TRANSFORMING A TACTUALLY SELECTED USER INPUT INTO AN AUDIO OUTPUT

• US 20110015929A1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Polytechnic State University (California State University System), Cal Poly Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cal Poly Corporation
• Inventors: Fantin, Dennis, MacCarley, C. Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/007 using both tactile and audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems

Abstract

A contextual input device includes a plurality of tactually discernable keys disposed in a predetermined configuration which replicates a particular relationship among a plurality of items associated with a known physical object. The tactually discernable keys are typically labeled with Braille type. The known physical object is typically a collection of related items grouped together by some common relationship. A computer-implemented process determines whether a input signal represents a selection of an item from among a plurality of items or an attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items. Once the selected item or attribute pertaining to an item is determined, the computer-implemented process transforms a user'"'"'s selection from the input signal into an analog audio signal which is then audibly output as human speech with an electro-acoustic transducer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented process for transforming a user input into an audio output comprising:

receiving an input signal from a contextual input device, the contextual input device comprising;

a plurality of tactually discernable keys disposed in a predetermined configuration, the predetermined configuration replicating a particular relationship among a plurality of items grouped together as a known physical object;

determining whether the input signal represents a selection of an item from among the plurality of items or an attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items;

transforming the input signal into an analog audio signal representing human speech;

outputting the analog audio signal representing human speech with an electro-acoustic transducer.

2. The computer-implemented process of claim 1 wherein transforming the input signal into an analog audio signal further comprises:

transforming the input signal into a unique code;

matching the unique code with a library entry;

audibly outputting the library entry as human speech.

3. The computer-implemented process of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of items represent individual subjects.

4. The computer-implemented process of claim 3 wherein the attribute represents a fact about an item among the plurality of items.

5. The computer-implemented process of claim 1 wherein the tactually discernable keys are labeled with Braille type.

6. The computer-implemented process of claim 1 wherein the known physical object is a periodic table of the elements;

the plurality of items are the elements listed in the periodic table of the elements;

the attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items is a property of an element listed in the periodic table of elements.

7. The computer-implemented process of claim 6 wherein the property is selected from the group consisting of an electronic property, a chemical property, a nuclear property and a physical property.

8. The computer-implemented process of claim 6 wherein selection of an item from among the plurality of items audibly outputs in human speech a name of an element listed in the periodic table of the elements.

9. The computer-implemented process of claim 6 wherein selection of an attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items audibly outputs in human speech a property of an element listed in the periodic table of the elements.

10. The computer-implemented process of claim 1 wherein the predetermined configuration is dependent on the particular relationship;

the particular relationship selected from the group consisting of a spatial relationship, a size relationship, an orientation relationship, a proportionality relationship and any combination thereof.

11. A computer system for transforming a user input into an audio output comprising:

one or more processors associated with the computer system;

a contextual input device coupled to the one or more processors comprising a plurality of tactually discernable keys disposed in a predetermined configuration, the predetermined configuration replicating a particular relationship among a plurality of items grouped together as a known physical object;

an audio processing subsystem coupled to the one or more processors;

an electro-acoustic transducer coupled to the audio processing system;

a memory coupled to the one or more processors comprising executable instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the one or more processors to;

determine whether the input signal represents a selection of an item from among the plurality of items or an attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items;

transform the input signal into an analog audio signal representing human speech;

output the analog audio signal representing human speech with the electro-acoustic transducer.

12. The computer system of claim 11 wherein transforming the input signal into an analog audio signal further comprises instructions which when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:

transform the input signal into a unique code;

match the unique code with a library entry;

audibly output the library entry as human speech.

13. The computer system of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of items represent individual subjects.

14. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the attribute represents a fact about an item among the plurality of items.

15. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the tactually discernable keys are labeled with Braille type.

16. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the known physical object is a periodic table of the elements;

the plurality of items are the elements listed in the periodic table of the elements; and

,

the attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items is a property about an element listed in the periodic table of elements.

17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein the property is selected from the group consisting of an electronic property, a chemical property, a nuclear property and a physical property.

18. The computer system of claim 16 wherein selection of an item from among the plurality of items audibly outputs in human speech a name of an element listed in the periodic table of the elements.

19. The computer system of claim 16 wherein selection of an attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items audibly outputs a property of an element listed in the periodic table of the elements.

20. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined configuration is dependent on the particular relationship;

the particular relationship selected from the group consisting of a spatial relationship, a size relationship, an orientation relationship, a proportionality relationship and any combination thereof.

21. A computer program product embodied in a tangible form for transforming a user input into an audio output comprising executable instructions which when executed by one or more processors associated with a computer system causes the one or more processors to;

receive an input signal from a contextual input device coupled to the one or more processors;

determine whether the input signal represents a selection of an item from among the plurality of items or an attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items;

transform the input signal into an analog audio signal representing human speech;

output the analog audio signal representing human speech with the electro-acoustic transducer;

wherein the contextual input device comprises a plurality of tactually discernable keys disposed in a predetermined configuration, the predetermined configuration replicating a particular relationship among a plurality of items grouped together as a known physical object.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the transformation of the input signal into an analog audio signal further comprises instructions which when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:

transform the input signal into a unique code;

match the unique code with a library entry;

audibly output the library entry as human speech.

23. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the tactually discernable keys are labeled with Braille type.

24. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the known physical object is a periodic table of the elements;

the plurality of items are elements listed in the periodic table of the elements; and

,

the attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items is a property about an element listed in the periodic table of elements.

25. The computer program product of claim 24 wherein selection of an item from among the plurality of items audibly outputs in human speech a name of an element listed in the periodic table of the elements.

26. The computer program product of claim 24 wherein selection of an attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items audibly outputs in human speech a property of an element listed in the periodic table of the elements.

27. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the predetermined configuration is dependent on the particular relationship;

the particular relationship is selected from the group consisting of a spatial relationship, a size relationship, an orientation relationship, a proportionality relationship and any combination thereof.