Virtual overlay for computer device displays

• US 20060125846A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Springer, Gregory T., Diaz, Matthew G.
• Application Number:
  US11/010,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125846A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

A method of teaching with computer devices having displays. Virtual transparent overlays and underlays are generated that can be annotated with indicia such as words, marks, and other selected indicia. Alternately, or in combination with a transparent overlay as discussed above opaque overlays can be generated for selected uncovering of information available on a computer device display.

Claims

1. A method of annotating a display image the method comprising the steps of:

generating a selected image by a computing device;

generating a virtual image overlay of said selected visual image by said computing device;

displaying said selected image and said virtual overlay to form a composite image; and

altering the appearance of said virtual image overlay by said computing device such that the composite image is changed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected image is generated by said computing device from digital data provided thereto.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said digital data for generating said select image is provided by a computer program.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said virtual image overlay is a virtual transparent overlay and wherein said step of altering of said virtual image overlay by said computing device comprises the step of generating visual indicia on said virtual transparent overlay for annotating said selected image.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said visual indicia comprises selected shapes having a selected size.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said selected shapes comprise rectangular and circular shapes.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said visual indicia comprises selected symbols.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said selected symbols are selected from the group consisting of arrows, check marks, crosses, hand silhouettes, stars, pointers, underlines, and letters of the alphabet.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein said visible indicia comprises marks and lines formed by free hand.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a virtual pen having a selected line width and color is used to form said lines and marks.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein said virtual indicia comprises areas of said virtual transparent overlay having a color tint.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a virtual highlighter having a selected color is used to form said areas having a color tint.

13. The method of claim 4 wherein said virtual transparent overlay comprises at least two virtual transparent overlays.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein each of said at least two virtual transparent overlays is tinted a different color.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said virtual image overlay is a virtual opaque overlay covering selected portions of said selected image.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said virtual opaque overlay defines at least one opening such that the portion of the selected image under said at least one defined opening is visible.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein a first portion of said virtual image overlay comprises a virtual transparent portion adapted for including annotations and a second portion of said virtual image overlay comprises a virtual opaque overlay portion.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said virtual opaque overlay portion defines at least one opening therein such that the portion of the selected image under said virtual opaque overlay is visible.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of displaying comprises the step of receiving digital image signals at a display device;

displaying an image representing said received digital image signals and wherein said received digital image signals are generated by said computing device and represent said composite image.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said computing device comprises a master computing device having primary control of said display device and at least one secondary computing device for only altering the appearance of said image overlay when permitted by said master computing device.