Method and apparatus for developing a person's behavior

• US 20070117073A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BEE Visual LLC
• Original Assignee: BEE Visual LLC
• Inventors: Reilly, Daniel, Walker, Jeffrey, Walker, Michele
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/36 the elements being connectible by corresponding projections and recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

An embodiment of an apparatus, or corresponding method, for developing a person'"'"'s behavior according to the principles of the present invention comprises at least one visual behavior indicator that represents a behavior desired of a person viewing the at least one visual behavior indicator. The apparatus, or corresponding method, further includes at least two visual choice indicators viewable with the at least one visual behavior indicator that represent choices available to the person, the choices assisting in developing the behavior in the person by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response supporting the desired behavior or as an alternative to behavior contrary to the desired behavior.

Claims

1. An apparatus for developing a person'"'"'s behavior, comprising:

at least one visual behavior indicator that represents a behavior desired of a person viewing the at least one visual behavior indicator; and

at least two visual choice indicators, viewable with the at least one visual behavior indicator, that represent choices available to the person, the choices assisting in developing the person'"'"'s behavior by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response supporting the desired behavior or by presenting an alternative to behavior contrary to the desired behavior.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including at least one visual emotion indicator that represents an emotional state of the person viewing the at least one visual emotion indicator, and wherein the at least two visual choice indicators further include representations of choices available to the person to assist in developing the person'"'"'s emotions by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response to the emotional state.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including at least one visual mental state indicator that represents a mental state of the person viewing the at least one visual mental indicator, and wherein the at least two visual choice indicators further include representations of choices available to the person to assist in developing the person'"'"'s mental control by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response to the mental state.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including at least one visual physical state indicator that represents a physical state of the person viewing the at least one visual physical state indicator, and wherein the at least two visual choice indicators further include representations of choices available to the person to assist in developing the person'"'"'s physical well-being by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response to the physical state.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one visual behavior indicator limits the person to view only one visual behavior indicator from at least two available visual behavior indicators.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the visual choice indicators limits the person to view only one visual choice indicator from at least two available visual choice indicators.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one visual behavior indicator and the at least two visual choice indicators are associated with positive behavior.

8. The only apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators are associated with negative behavior.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including at least one visual mental state indicator and wherein the at least one visual mental state indicator and at least two visual choice indicators are associated with negative mental states.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including at least one visual mental state indicator and wherein the at least one visual mental state indicator and at least two visual choice indicators are associated with positive mental states.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including an emotional state reminder indicator viewable with the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a time indicator device usable in conjunction with the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the time indicator device includes a time indicator that visually presents time, elapsed time, or remaining time in a graphically representative format.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the time indicator device further includes a director element that visually or audibly indicates to whom or what the time, elapsed time, or remaining time is directed.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the time indicator device visually identifies to whom or what the time, elapsed time, or remaining time is directed.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein multiple visual behavior indicators are configured to be arranged in a selectable manner.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators are viewable concurrently.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least two visual choice indicators is selected from a group consisting of:

a behavior indicator, physical need indicator, activity indicator, and response indicator.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a writable/erasable and/or magnetic surface in operative association with the at least one visual behavior indicator, at least two visual choice indicators, or both.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including an element with a surface supporting the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the surface includes indicia of a schedule.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 further including a time indicator device for use with the element with indicia of a schedule.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a coupling device or material to form a book including multiple pages with at least a subset of the multiple pages of the book including or configured to support the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a companion book with multiple pages, wherein the companion book describes how to use the at least one visual behavior indicator with the at least two visual choice indicators.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the visual behavior or choice indicators is physically selectable.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the visual behavior or choice indicators is electronically selectable.

27. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a visual guide explaining causes, meanings, or effects of human behavior, choices, mental states, physical states, or emotions.

28. A method of developing a person'"'"'s behavior comprising:

presenting at least one visual behavior indicator that represents a behavior desired of a person to a person viewing the at least one visual behavior indicator; and

presenting at least two visual choice indicators to the person that represent choices available to the person, the choices assisting in developing the person'"'"'s behavior by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response supporting the desired behavior or by presenting an alternative to behavior contrary to the desired behavior.

29. The method according to claim 28 further including presenting at least one visual emotional state, mental state, or physical state indicator that represents at least one respective state of the person, and wherein the at least two visual choice indicators further include representations of choices available to the person to assist in developing the person'"'"'s emotional, mental, or physical well-being by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response to the at least one respective state.

30. The method according to claim 28 wherein presenting the at least one visual behavior indicator includes limiting viewing to one visual behavior indicator.

