Virtual encounters

1 . A virtual encounter system comprising,

a mannequin having life-like features, the mannequin comprises:

a body;

a camera coupled to the body the camera for sending video signals to a communications network; and

a microphone coupled to the body, the microphone for sending audio signals over the communications network; and

a set of goggles including a display to render the video signals received from the camera and a transducer to transduce the audio signals received from the microphone.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mannequin is at a first location and the set of goggles is at a second location the system further comprising:

a second mannequin in the second location, the second mannequin having a second microphone and a second camera; and

a second set of goggles to receive the video signals from the first camera and a second earphone to receive the audio signals from the first microphone.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the communications network comprises:

a first communication gateway in the first location; and

a second communication gateway in the second location, the second processor connected to the first processor via a network.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the communications network comprises an interface having one or more channels for:

receiving the audio signals from the microphone;

receiving the video signals from the camera;

sending the audio signals to the set of goggles; and

sending the audio signals to the transducer.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body includes an eye socket and the camera is positioned in the eye socket.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body includes an ear canal and the microphone is positioned within the ear canal.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of goggles comprises a receiver to receive the video signals.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mannequin comprises a transmitter to wirelessly send the audio signals and the video signals to the communications network.

9 . A method of having a virtual encounter, comprising:

sending audio signals over a communications network, the audio signals being produced from a microphone coupled to a mannequin having life-like features;

sending video signals over the communications network, the video signals being produced from a camera coupled to the mannequin;

rendering the video signals received from the communications network using a display device embedded in a set of goggles; and

transducing the audio signals received from the communications network using a transducer embedded in the set of goggles.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

sending audio signals to the communications network from a second microphone coupled to a second mannequin having life-like features;

sending video signals to the communications network from a second camera coupled to the second mannequin;

rendering the video signals received from the communications network onto a monitor coupled to a second set of goggles; and

transducing the audio signals received from the communications network using a second transducer embedded in the second set of goggles.

11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the mannequin includes an eye socket and the camera is positioned in the eye socket.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the mannequin includes an ear canal and further comprising positioning the microphone within the ear canal.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the set of goggles comprises a receiver to receive the video signals.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the mannequin further comprises a transmitter to wirelessly send the audio signals and the video signals to the communications network.