Novelty vehicle simulation systems

Abstract

Novelty vehicle simulation systems including computing devices, including processors configured to execute processor executable instructions and computer readable media encoded with processor executable instructions for executing novelty vehicle simulators on the computing devices, and supports defining vehicular appearances. In some examples, supports may be configured to seat computing devices and include vehicular appearance signifying mechanisms configured to communicate encoded representations of the vehicular appearances. In some examples, computing device include vehicular appearance sensing mechanisms operatively paired with the vehicular appearance signifying mechanisms to detect the encoded representations of the vehicular appearances of the supports. In some examples, the computer readable media include processor executable instructions for translating the encoded representation of the vehicular appearances of the support to produce vehicle parameter sets corresponding to the vehicles reflected by the vehicular appearances of the supports and modifying operating parameters of the novelty vehicle simulators according to the vehicle parameter sets.

1 . A novelty vehicle simulation system comprising:
 a computing device including:
 a processor configured to execute processor executable instructions; and 
 a computer readable medium encoded with processor executable instructions for executing a novelty vehicle simulator on the computing device; 
   a support defining a vehicular appearance, the support:
 configured to seat the computing device in a substantially fixed position; and 
 including a vehicular appearance signifying mechanism configured to communicate an encoded representation of the vehicular appearance; 
   wherein the computing device includes:
 a vehicular appearance sensing mechanism operatively paired with the vehicular appearance signifying mechanism to detect the encoded representation of the vehicular appearance of the support; and 
 wherein the computer readable medium further includes processor executable instructions for:
 translating the encoded representation of the vehicular appearance of the support to produce a vehicle parameter set corresponding to the vehicle reflected by the vehicular appearance of the support; and 
 modifying operating parameters of the novelty vehicle simulator according to the vehicle parameter set. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device includes:
 a display unit;   a user input interface; and   wherein executing the novelty vehicle. simulator includes displaying a user interface including user-manipulable elements configured to instruct the processor to execute vehicle related actions in response to user manipulation.   
     
     
         3 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the user input interface includes a touch-sensitive display defining a display area and configured to detect user contact, and a touch-selected location thereof, within the display area;   wherein the novelty vehicle simulator:
 includes a plurality of user-selectable elements displayed on the display unit; and 
 is configured to perform a vehicle-related action in response to the user touching the display unit proximate a selected user-selectable element. 
   
     
     
         4 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 3 , wherein the computing device includes an audio output device; and
 the vehicle-related action associated with one or more of the user-manipulable elements defines producing, through the audio output device, a noise commonly produced by the vehicle reflected by the vehicular appearance of the support in response to the user touching the display unit proximate the selected user-selectable element.   
     
     
         5 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 3 , wherein the user-manipulable elements include one or more user-selectable elements relating to the vehicle reflected by the vehicular appearance of the support, the user-selectable elements automatically generated in response to producing the vehicle parameter set. 
     
     
         6 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the user-manipulable elements resemble interior features commonly visible from an operational position within a typical vehicle of a type reflected by the vehicular appearance of the support. 
     
     
         7 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 6 , wherein the user-manipulable elements includes a simulated control mechanism includes a simulated control mechanism of the vehicle reflected by the vehicular appearance of the support. 
     
     
         8 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 7 , wherein the simulated control mechanism defines a steering wheel in response to the encoded representation of the vehicular appearance indicating that the vehicular appearance of the support reflects and automobile. 
     
     
         9 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 8 , wherein the computer readable medium further includes processor executable instructions for modifying a scene displayed on the display unit in response to user manipulation of the steering wheel. 
     
     
         10 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device includes a display unit; and
 the computer readable medium further includes processor executable instructions for displaying on the display unit a scene reflecting a typical environment of use of the vehicle indicated by the vehicular appearance of the support.   
     
     
         11 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer readable medium further includes processor executable instructions for modifying the scene in response to user manipulation, the scene modified to reflect the users manipulation of the support. 
     
     
         12 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the computing device includes a motion-sensing device; and   the novelty vehicle simulation modifies the scene in response to user manipulation of the support, the user manipulation detected by the motion-sensing device,   
     
     
         13 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer readable medium further includes processor executable instructions for:
 displaying on the display unit an interface including user-manipulable elements corresponding to vehicle-relate actions; and   modifying the scene in response to user manipulation of a user-manipulable element.   
     
     
         14 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicular appearance resembles an automobile. 
     
     
         15 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicular appearance resembles aircraft. 
     
     
         16 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device includes an audio output device; and
 the computer readable medium fur her includes processor executable instructions for outputting, through the audio output device, a noise commonly produced b the vehicle reflected by the vehicular appearance of the support.   
     
     
         17 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the support defines a support cavity fitted to support the computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The novelty vehicle simulation system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the computing device includes a position detecting device;   the support cavity supports the computing device in a selected position that defines the encoded representation of the vehicular appearance; and   the computer readable medium further includes processor executable code for:
 reading the selected position with the position detecting device; and 
 translating the selected position read with the position detecting device to the parameter set corresponding to the vehicle reflected by the vehicular appearance of the support. 
   
     
     
         19 . A novelty vehicle simulation system comprising:
 a support defining a vehicular appearance, the support:
 defining a support cavity, the support cavity partially enclosing a cavity space visible from positions external to the support and perimetraly sized to insert and display a computing device including: 
 a processor configured to execute processor executable instructions for a novelty vehicle simulator; 
 an audio output device; and 
 a camera; and 
 a display unit; 
   wherein the support defines:
 a frictional support surface that is recessed from the external surface of the support and sized to seat the computing device, the frictional support surface defining a coefficient of friction selected to reduce slipping of the computing device when seated on the frictional support surface; 
 a camera port aligned with the camera, the camera port defining a visual path through the support from a camera-proximate position the camera s proximate position when the computing device is seated within the support cavity to external positions around the support; and 
 an audio output port aligned with the audio output device, the audio output port defining an audible path through the support from an audio output proximate positron proximate the audio output device. to external positions around the support. 
   
     
     
         20 . A novelty vehicle simulation system comprising:
 a support defining a vehicular appearance, the support:
 configured to seat a computing device in a substantially fixed position; and 
   wherein the computing device defines a form factor and includes:
 a processor configured to execute Processor executable instructions; and 
 processor executable instructions for:
 executing a novelty vehicle simulator on the computing device, executing the novelty vehicle simulator includes:
 detecting the form factor of the computing device; and 
 displaying a user interface that is specifically adapted to the detected form factor; 
 
 translating the encoded representation of the vehicular appearance of the support to produce a vehicle parameter set corresponding to the vehicle reflected by the vehicular appearance of the support; and 
 modifying operating parameters of the novelty vehicle simulator according to the vehicle parameter set.