applicable in connection with a whole range of various shows, including exhibitions, museums, circus shows, operas, theatres, sporting events and the like public occasions, which require that the audience be supplied with verbal expression or information in text format.

In sporting events, for example, the above-discussed method and apparatus can be applied in such a way that text information relating to progress of the sporting event is transmitted in a centralized fashion by one or more transmitters 1,2.1 via a radio link in a number of different languages to personal text displays 3,5 carried by several members of the audience, in which the reception language is selectable.

In art exhibitions or museums, for example, the personal text display 3,5 is used for receiving information regarding works of art on display or museum exhibits upon coming within a suitable viewing distance from a piece or exhibit. The transmitters 1t in communication with one or more computers 1, along with antennas 2.1 therefor, transmit this text information as limited locally to exhibits. This can be implemented by restricting locally the communication link between antennas 2.1 and 2.3. This restriction can also be assisted by making use of the directivity of antennas 2.1 and 2.3. The image producing unit 3 can be provided with an electronic circuit, such as a comparator, which chooses from amongst several received signals the most powerful for transmission, whereby the pieces of information describing various exhibits do not become entangled. Even in this case, it is possible to provide various transmitters 1t with various transmitting frequencies, if a sufficient discrimination of exhibits cannot be achieved by restrictions of the antennas'audible ranges. Thus, in this application of the invention, alongside each exhibit is a transmitter, along with its antenna 2.1, and several transmitters are connected to one central computer 1 either by separate cables or a common data bus, from which each transmitter only

picks up for transmission a text message intended therefor. Thus, the transmitters have their own code numbers intended for data packets to be transmitted from the central computer 1. Whenever the audience is only following a single performance, such as a theatre or opera performance or a sporting event, it is naturally sufficient to have just one transmitter, but even in this case, if so desired, it is possible to use a number of transmitters and particularly various transmitters at various frequencies for transmitting texts in various languages, the selection of a language being effected simply by selecting a receiving frequency in the image producing unit 3.