Interactive Phonics Game System and Method

• US 20170213475A1
• Filed: 02/09/2017
• Published: 07/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Learning Squared Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Square Panda Inc.
• Inventors: Iannce, F Brian, Farias, Javier, Butler, Andrew, Lee, Carey
• Granted Patent: US 10,380,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/26 Details; Accessories drive mechanisms A63H29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/003 electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems

Abstract

A system for encouraging a child to learn to read, comprising a computing device and at least one physical manipulative, wherein the computing device can identify the physical manipulative and display at least one word relating to the physical manipulative. In an embodiment, a letter identification board with letter manipulatives is included, wherein a child can spell out a word on the letter identification board and the computing device shows an animation of the physical manipulative performing the action indicated by the word.

Claims

1. A system for interactive play with physical and virtual elements, comprising:

at least one physical manipulative;

a computing device comprising;

a display;

a user interface;

an identification module for identifying the at least one physical manipulative;

a communication module for communicating with a server;

a server comprising a database, said database comprising;

a listing of physical manipulatives;

for each physical manipulative, at least one descriptive attribute;

wherein the computing device is configured to;

identify the physical manipulative;

display or modify at least one word related to the physical manipulative on the display.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a set of letter manipulatives;

a letter identification board on which letter manipulatives are placed;

an identification module for identifying which letter manipulatives are placed on the letter identification board;

wherein the computing device is further configured to;

identify any letter manipulatives placed on the letter identification board;

identify a word spelled out by the letter manipulatives.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one physical manipulative is one of the following group:

an animal figure, a cartoon character figure, a doll, an action figure, a vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to retrieve at least one descriptive attribute relating to the physical manipulative, wherein the at least one descriptive attribute is at least one of the following group:

personality, habits, sounds, phrases, geographic origin, size, diet, spelling of a name, pronunciation of a name, at least one Internet link, and wherein the at least one word is related to the at least one descriptive attribute.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification module comprises at least one of the following:

a camera, a NFC module, a QR reader, a bar code reader, a RF receiver, a sound detection device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

detect a motion pattern of the physical manipulative;

display at least one word related to the motion pattern on the display.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

identify at least one word spelled out by the letter manipulatives;

if the at least one word relates to an action, displaying an animation showing the physical manipulative performing the action;

if the at least one word relates to an orientation, displaying the physical manipulative in the orientation;

if the at least one word relates to a position, displaying the physical manipulative in the position.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

detect an orientation of the physical manipulative;

display at least one word relating to the orientation on the display.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising a first physical manipulative and a second physical manipulative, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

detect one of the following;

the relative position of the two physical manipulatives, the absolute position of each physical manipulative, the orientation of each physical manipulative;

display at least one word relating to the interaction between the first physical manipulative and the second physical manipulative.

10. The system of claim 2, comprising a first physical manipulative and a second physical manipulative, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

identify at least one word spelled out by the letter manipulatives;

if the at least one word relates to a relationship between the first physical manipulative and the second physical manipulative, displaying an animation showing the relationship between the first physical manipulative and the second physical manipulative.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is one of the following:

a tablet;

a smartphone;

a laptop;

a desktop;

a wearable computer.

12. A method of entertaining a child, comprising:

detecting the presence of at least one physical manipulative near a computing device;

identifying the at least one physical manipulative;

using the computing device to display at least one word relating to the physical manipulative.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting the presence of at least one letter manipulative on a letter identification board;

identifying each letter manipulative;

identifying a word spelled out by the at least one letter manipulative;

if the word relates to an action, using the computing device to display an animation of the physical manipulative performing the action;

if the word relates to an orientation, using the computing device to display the physical manipulative in the orientation;

if the word relates to a position, using the computing device to display the physical manipulative in the position.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting a motion pattern of the physical manipulative near the computing device;

using the computing device to display at least one word relating to the physical manipulative and the motion pattern.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting the presence of a second physical manipulative near the computing device;

using the computing device to identify any relationship between the physical manipulative and the second physical manipulative;

using the computing device to display at least one word relating to the relationship between the physical manipulative and the second physical manipulative.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting the presence of a second physical manipulative near the computing device;

detecting the presence of at least one letter manipulative on a letter identification board;

identifying each letter manipulative;

identifying a word spelled out by the at least one letter manipulative;

if the word relates to a relationship, using the computing device to display the physical manipulative and the second physical manipulative in the relationship.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising identifying at least one descriptive attribute pertaining to the physical manipulative, where the at least one descriptive attribute is at least one of the following group:

personality, habits, sounds, phrases, geographic origin, size, diet, spelling of a name, pronunciation of a name, link to the Internet, and displaying at least one word pertaining to the at least one descriptive attribute.

18. The method of claim 15, where the at least one physical manipulative is at least one of the following group:

an animal figure, a cartoon character figure, a doll, an action figure, a vehicle.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying the at least one physical manipulative is performed by at least one of the following:

a QR reader, a bar code reader, a camera, a NFC reader, a RF receiver, a sound detection device.