Picture display device with associated audio message

• US 6,393,401 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LJ Talk LLC
• Original Assignee: LJ Laboratories L.L.C.
• Inventors: Loudermilk, Alan R., Jung, Wayne D.
• Primary Examiner(s): S{haeck over (m)}its, Ta̅livaldis Ivars
• Application Number:
  US10/006,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 166 Days
• Field of Search: 704/272, 407/17, 404/55, 407/20
• US Class Current: 704/272
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0616 Ornamental frames, e.g. with illumination, speakers or decorative features
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2001/145 Picture cubes
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/143 producing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/146 recording or detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems

Abstract

A picture frame and accompanying audio message circuit is provided such that one or more desired audio messages stored in the audio message circuit associated with one or more display pictures can be played upon the touching of the pictures or the frame, or in response to a voice recognition device sensing an audio command associated with the particular audio message and/or pictures. When audio message playback is desired, a switch on the frame or under a protective cover for the picture is activated by touching, or a position sensitive device may be used to sense whether a particular position on the picture has been touched. Digital or analog information representing the desired audio message is retrieved from a memory device, which is subsequently transmitted to a speaker which produces the desired audio message perceptible to a human. In other embodiments, multiple picture and multiple messages are provided such that the user can touch a particular picture, or the switch associated with that picture, and an audio message corresponding to the picture is then played through the speaker. In still other embodiments, a system is provided with a plurality of pictures mounted in the perimeter faces of a cube or other geometrical shape, each picture having associated with it a switch for activating a message or plurality of messages. In still other embodiments, a position sensitive device or a voice recognition device is utilized to initiate audio message playback.

Claims

1. A picture display apparatus adapted for and displaying at least one picture of a person and playing back at least one audio message associated with the person in a manner that the at least one audio message may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element adapted to display the at least one picture and having at least one location for displaying the at least one picture;

an audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the at least one audio message associated with the person, wherein the electrical representations of the at least one audio message are input to the audio storage circuit via an input port, wherein the at least one audio message is played through a speaker in response to clocking signals that clock the electrical representations of the at least one audio message from a storage circuit;

at least one touch sensitive switch coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the at least one audio message, wherein the at least one audio message associated with the person is played through the speaker in response to activation of one of the at least one touch sensitive switch while the picture of the person is viewable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio message comprises the voice of the person.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one touch sensitive switch comprises a capacitive or membrane switch.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio message is stored in analog or digital form.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of audio messages associated with the person are stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the person are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one touch sensitive switch.

9. An apparatus for receiving and displaying a plurality of pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing audio messages associated with the plurality of pictures in a manner that the audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element having a plurality of locations for displaying the pictures;

a transparent covering that covers the locations for displaying the pictures;

an audio storage/clocking circuit coupled to the picture frame/holding element, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the audio messages associated with the plurality of pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for input of electrical representations of the audio messages;

a plurality of touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the touch sensitive switches are positioned under the transparent covering in locations that is, if correspond to particular pictures of the plurality of pictures, wherein the transparent covering is adapted so that the touch sensitive switches are activated by touching the transparent covering at the locations for displaying the pictures; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the audio messages, wherein a particular audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a touch sensitive switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to clocking signals from a clocking circuit that clock the electrical representations of the audio messages from a storage circuit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transparent covering comprises a flexible plastic plate.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitive switches is positioned correspondingly to one or more of the faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the one or more faces, wherein a portion of the transparent covering is located over each of the one or more faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particular face of the one or more faces is played back in response to touching of the transparent covering at the particular face.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit is positioned in the interior portion of the picture frame/holding element, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clock having an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a message corresponding to the alarm.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one face.

19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

20. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the first picture.

21. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the audio messages are stored in digital form.

