Computer-based learning system

• US 20040103148A1
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clark Aldrich
• Original Assignee: Clark Aldrich
• Inventors: Aldrich, Clark
• Granted Patent: US 7,401,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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

The present invention enables a user to develop his/her leadership skills by participating in virtual business meetings with animated characters. The animated characters are managers and/or employees who work for the user in a fictitious corporation. Utilizing real-time animation and an advanced artificial intelligence and physics system, the software program enables the user to introduce, support, and oppose ideas and characters during virtual meetings. The logic of the program is built around a novel three-to-one leadership methodology. The user may participate in a number of meetings—each meeting configured to build upon the prior meeting. The user'"'"'s progress is measured by metrics that graph various aspects of the user'"'"'s and the animated characters'"'"' activity during each meeting based upon the three-to-one leadership methodology and provide a story-line continuation based upon the outcome of each meeting.

Claims

1. A computer interface of a computer-based learning system, comprising:

(i) a meeting scene including one or more animated characters displayed on a monitor of a computer, the one or more animated characters rendered dynamically in real time by a physics system in response, at least in part, to data received from a micro-strategy system;

(ii) an opinion bar associated with each of the one or more animated characters enabling a system user to input data indicative of support or opposition for each respective animated character, such inputted data resulting in a gesture from a character representative of the system user that conforms with the inputted data and is utilized by the micro-strategy system and physics system so that the one or more animated characters are rendered dynamically in real time in conformance with the inputted data;

(iii) one or more idea windows displayed in the meeting scene, each idea window including an idea for consideration by the system user and the one or more animated characters, the position of each idea window indicative of a status of each respective idea;

(iv) an opinion bar associated with each of the one or more idea windows enabling the system user to input data indicative of support or opposition for each respective idea, such inputted data resulting in a gesture from the character representative of the system user that conforms with the inputted data and is utilized by the micro-strategy system and physics system so that the one or more animated characters are rendered dynamically in real time in conformance with the inputted data; and

(v) a progress bar associated with each of the one or more idea windows depicting the degree to which each idea is accepted by the user and the animated characters.

2. A computer interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the physics system includes a dialogue system and a animation system to dynamically render and animate the one or more animated characters in response to data received from the micro-strategy system in real time.

3. A computer interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the micro-strategy system is configured to received input from the system user and signals based on gestures made by the animated characters, and the physics system is configured to animate each animated character in response signals received from the micro-strategy system which send signals to the animated characters to respond.

4. A computer interface as recited in claim 3, wherein the dynamically rendered gestures made by the animated characters include dialogue gestures and physical gestures in real time.

5. A computer interface as recited in claim 1, wherein an idea is under consideration when it is positioned in the lower central portion of the meeting scene.

6. A interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the opinion bars associated with the one or more animated characters include a first portion for inputting opposition to an animated character and a second portion for inputting support for the animated character and a third portion to input neutrality.

7. A computer interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the opinion bar associated with the one or more idea windows include a first portion for inputting data indicating opposition to an idea and a second portion for inputting data indicating support for the idea and a third portion for inputting neutrality for the idea.

8. A computer-based learning system, comprising:

(i) a monitor displaying a meeting scene including one or more animated characters to a system user;

(ii) a database including data describing attributes of the one or more animated characters and the system user;

(iii) an input device for use by the system user to input data into the system to indicate support or opposition for an idea or animated character;

(iv) a micro-strategy system for receiving data from the database and determining the idea or character that each of the one or more animated characters supports or opposes; and

(v) a physics system for determining whether the system user or one of the one or more animated characters should actively act, wherein if the system user inputs data to the system then a character representing the system user actively acts and if the system user does not input data to the system then the physics system determines which of the one or more animated characters will actively act based in part on output received from the micro-strategy system.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the physics system includes a dialogue system and a animation system to animate the one or more animated characters in response to the signals received from the micro-strategy system.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the animated gestures made by the animated characters include dialogue gestures and physical gestures.

11. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the physics system is programmable to enable alteration of certain characteristics of an animated character, the characteristics selected from the group comprising the animated character'"'"'s starting opinion of other animated character'"'"'s, starting opinion of ideas, starting tension, description, formal authority, personal influence, likelihood of gesturing, tension impact on each idea, sitting position, and the animated character'"'"'s knowledge of each idea.

12. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the physics system is programmable to enable alteration of certain characteristics of an idea, the characteristics selected from the group comprising the name of the idea, type of idea, description, work required to finish an idea, ease in introducing or reintroducing the idea, and impact of the idea on an ending metrics.

13. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the micro-strategy system is programmable to enable alteration of the goals of an animated character, the goals selected from a group comprising power, tension, ideas, and work.

14. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the micro-strategy system is programmable to enable alteration of the micro-strategies, the alterations selected from a group comprising when each micro-strategy is played, the influence of each micro-strategy, prerequisite strategies, and pre-emptive strategies.

15. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the physics system is programmable to enable alteration of a trigger for activating a gesture of an animated character.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the trigger for activating a gesture of an animated character is selected from a group comprising the character'"'"'s tension, opinion of another character, and opinion of an idea.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the trigger is a point value ranging from −

5 to 5 points.

18. A method for a system user to learn business and interpersonal skills using a computer-based learning system, comprising:

(i) receiving an animated video image of a meeting scene including one or more animated characters that are driven by an artificial intelligence system to interact with each other and with the system user through verbal and physical gestures;

(ii) selecting an idea with an input device from an idea window that is superimposed on the video image, thereby making the idea active as input to the artificial intelligence engine;

(iii) selecting an opinion controller that is superimposed on the video image to interact with the one or more animated characters; and

(iv) receiving feedback in the form of verbal and physical gestures from at least one of the one or more animated characters.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step of selecting an opinion controller further includes selecting a first portion of an opinion controller to criticize an animated character and selecting a second portion of the opinion controller to praise the animated character.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step of selecting an opinion controller further includes selecting a first portion of an opinion controller to oppose an idea and selecting a second portion of the opinion controller to support the idea or the middle of the opinion bar to be neutral.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, further including the step of selecting a second idea with the input device from an idea window that is superimposed on the video image, thereby making the second idea active as input to the artificial intelligence engine.

22. A method as recited in claim 18, further including help thought balloons that can be toggled on/off to give insight to each user as to the reasons or rational behind each virtual characters opinions and behavior in the areas opinion, tension, and strategy.

23. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the system user receives metrics and feedback after each scene depicting both overlay charts detailing levels of change during the scene of power, tension and ideas, and storyline continuations that would occur as a result of the user interactions during the scene in the areas of employee moral, customer satisfaction, and financial performance.