Computerized method and apparatus for teaching handwriting
First Claim
1. A method of teaching handwriting skills to a student, comprising the steps of:
- (a) operating a computer to display a stroke of a character to be written on a digitizing surface of a digitizer;
(b) operating the computer to prompt the student to use a digitizing pen to write the stroke on the digitizing surface;
(c) as the student writes the character on the digitizing surface, operating the digitizer to measure pen data including x,y coordinate values, pen tip pressure, finger grip pressure on the pen, pen tilt direction, pen tilt angle, and pen tip height above the digitizing surface for various pixels of the digitizing surface, and determining a representative time of measurement of the pen data for each of the pixels, respectively;
(d) operating the computer to compare the pen data for each pixel with corresponding stored reference pen data for that pixel, respectively;
(e) operating the computer to determine if the comparisons of step (d) indicate that the student is having difficulty in performing a process of writing the stroke; and
(f) operating the computer to determine if corrective action by the student in performing the process of writing the stroke is needed and, if it is, operating the computer to present appropriate corrective information for performing the process of writing the stroke to the student at a beneficial time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computerized system for teaching handwriting skills to a student displays a character to be written, prompting the student to use a digitizing pen to write the character on a digitizing surface, operating the digitizer to capture pen tilt angle, x,y coordinate values, pen tip pressure, pen tip height, and timing for each pixel. These pen stroke parameters and parameters computed therefrom, including pen tilt direction, are compared with stored corresponding "ideal" or "normal" data and the results of such comparisons are analyzed to determine whether a handwriting "process problem" exists. If so, appropriate "on the spot" corrective feedback information is generated and delivered in audible and/or visual form to the student at the times it will be most beneficial.
230 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of teaching handwriting skills to a student, comprising the steps of:
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(a) operating a computer to display a stroke of a character to be written on a digitizing surface of a digitizer; (b) operating the computer to prompt the student to use a digitizing pen to write the stroke on the digitizing surface; (c) as the student writes the character on the digitizing surface, operating the digitizer to measure pen data including x,y coordinate values, pen tip pressure, finger grip pressure on the pen, pen tilt direction, pen tilt angle, and pen tip height above the digitizing surface for various pixels of the digitizing surface, and determining a representative time of measurement of the pen data for each of the pixels, respectively; (d) operating the computer to compare the pen data for each pixel with corresponding stored reference pen data for that pixel, respectively; (e) operating the computer to determine if the comparisons of step (d) indicate that the student is having difficulty in performing a process of writing the stroke; and (f) operating the computer to determine if corrective action by the student in performing the process of writing the stroke is needed and, if it is, operating the computer to present appropriate corrective information for performing the process of writing the stroke to the student at a beneficial time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of teaching handwriting skills to a student, comprising the steps of:
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(a) operating a computer to display a stroke of a character to be written on a digitizing surface of a digitizer; (b) operating the computer to prompt the student to use a digitizing pen to write the stroke on the digitizing surface; (c) as the student writes the character on the digitizing surface, operating the digitizer to measure pen data representing a plurality of pen position parameters and pen movement parameters for various pixels of the digitizing surface, and determining a representative time of measurement of the pen data for each of the pixels, respectively; (d) operating the computer to compare the pen data for each pixel with corresponding stored reference pen data for that pixel, respectively; (e) operating the computer to determine if the comparisons of step (d) indicate that the student is having difficulty in performing a process of writing the stroke; and (f) operating the computer to determine if corrective action by the student in performing the process of writing the stroke is needed and, if it is, operating the computer to present appropriate corrective information for performing the process of writing the stroke to the student at a beneficial time.
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20. A method of teaching motor skills to a student, comprising the steps of:
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(a) operating a computer to display information representing a movement of a control element to be made by the student to prompt the student to move the control element, the control element being coupled to a digitizer; (b) as the student moves the control element, operating the digitizer to measure data representing a plurality of parameters representative of a process of making the movement of the control element, and capturing a representative time of measurement of the data for each pixel of an area of a display of the computer, respectively; (c) operating the computer to compare the measured data and captured data for each pixel with stored corresponding reference data, respectively; (d) operating the computer to determine if the comparisons of step (c) indicate that the student is having difficulty in performing the process of making the movement; and (e) operating the computer to determine if corrective action by the student in performing the process of making the movement is needed and, if it is, operating the computer to present appropriate corrective information for performing the process of making the movement to the student at a beneficial time.
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21. A system for teaching handwriting skills to a student, comprising in combination:
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(a) a host computer; (b) a digitizer having a digitizing surface, a digitizing pen adapted to write a stroke of a character on the digitizing surface, the digitizer being adapted to digitize location parameters and orientation parameters of a tip of the digitizing pen located on or near the digitizing surface, the digitizer is adapted to measure pen data including x,y pen tip coordinate values, pen tip pressure, finger grip pressure on a barrel of the pen, pen tilt angle, pen tilt direction, and pen tip height above the digitizing surface for each of the pixels; (c) timing circuitry associated with the digitizer and adapted to capture a representative time of measurement of the location parameters and orientation parameters for each pixel of the digitizing surface affected by the digitizing pen, respectively; and (d) programmed circuitry in the host computer adapted to i. compare the location parameters and orientation parameters for each pixel with corresponding reference parameters, respectively, ii. determine if the student is having difficulty in performing a process of writing the stroke on the basis of comparison of the location parameters and orientation parameters with the reference parameters, and iii. determine if corrective action in performing the process of writing the stroke by the student is needed and, if such corrective action in performing the process of writing the stroke is needed, present appropriate corrective information to the student at a beneficial time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A system for teaching handwriting skills to a student, comprising in combination:
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(a) a digitizer having a digitizing surface, a digitizing pen adapted to write a stroke of a character on the digitizing surface, the digitizer being adapted to digitize location parameters and orientation parameters of the digitizing pen at each pixel of the digitizing surface affected by the location and orientation of the digitizing pen; (b) timing circuitry associated with the digitizer and adapted to capture a representative time of measurement of the location and orientation parameters for each of the pixels, respectively; and (c) a host computer programmed to i. compare the location parameters and orientation parameters for each pixel with corresponding reference parameters, respectively, ii. determine if the student is having difficulty in performing a process of writing the stroke on the basis of comparison of the location parameters and orientation parameters with the corresponding reference parameters, and iii. determine if corrective action by the student in performing the process of writing the stroke is needed and, if such corrective action is needed, present appropriate corrective information for performing the process of writing the stroke to the student at a beneficial time.
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25. A system for teaching motor skills to a student, comprising in combination:
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(a) a digitizer, (b) a control element to be moved by the student, the digitizer being adapted to digitize a plurality of position parameters of the control element; (c) timing circuitry associated with the digitizer and adapted to capture a representative time of measurement of each position parameter for each pixel of an area of a display, the plurality of position parameters indicating how the student performs a process by which the student performs a movement of the control element; and (c) a host computer programmed to i. compare each position parameter for each pixel with a corresponding reference parameter, respectively, ii. determine if the student is having difficulty in performing the process of making the movement of the control element, on the basis of comparison of the position parameters with the corresponding reference parameters, and iii. determine if corrective action by the student in performing the process of making the movement is needed and, if such corrective action is needed, present appropriate corrective information for the process of making the movement to the student at a beneficial time.
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Specification