Method and apparatus for periodically questioning a user using a computer system or other device to facilitate memorization and learning of information

• US 20030077559A1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Alfred S., Braunberger, Beau M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,632,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/322
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

A system and method for ensuring that a user on a host system periodically performs educational tasks is disclosed. The system comprises a host system on which an educational application and a primary application can execute; means for suspending the primary application when a suspension criterion is met; means for executing an interactive educational application on the host system until a resumption criterion is met; and means for resuming the primary application on the host system when the resumption criterion is met. The method comprises (a) suspending a primary application based on a suspension criterion; (b) presenting on a presentation device an educational task from a set of educational tasks; (c) receiving a user-generated response on an input device; (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a resumption criterion is met; and (e) resuming the primary application when the resumption criterion is met.

Claims

1. A method for suspending a primary application so that a user must perform an educational task, comprising:

a. suspending a primary application program based on a suspension criterion;

b. presenting on a presentation device an educational task from a set of educational tasks;

c. receiving a user-generated response on an input device;

d. repeating steps b and c until a resumption criterion is met; and

e. resuming the primary application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension criterion is an elapse of a pre-determined time interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension criterion is an elapse of a random time interval.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension criterion is the detection of a start of a television commercial.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension criterion is the occurrence of a pre-determined date.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension criterion is the occurrence of a pre-determined time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension criterion is the elapse of a variable time interval.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the variable time interval varies in relation to a difference between a present date and a pre-determined date.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a difficulty level of the education task varies in relation to a difference between a present date and a pre-determined date.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the educational task is providing an answer to an educational question.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the resumption criterion is that a passcode has been entered on an input device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the resumption criterion is that the user-generated response matches a correct response.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a correct response is configurable.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising presenting to a user information about a correct response.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the user response is a request for an educational task having a difficulty level different from that of the educational task presented.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the resumption criterion is the completion of a minimum performance criterion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the minimum performance criterion is reading of at least a minimum number of sentences within a pre-determined time.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the minimum performance criterion is correct or approximately correct pronunciation of a non-English text.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the minimum performance criterion is completion of at least a pre-determined minimum number of educational tasks from a selected number of educational tasks.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the resumption criterion is that a pre-configured time limit has elapsed.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of educational tasks can be configured by a user.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting an educational task comprises:

a. presenting a user with a list of possible educational task subjects;

b. receiving a user subject response; and

c. presenting the educational task based on the user subject response.

23. The method of claim 12, further comprising presenting the user with a user score determined by a number of correct responses supplied by a user and a number of responses to educational tasks submitted by the user.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein a set of questions in a given category is determined by a configurable difficulty level.

25. A method for suspending a user application to test a user'"'"'s knowledge with an educational task, comprising:

a. running a primary application;

b. suspending the primary application program based on a suspension criterion;

c. running a secondary application until a resumption criterion is met, wherein the secondary application presents an educational task from a set of educational tasks; and

d. resuming the primary application.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the suspension criterion is an elapse of a configurable time interval.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the suspension criterion is an elapse of a random time interval.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the suspension criterion is a detection of a start of a television commercial.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the educational task is providing an answer to an educational question.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the resumption criterion is that a passcode has been entered on an input device.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the resumption criterion is that a user-generated response matches a correct response.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the resumption criterion is that a pre-determined time limit has elapsed.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the set of educational tasks is configurable.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the correct response is configurable.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising presenting to a user information about a correct response.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the user-generated response is a request for an educational task having a difficulty different from that of the educational task presented.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein presenting an educational task comprises

a. presenting a user with a list of possible educational task subjects;

b. receiving a user subject response; and

c. presenting the educational task based on the user subject response.

38. The method of claim 25, further comprising presenting the user with a user score determined by a number of correct responses supplied by a user and a number of responses to educational tasks submitted by the user.

39. The method of claim 25, wherein the list of possible tasks presented is determined by a configurable difficulty level.

40. The method of claim 25, wherein the primary application is a computer application.

41. The method of claim 25, wherein the primary application is an Internet session.

42. The method of claim 25, wherein the primary application is a televised program.

43. The method of claim 25, wherein the primary application is a computer game.

44. The method of claim 25, wherein the primary application is a visual presentation.

45. The method of claim 25, wherein the primary application is a sound presentation.

46. A teaching device for execution on a host system, the host system executing a primary application and an interactive application, comprising:

a. means for suspending the primary application executing on the host system;

b. means for executing the interactive educational application on the host system until a resumption criterion is met; and

c. means for resuming the primary application on the host system when the resumption criterion is met.

47. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the interactive educational application presents a question on a presentation device and receives an answer from an input device.

48. The teaching device of claim 47, wherein the presentation device is an image display.

49. The teaching device of claim 47, wherein the presentation device is a sound system.

50. The teaching device of claim 47, wherein the input device is a computer keyboard.

51. The teaching device of claim 47, wherein the input device is a computer mouse.

52. The teaching device of claim 47, wherein the input device is a microphone.

53. The teaching device of claim 47, wherein the input device is a wireless communication system.

54. The teaching device of claim 47, wherein the resumption criterion is that the user provides a correct response to the question according to a constraint.

55. The teaching device of claim 54, wherein the constraint is that the correct response be provided within a configurable time limit.

56. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the host system is configured to display images.

57. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the host system is configured to generate sound.

58. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the host system is a television set.

59. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the host system is a set-top box.

60. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the primary application is a video game.

61. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the primary application is an Internet session.

62. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the primary application is a computer application.

63. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the primary application is a televised program.

64. The teaching device of claim 46, wherein the primary application is a video game.

65. A teaching device for execution on a host system, comprising:

a. a suspension module for suspending an initial application executing on the host system;

b. an execution module for executing an interactive educational application on the host system until a resumption criterion is met; and

c. a resumption module for resuming the initial application on the host system when the resumption criterion is met.

66. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the interactive educational application presents a question on a presentation device and receives an answer from an input device.

67. The teaching device of claim 66 wherein the presentation device is an image display.

68. The teaching device of claim 66, wherein the presentation device is a sound system.

69. The teaching device of claim 66, wherein the input device is a computer keyboard.

70. The teaching device of claim 66, wherein the input device is a computer mouse.

71. The teaching device of claim 66, wherein the input device is a microphone.

72. The teaching device of claim 66, wherein the input device is a wireless communication system.

73. The teaching device of claim 66, wherein the resumption criterion is that the answer is a correct response.

74. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the host system is a configured to display images.

75. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the host system is configured to generate sound.

76. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the host system is a television set.

77. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the host system is a set-top box.

78. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the initial application is a video game.

79. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the initial application is an Internet session.

80. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the initial application is a computer application.

81. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the initial application is a televised program.

82. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the initial application is a video game.

83. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the initial application is suspended on the occurrence of a pre-determined date.

84. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the initial application is suspended on the occurrence of a pre-determined time.

85. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein the initial application is suspended after the elapse of a variable time interval.

86. The teaching device of claim 85, wherein the variable time interval varies in relation to a difference between a present data and a pre-determined date.

87. The teaching device of claim 65, wherein a difficulty level of the interactive educational application varies in relation to a difference between a present date and a pre-determined date.