1. A method of capturing and rendering educational information, comprising: using at least one processor associated with a recording computer: (a) capturing gesture information from a surface digitizing apparatus coupled to the recording computer, and storing in a recording computer memory gestural data that associates the gesture information to a reference frame associated with the surface digitizing apparatus (b) extracting image information from a camera coupled to the recording computer and storing in a recording computer memory image data that associates the image information to a reference frame associated with the camera's field of view, (c) generating recording space calibration data that associates spatial coordinates within the field of view of the camera with spatial coordinates of the surface digitizing apparatus; (d) sending the gestural data, image data and calibration data to a rendering computer; using at least one processor associated with a rendering computer coupled to a display device: (e) receiving the gestural data, image data and calibration data sent by the recording computer; (f) generating a calibration transform based on the calibration data that converts the gestural data and image data into a form usable by the display device to generate calibrated gestural data and calibrated image data; (g) using the calibrated gestural data to render a first visual image corresponding to the gestural information captured by the surface digitizing apparatus; (h) using the calibrated image data to generate a second visual image corresponding to the image information extracted from the camera; (i) blending the first and second visual images to define a recomposed image made up of combined gesture information and image information that is then displayed on the display device.
1. A method of capturing and rendering educational information, comprising: using at least one processor associated with a recording computer: (a) capturing gesture information from a surface digitizing apparatus coupled to the recording computer, and storing in a recording computer memory gestural data that associates the gesture information to a reference frame associated with the surface digitizing apparatus (b) extracting image information from a camera coupled to the recording computer and storing in a recording computer memory image data that associates the image information to a reference frame associated with the camera's field of view, (c) generating recording space calibration data that associates spatial coordinates within the field of view of the camera with spatial coordinates of the surface digitizing apparatus; (d) sending the gestural data, image data and calibration data to a rendering computer; using at least one processor associated with a rendering computer coupled to a display device: (e) receiving the gestural data, image data and calibration data sent by the recording computer; (f) generating a calibration transform based on the calibration data that converts the gestural data and image data into a form usable by the display device to generate calibrated gestural data and calibrated image data; (g) using the calibrated gestural data to render a first visual image corresponding to the gestural information captured by the surface digitizing apparatus; (h) using the calibrated image data to generate a second visual image corresponding to the image information extracted from the camera; (i) blending the first and second visual images to define a recomposed image made up of combined gesture information and image information that is then displayed on the display device. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending and receiving steps (d) and (e) are performed using a networked computer system or telecommunication system.