MONOTONOUS GAME-LIKE TASK TO PROMOTE EFFORTLESS AUTOMATIC RECOGNITION OF SIGHT WORDS

• US 20120164618A1
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brightstar Learning
• Original Assignee: Brightstar Learning
• Inventors: KULLOK, Jose Roberto, KULLOK, Saul
• Granted Patent: US 9,691,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7267 involving training the classification device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0808 for diagnosis of the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/00 Measuring physical parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. E.G.C., blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/06 Heartbeat rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/003 electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/006 with audible presentation of the material to be studied audio and audio-visual teaching apparatus in general G09B5/04, G09B5/06
• 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 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 : for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 : Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 : Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 : Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

System and methods are provided to promote effortless automatic recognition of common sight words. A subject performs a game-like task that generates novel non-verbal visual stimuli that triggers visual attention shifts that enhance foveal and parafoveal recognition of non-verbal and verbal stimuli laterally presented in the right or left visual field. The present invention engages a shared motor-perceptual-cognitive neural network involving oculomotor, visuo-motor and selective executive cognitive behaviors on both brain hemispheres. The present invention has applications to a wide range of non-verbal pre-orthographic visual processes and early lexical processes, not only contributing to enabling reading fluency to dyslexics, reluctant and slow readers, but also to beginning readers. The present invention has wide applications in learning disabilities and normative individuals learning to read.

Claims

1. A method for producing interactive visuo-motor and/or interactive oculomotor non-verbal stimuli in a subject, the method comprising:

displaying first and second graphical objects on a display, the second graphical object comprising a graphical reference marker splitting the second graphical object into a first side and a second side;

changing a display position of the first graphical object, according to kinematical predefined rules, under visuo-motor voluntary control of a subject; and

changing a visualization of the second graphical object according to the display position of the first graphical object and one or more parameters, the one or more parameters depending on a performance score for the subject based on the display position of the first graphical object relative to the graphical reference marker.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the one or more parameters during a session in accordance with the performance score for the subject on a previous predefined time interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprise kinematical parameters configured to allow the subject'"'"'s eyes to voluntarily track the graphical reference marker relative to the display position of the first graphical object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the display position of the first graphical object is changed under visuo-motor voluntary control of the subject using a mouse.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first graphical object on the display comprises displaying a first graphic mobile planar object configured to move along a predefined area of the second graphical object represented as a second graphic mobile planar object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the graphical reference marker is depicted inside the predefined area of the second graphical object.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined area of the second graphical object has the graphical form of a pathway.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphical object is selected from a group of graphic mobile objects comprising a car, a bird, a panther, and a yacht.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing sensorial feedback information to the subject comprising a degree of navigation smoothness of the first graphical object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the visualization of the second graphical object comprises changes in graphical and/or kinematical parameters provided in accordance with a predefined program.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein changes to a trajectory of the first graphical object comprise changes to aim the trajectory of the first graphical object to intersect the graphical reference marker of the second graphical object.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

computing a linear distance between the first and second graphical objects, the linear distance based on a distance between a reference sign of the first graphical object and the graphical reference marker of the second graphical object.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

computing the performance score for the subject during a predefined time interval using the linear distance between the first and second graphical objects during the predefined time interval.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the second graphical object defines a pathway for movement of the first graphical object.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second graphical object is selected from a group of graphical objects comprising a road, a river, and a canyon.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein changing a visualization of the second graphical object comprises:

changing parameters of a sinusoidal form of a pathway defined by the second graphical object.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprise graphical and kinematical parameters of the second graphical object.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

changing the graphical and/or kinematical parameters of the second graphical object to present different difficulty levels.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

correlating the performance score attained by the subject during a time interval with a difficulty level for the time interval; and

changing a difficulty level for a subsequent time interval based on the correlation.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical reference marker splits the second graphical object into equally-proportioned sides.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical reference marker splits the second graphical object into differently-proportioned sides.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second graphical objects are displayed during a time interval, wherein the time interval is in harmonic relationship with a day cycle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the harmonic relationship is represented by a time interval of 84 seconds.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprise kinematical parameters, the kinematical parameters defining the movement of a third graphical object displayed separately from the first and second graphical objects during any part of a predefined time interval.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the kinematical parameters comprise one or more of velocity, positive acceleration, negative acceleration, linear trajectory, and curved trajectory according to predefined spatial coordinate locations of a display.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the display position of the first graphical object comprises changing a trajectory of the first graphical object in relation to the graphical reference marker of the second graphical object.

