Method and apparatus for displaying animated characters upon a computer screen in which a composite video display is merged into a static background such that the border between the background and the video is indiscernible

摘要

A method and apparatus is provided for displaying upon a monitor having a graphical user interface a movie-type window having a Digital Help Agent that has the appearance of moving between one window and a second window. The Digital Help Agent not only can move between apparent windows, but can point items out upon the display such as buttons or menu choices by moving to and touching those buttons or menu choices. The Digital Help Agent can be provided with a three-dimensional effect to enhance the visual reality to more focus the computer user's attention upon the Digital Help Agent. The Digital Help Agent is also provided with a voice via the audio output on the computer's speaker, so that the Digital Help Agent can audibly inform the computer's user as to the effect of choosing a particular menu item or button while the Digital Help Agent is actually touching that button or menu item.