METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING GATHERING EXPERIENCE

1 . A computer-implemented method for providing gathering experience to a plurality of online participants of a live event, the method comprising:

within a window of a specific activity, monitoring the aspects of social and inter-social engagement of each participant; wherein the window of the specific activity is a specific time period related to the specific activity; wherein the aspects of social and inter-social engagement includes gestures, videos and audios from each participants;

within the window of the specific activity, analyzing the social and inter-social engagement of each participant;

and

providing varying participant experiences to a specific participant depending on the engagement level of the specific participant.

2 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gathering experience includes an applause event.

3 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 2 , the method further comprising:

detecting gestures made by the specific participant through two or more disparate sensors, wherein the gestures include clapping;

monitoring the intensity of the clapping from the specific participant;

and

providing feedback to the specific participant according to the intensity of the clapping, wherein the intensity of the clapping is determined by the frequency and/or strength of the clapping.

4 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the feedback includes audio, tactile, and/or visual feedback.

5 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the audio feedback include clapping feedback, the clapping feedback having different clapping rates, loudness, rhythms, and/or timbres depending on the specific participant's engagement level and/or past clapping patterns.

6 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the audio feedback swells and diminishes as a function of factors, the factors including a number of active participants and an intensity of participation;

when the specific participant increases frequency and/or strength of clapping, the audio feedback swells, having a nonlinear increase in volume and including distinct clapping noises; and

when the specific participant decreases frequency and/or strength of clapping, the audio feedback diminishes nonlinearly.

7 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 6 , the method further comprising:

assigning unique feedback characteristics to the specific participant in the applause event.

8 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the unique feedback characteristics depend on the geographic location, venue, gender, age, and/or online activity patterns of the specific participant.

9 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 , the method further comprising: providing options for the specific participant to manually modify assigned unique feedback characteristics.

10 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the method is instantiated on one or more local devices or distributed across a system including one or more local devices and remote computing devices.

11 . A system for providing gathering experience to a plurality of online participants of a live event, the system comprising:

an experience service platform; and

an application program instantiated on the experience service platform, wherein the application provides computer-generated output;

wherein the experience service platform is configured to:

within a window of a specific activity, monitor the aspects of social and inter-social engagement of each participant; wherein the window of the specific activity is a specific time period related to the specific activity; wherein the aspects of social and inter-social engagement includes gestures, videos and audios from each participants;

within the window of the specific activity, analyze the social and inter-social engagement of each participant;

and

provide varying participant experiences to a specific participant depending on the engagement level of the specific participant.

12 . The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the gathering experience includes an applause event.

13 . The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the experience service platform is further configured to:

detect gestures made by the specific participant through two or more disparate sensors, wherein the gestures include clapping;

monitor the intensity of the clapping from the specific participant;

and

provide feedback to the specific participant according to the intensity of the clapping, wherein the intensity of the clapping is determined by the frequency and/or strength of the clapping.

14 . The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the feedback includes audio, tactile, and/or visual feedback.

15 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the audio feedback include clapping feedback, the clapping feedback having different clapping rates, loudness, rhythms, and/or timbres depending on the specific participant's engagement level and/or past clapping patterns.

16 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the audio feedback swells and diminishes as a function of factors, the factors including a number of active participants and an intensity of participation.

17 . The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein, when the specific participant increases frequency and/or strength of clapping, the audio feedback swells, having a nonlinear increase in volume and including distinct clapping noises; and, when the specific participant decreases frequency and/or strength of clapping, the audio feedback diminishes nonlinearly.

18 . The system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the experience service platform is further configured to assign unique feedback characteristics to the specific participant in the applause event.

19 . The system as recited in claim 18 , wherein the unique feedback characteristics depend on the geographic location, venue, gender, age, and/or online activity patterns of the specific participant.

20 . The system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the experience service platform is further configured to provide options for the specific participant to manually modify assigned unique feedback characteristics.

21 . The system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the intensity of the applause event is a function of a number of participants participating.

22 . An apparatus for providing gathering experience to a plurality of online participants of a live event, the apparatus comprising:

means for, within a window of a specific activity, monitoring the aspects of social and inter-social engagement of each participant; wherein the window of the specific activity is a specific time period related to the specific activity; wherein the aspects of social and inter-social engagement includes gestures, videos and audios from each participants;

means for, within the window of the specific activity, analyzing the social and inter-social engagement of each participant;

and

means for providing varying participant experiences to a specific participant depending on the engagement level of the specific participant.

23 . The apparatus as recited in claim 22 , wherein the gathering experience includes an applause event.

24 . The apparatus as recited in claim 23 , further comprising:

means for detecting gestures made by the specific participant through two or more disparate sensors, wherein the gestures include clapping;

means for monitoring the intensity of the clapping from the specific participant;

and

means for providing feedback to the specific participant according to the intensity of the clapping, wherein the intensity of the clapping is determined by the frequency and/or strength of the clapping.

25 . The apparatus as recited in claim 24 , wherein the feedback includes audio, tactile, and/or visual feedback.

26 . The apparatus as recited in claim 25 , wherein the audio feedback include clapping feedback, the clapping feedback having different clapping rates, loudness, rhythms, and/or timbres depending on the specific participant's engagement level and/or past clapping patterns.

27 . The apparatus as recited in claim 25 , wherein the audio feedback swells and diminishes as a function of factors, the factors including a number of active participants and an intensity of participation.

28 . The apparatus as recited in claim 27 , wherein, when the specific participant increases frequency and/or strength of clapping, the audio feedback swells, having a nonlinear increase in volume and including distinct clapping noises; and, when the specific participant decreases frequency and/or strength of clapping, the audio feedback diminishes nonlinearly.

29 . The apparatus as recited in claim 28 , further comprising means for assigning unique feedback characteristics to the specific participant in the applause event.

30 . The apparatus as recited in claim 29 , wherein the unique feedback characteristics depend on the geographic location, venue, gender, age, and/or online activity patterns of the specific participant.

31 . The apparatus as recited in claim 30 , further comprising means for providing options for the specific participant to manually modify assigned unique feedback characteristics.

32 . The apparatus as recited in claim 31 , wherein the intensity of the applause event is a function of a number of participants participating.