31. The method according to claim 28 wherein presenting the at least one visual choice indicator includes limiting viewing to only two visual choice indicators from among more than two visual choice indicators.

32. The method according to claim 28 further including reminding a caregiver to evaluate an emotional state of the person prior to or in connection with presenting the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators.

33. The method according to claim 28 further comprising indicating time, elapsed time, or remaining time for the person to participate in or receive a reward or activity corresponding to a selected one of the at least two visual choice indicators.

34. The method according to claim 33 further including visually or audibly indicating to whom or what the time, elapsed time, or remaining time is directed.

35. The method according to claim 28 further including supporting visual task indicators in a schedule format.

36. The method according to claim 28 further comprising describing how to use the at least visual behavior indicator with the at least two visual choice indicators.

37. The method according to claim 28 further comprising forming a screen view including the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators.

38. The method according to claim 37 further comprising supporting interactive selection of the at least two visual choice indicators by the person.

39. An apparatus for developing a person'"'"'s behavior, comprising:

means for visually indicating a behavior desired of a person for presenting to a person; and

means for visually indicating choices available to the person for presenting to the person, the choices assisting in developing the person'"'"'s behavior by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response supporting the desired behavior or by presenting an alternative to behavior contrary to the desired behavior.

40. A kit for developing a person'"'"'s behavior, comprising:

at least one visual behavior indicator that represents a behavior desired of a person viewing the at least one visual behavior indicator; and

at least two visual choice indicators, viewable with the at least one visual behavior indicator, that represent choices available to the person, the choices assisting in developing the person'"'"'s behavior by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response supporting the desired behavior or by presenting an alternative to behavior contrary to the desired behavior.

41. The kit according to claim 40 further including an easel configured to support the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators in a manner providing simultaneous viewing by the person.

42. The kit according to claim 41 further comprising multiple pages configured to be selectively coupled to the easel and support the at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators.

43. The kit according to claim 41 wherein the visual choice indicators are associated with tiles and wherein the easel defines a cavity having dimensions to store multiple tiles.

44. A method of manufacturing an apparatus for developing a person'"'"'s behavior, the method comprising:

coupling at least one visual behavior indicator, which represents a behavior desired of a person viewing the at least one visual behavior indicator, with a substantially rigid element; and

coupling at least two visual choice indicators, viewable with the at least one visual behavior indicator, that represent choices available to the person to the same substantially rigid element, the choices assisting in developing the person'"'"'s behavior by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response supporting the desired behavior or by presenting an alternative to behavior contrary to the desired behavior.

45. An apparatus for developing a person'"'"'s ability to complete tasks or developing a person'"'"'s mental health, the apparatus comprising:

at least one mental state reminder;

at least one visual task indicator that represents a task desired of a person viewing the at least one visual task indicator; and

at least two visual reward indicators presented with the at least one visual task indicator that represent rewards available to the person and assist in developing the person'"'"'s ability to complete tasks or in developing the person'"'"'s mental health.

46. The apparatus according to claim 45 further comprising at least two visual reinforcements including at least two of:

a reward indicator, region for indicating the task has been completed, or region for moving or manipulating a visual task indicator to a position that represents the task has been completed

47. The apparatus according to claim 45 further comprising a time indicator device configured to be used with the at least one visual task indicator.

48. The apparatus according to claim 45 wherein at least one of the two visual reward indicators is selectable to represent zero, one, or multiple rewards.

49. An apparatus for indicating a measure of time, comprising:

a settable time indicator visually indicating remaining time until a terminal time is reached;

at least two visual indicia indicating to whom or what the remaining time is directed; and

a visual indicia controller coupled to the at least two visual indicia to cause the at least two visual indicia to reflect a state of the at least two visual indicia selectable by a user.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49 further including a control configured to enable the user to start and stop the settable time indicator in a selectable manner.

51. The apparatus according to claim 49 further comprising a time indicator configured for use with at least one visual behavior indicator and at least two visual choice indicators.

52. The apparatus according to claim 51 wherein the time indicator is configured to visually present time, elapsed time, or remaining time in a graphically representative format.

53. The apparatus according to claim 52 wherein at least two indicia visually or audibly change states to indicate to whom or what the time, elapsed time, or remaining time is directed.

54. The apparatus according to claim 52 wherein the at least two indicia visually identifies to whom or what the time, elapsed time, or remaining time is directed independent of electrical components.

55. The apparatus according to claim 49 wherein the at least two indicia are selected from a group consisting of:

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), incandescent bulbs, electroluminescent components, mechanical elements, labels, color, and shading.