Method, system, and program for using a virtual environment to provide information on using a product

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for providing information to a user of the computer program on using a medical therapy to treat a medical condition. A virtual environment is displayed and a user controlled virtual patient is displayed within the virtual environment. The user controlled virtual patient is simulating receiving the medical therapy and simulating real life activity in the virtual environment. Input control signals are received from the user controlling movement of the user controlled virtual patient through the virtual environment and interactions are rendered between the user controlled virtual patient and the virtual environment in response to the input control signals to enable the user to virtually engage in a simulated daily activity through the actions of the user controlled virtual patient. The simulated daily activity is other than simulated receiving of the simulated medical therapy. Information is displayed on how the simulated medical therapy positively impacts the user controlled virtual patient engaged in the daily activity to promote the medical therapy. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 326,538, filed on Dec. 20, 2002, which patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention is related to a method, system, and program for using a virtual environment to provide information on using a product. [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art [0006] Certain products have the ability to alter a person's lifestyle and quality of life. For instance, medical devices may...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method, system, and program for providing information to a user on a medical therapy or a promoted product. The virtual environment is created and the user controls a virtual character who is receiving the therapy or using the product. The interactions between the virtual character and the virtual environment are created to show how the therapy or product is impacting the user's daily activities. This technology allows the user to virtually experience the benefits of the therapy or product and promote it to others.

Problems solved by technology

One challenge for product marketers is to convey to potential customers the benefits of such a lifestyle altering product.

However, these prior art marketing techniques are typically inadequate to provide the target customer with an understanding of how the promoted product can dramatically impact and improve the daily life of the target customer.

Although such computer games use an interactive entertainment medium to inform patients of a therapy or medical product, especially adolescent patients, such games are generally limited to using entertainment activities to provide information during the course of the game play.

Such computer game oriented marketing efforts are often inadequate to convey to the potential customer an understanding of how the medical device or therapy will dramatically improve the customer's quality of life and lifestyle.

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