27. A computer-readable storage device having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for producing interactive visuo-motor and/or interactive oculomotor non-verbal stimuli in a subject, execution of which, by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform operations comprising:

displaying first and second graphical objects on a display, the second graphical object comprising a graphical reference marker splitting the second graphical object into a first side and a second side;

changing a display position of the first graphical object, according to kinematical predefined rules, under visuo-motor voluntary control of a subject; and

changing a visualization of the second graphical object according to the display position of the first graphical object and one or more parameters, the one or more parameters depending on a performance score for the subject based on the display position of the first graphical object relative to the graphical reference marker.

28. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, the operations further comprising:

modifying the one or more parameters during a session in accordance with the performance score for the subject on a previous predefined time interval.

29. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the one or more parameters comprise kinematical parameters configured to allow the subject'"'"'s eyes to voluntarily track the graphical reference marker relative to the display position of the first graphical object.

30. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the display position of the first graphical object is changed under visuo-motor voluntary control of the subject using a mouse.

31. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein displaying the first graphical object on the display comprises displaying a first graphic mobile planar object configured to move along a predefined area of the second graphical object represented as a second graphic mobile planar object.

32. The computer-readable storage device of claim 31, wherein the graphical reference marker is depicted inside the predefined area of the second graphical object.

33. The computer-readable storage device of claim 31, wherein the predefined area of the second graphical object has the graphical form of a pathway.

34. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the first graphical object is selected from a group of graphic mobile objects comprising a car, a bird, a panther, and a yacht.

35. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, the operations further comprising:

providing sensorial feedback information to the subject comprising a degree of navigation smoothness of the first graphical object.

36. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the visualization of the second graphical object comprises changes in graphical and/or kinematical parameters provided in accordance with a predefined program.

37. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein changes to a trajectory of the first graphical object comprise changes to aim the trajectory of the first graphical object to intersect the graphical reference marker of the second graphical object.

38. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, the operations further comprising:

computing a linear distance between the first and second graphical objects, the linear distance based on a distance between a reference sign of the first graphical object and the graphical reference marker of the second graphical object.

39. The computer-readable storage device of claim 38, the operations further comprising:

computing the performance score for the subject during a predefined time interval using the linear distance between the first and second graphical objects during the predefined time interval.

40. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the second graphical object defines a pathway for movement of the first graphical object.

41. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the second graphical object is selected from a group of graphical objects comprising a road, a river, and a canyon.

42. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein changing a visualization of the second graphical object comprises:

changing parameters of a sinusoidal form of a pathway defined by the second graphical object.

43. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the one or more parameters comprise graphical and kinematical parameters of the second graphical object.

44. The computer-readable storage device of claim 43, the operations further comprising:

changing the graphical and/or kinematical parameters of the second graphical object to present different difficulty levels.

45. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, the operations further comprising:

correlating the performance score attained by the subject during a time interval with a difficulty level for the time interval; and

changing a difficulty level for a subsequent time interval based on the correlation.

46. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the graphical reference marker splits the second graphical object into equally-proportioned sides.

47. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the graphical reference marker splits the second graphical object into differently-proportioned sides.

48. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the first and second graphical objects are displayed during a time interval, wherein the time interval is in harmonic relationship with a day cycle.

49. The computer-readable storage device of claim 48, wherein the harmonic relationship is represented by a time interval of 84 seconds.

50. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the one or more parameters comprise kinematical parameters, the kinematical parameters defining the movement of a third graphical object displayed separately from the first and second graphical objects during any part of a predefined time interval.

51. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the kinematical parameters comprise one or more of velocity, positive acceleration, negative acceleration, linear trajectory, and curved trajectory according to predefined spatial coordinate locations of a display.

52. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein changing the display position of the first graphical object comprises changing a trajectory of the first graphical object in relation to the graphical reference marker of the second graphical object.

53. A system for producing interactive visuo-motor and/or interactive oculomotor non-verbal stimuli in a subject, the system comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions comprising instructions for;

displaying first and second graphical objects on a display, the second graphical object comprising a graphical reference marker splitting the second graphical object into a first side and a second side,

changing a display position of the first graphical object, according to kinematical predefined rules, under visuo-motor voluntary control of a subject, and

changing a visualization of the second graphical object according to the display position of the first graphical object and one or more parameters, the one or more parameters depending on a performance score for the subject based on the display position of the first graphical object relative to the graphical reference marker; and

one or more processors configured to process the instructions.

54. The system of claim 53, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

modifying the one or more parameters during a session in accordance with the performance score for the subject on a previous predefined time interval.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the one or more parameters comprise kinematical parameters configured to allow the subject'"'"'s eyes to voluntarily track the graphical reference marker relative to the display position of the first graphical object.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the display position of the first graphical object is changed under visuo-motor voluntary control of the subject using a mouse.

57. The system of claim 53, wherein displaying the first graphical object on the display comprises displaying a first graphic mobile planar object configured to move along a predefined area of the second graphical object represented as a second graphic mobile planar object.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the graphical reference marker is depicted inside the predefined area of the second graphical object.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the predefined area of the second graphical object has the graphical form of a pathway.

60. The system of claim 53, wherein the first graphical object is selected from a group of graphic mobile objects comprising a car, a bird, a panther, and a yacht.

61. The system of claim 53, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

providing sensorial feedback information to the subject comprising a degree of navigation smoothness of the first graphical object.

62. The system of claim 53, wherein the visualization of the second graphical object comprises changes in graphical and/or kinematical parameters provided in accordance with a predefined program.

63. The system of claim 53, wherein changes to a trajectory of the first graphical object comprise changes to aim the trajectory of the first graphical object to intersect the graphical reference marker of the second graphical object.

64. The system of claim 53, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

computing a linear distance between the first and second graphical objects, the linear distance based on a distance between a reference sign of the first graphical object and the graphical reference marker of the second graphical object.

65. The system of claim 64, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

computing the performance score for the subject during a predefined time interval using the linear distance between the first and second graphical objects during the predefined time interval.

66. The system of claim 53, wherein the second graphical object defines a pathway for movement of the first graphical object.

67. The system of claim 53, wherein the second graphical object is selected from a group of graphical objects comprising a road, a river, and a canyon.

68. The system of claim 53, wherein changing a visualization of the second graphical object comprises:

changing parameters of a sinusoidal form of a pathway defined by the second graphical object.

69. The system of claim 53, wherein the one or more parameters comprise graphical and kinematical parameters of the second graphical object.

70. The system of claim 69, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

changing the graphical and/or kinematical parameters of the second graphical object to present different difficulty levels.

71. The system of claim 53, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

correlating the performance score attained by the subject during a time interval with a difficulty level for the time interval; and

changing a difficulty level for a subsequent time interval based on the correlation.

72. The system of claim 53, wherein the graphical reference marker splits the second graphical object into equally-proportioned sides.

73. The system of claim 53, wherein the graphical reference marker splits the second graphical object into differently-proportioned sides.

74. The system of claim 53, wherein the first and second graphical objects are displayed during a time interval, wherein the time interval is in harmonic relationship with a day cycle.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the harmonic relationship is represented by a time interval of 84 seconds.

76. The system of claim 53, wherein the one or more parameters comprise kinematical parameters, the kinematical parameters defining the movement of a third graphical object displayed separately from the first and second graphical objects during any part of a predefined time interval.

77. The system of claim 53, wherein the kinematical parameters comprise one or more of velocity, positive acceleration, negative acceleration, linear trajectory, and curved trajectory according to predefined spatial coordinate locations of a display.

78. The system of claim 53, wherein changing the display position of the first graphical object comprises changing a trajectory of the first graphical object in relation to the graphical reference marker of the second graphical object.