22. An apparatus for receiving and displaying one or more pictures that are to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages correspondingly associated with the one or more pictures in a manner that the one or more audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures and having a speaker for playing of the one or more audio messages;

a transparent covering that covers the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

one or more touch sensitive switches positioned under the transparent covering in one or more locations that correspond to the one or more pictures, wherein the transparent covering is adapted so that the one or more touch sensitive switches is/are activated by touching of the transparent covering at the one or more locations corresponding to the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the picture frame/holding element for converting input audio messages into electrical representations; and

an audio storage and clocking/control circuit coupled to the microphone for storing electrical representations of the audio messages, wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to clocking signals that clock the electrical representations from a storage circuit;

wherein a particular audio message associated with a particular one of the one or more displayed pictures is played through the speaker in response to touching of the transparent covering at the location corresponding to the particular one of the one or more displayed pictures.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a battery coupled to the audio storage and clocking/control circuit and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected ba,the control circuit, audio message playback is disabled.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a control switch for disabling audio message playback.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a light sensor coupled to the frame, wherein an audio message is played through the speaker in response to a signal from the light sensor.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more audio messages are stored in analog form.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the transparent covering comprises a flexible plastic plate.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the audio storage and clocking/control circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays at least a first picture wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the first picture.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more audio messages are stored in digital form.

32. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures in a manner that the one or more audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element adapted for displaying the one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

a transparent covering that covers the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

an audio storage/clocking circuit coupled to the picture frame/holding element, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the picture frame/holding element and coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches are positioned under the transparent covering in one or more locations that correspond to particular pictures of the one or more pictures, wherein the transparent covering is adapted so that the one or more touch sensitive switches is/are activated by touching the transparent covering at the one or more locations corresponding to the one or more pictures; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein a particular audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a touch sensitive switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to clocking signals from a clocking circuit that clock the electrical representations from a storage circuit.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the transparent covering comprises a flexible plastic plate.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

37. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the one or more audio messages are stored in analog form.

38. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitive switches is positioned correspondingly to one or more of the faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the one or more faces, wherein a portion of the transparent covering is located over the one or more faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particular face of the one or more faces is played back in response to touching of the transparent covering at a location above the particular face.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit is positioned in the interior portion of the picture frame/holding element, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one face.

41. A picture display apparatus adapted for displaying one or more pictures and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures in a manner that the one or more audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element adapted for displaying the one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

a transparent covering that covers the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

an audio storage/clocking circuit attached to the picture frame/holding element wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of the one or more audio messages stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches is/are positioned under the transparent covering in one or more locations that correspond to one or more particular pictures, wherein the transparent covering is adapted so that the one or more touch sensitive switches is/are activated by touching the transparent covering at the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures; and

a speaker connected to the picture frame/holding element and coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein an audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a touch sensitive switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clock having an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a message corresponding to the alarm.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more,analog storage devices.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the first picture.

44. A picture display apparatus adapted for and displaying at least one picture of a person and playing back at least one audio message associated with the person in a manner that the at least one audio message may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element adapted for holding and displaying the at least one picture and having at least one location for displaying the at least one picture;

a transparent covering that covers the at least one location for displaying the at least one picture;

an audio storage/clocking circuit coupled to the frame, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the at least one audio message associated with the person, wherein the electrical representations of the at least one audio message are input to the audio storage/clocking circuit via an input port, wherein the at least one audio message is played through a speaker in response to clocking signals that clock the electrical representations from a storage circuit;

at least one touch sensitive switch coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of the at least one audio message stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit; and

a speaker coupled to the picture frame/holding element and coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the at least one audio message, wherein the at least one audio message associated with the person is played through the speaker in response to activation of the at least one touch sensitive switch.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the at least one audio message comprises the voice of the person.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the at least one touch sensitive switch comprises a capacitive or membrane switch.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

48. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the at least one audio message is stored in analog or digital form.

50. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

51. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein a plurality of audio messages associated with the person are stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the person are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one touch sensitive switch.

52. An apparatus for receiving and displaying a plurality of pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing audio messages associated with the plurality of pictures in a manner that the audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element having a plurality of locations for displaying the pictures;

an audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the audio messages associated with the plurality of pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for input of electrical representations of the audio messages;

a plurality of touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the touch sensitive switches correspond to particular pictures of the plurality of pictures; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the audio messages, wherein a particular audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a touch sensitive switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to clocking signals that clock the electrical representations from a storage circuit.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising a transparent covering over the locations for displaying the pictures.

55. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

56. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

57. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.

58. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitive switches is positioned correspondingly to one or more of the faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the one or more faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particular face of the one or more faces is played back in response to activation of the touch sensitive switch positioned correspondingly to the particular face.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit is positioned in the interior portion of the picture frame/holding element, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face are scrolled in response to multiple activations of the touch sensitive switch positioned correspondingly to the at least one face.

61. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clock having an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a message corresponding to the alarm.

62. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

63. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple activations of the touch sensitive switch positioned correspondingly to the first picture.

64. An apparatus for receiving and displaying one or more pictures that are to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages correspondingly associated with the one or more pictures in a manner that the one or more audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures and having a speaker for playing the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches corresponding to the one or more pictures;

a microphone for converting input audio messages into electrical representations; and

an audio storage/clocking circuit coupled to the microphone for storing electrical representations of the audio messages, wherein the one or more audio messages are played through the speaker in response to clocking signals that clock the electrical representations from a storage circuit;

wherein a particular audio message associated with a particular one of the one or more displayed pictures is played through the speaker in response to activation of one of the touch sensitive switches corresponding to the particular displayed picture.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising a battery coupled to the voice storage circuit and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, audio message playback is disabled.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising a control switch for disabling audio message playback.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising a light sensor coupled to the frame, wherein an audio message is played through the speaker in response to a signal from the light sensor.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the one or more audio messages are stored in analog form.

69. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the one or more audio messages are stored in digital form.

70. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

71. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising a transparent covering over the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures.

72. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

73. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple activations of the touch sensitive switch corresponding to the first picture.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the one or more audio messages are stored in digital form.

75. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures in a manner that the one or more audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element adapted for displaying the one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

an audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches correspond to particular pictures of the one or more pictures; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein a particular audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a touch sensitive switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to clocking signals that clock electrical representations from a storage circuit.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, further comprising a transparent covering over the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures.

78. The apparatus of claim 75, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

79. The apparatus of claim 75, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

80. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the one or more audio messages are stored in analog form.

81. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitive switches is positioned correspondingly to one or more of the faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the one or more faces, wherein a portion of the transparent covering is located over each of the one or more faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particular face of the one or more faces is played back in response to touching of the touch sensitive switch positioned correspondingly to the particular face.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit is positioned in the interior portion of the picture frame/holding element, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

83. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

84. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple activations of the touch sensitive switch corresponding to the first picture.

85. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures in a manner that the one or more audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element adapted for displaying one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

an audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of the one or more audio messages stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches correspond to particular pictures of the one or more pictures; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein a particular audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a touch sensitive switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clock having an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a message corresponding to the alarm.

86. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures in a manner that the one or more audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element adapted for displaying the one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

an audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of the one or more audio messages stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches correspond to particular pictures of the one or more pictures; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein a particular audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a touch sensitive switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face are scrolled in response to multiple activations of the touch sensitive switch corresponding to a particular picture of the at least one face.

87. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures in a manner that the one or more audio messages may be heard by persons in proximity to the apparatus, comprising:

a picture frame/holding element adapted for displaying the one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

an audio storage/clocking circuit, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more user-activated switches coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage/clocking circuit; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage/clocking circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein a particular audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a user-activated switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to clocking signals that clock electrical representations from a storage circuit.

88. The apparatus of claim 87, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disable.

89. The apparatus of claim 87, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

90. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the one or more audio messages are stored in digital or analog form.

91. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the picture frame/holding element is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the user-activated switches is positioned correspondingly to one or more of the faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the one or more faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particular face of the one or more faces is played back in response to activation of the user-activated switch positioned correspondingly to the particular face.

92. The apparatus of claim 91, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit is positioned in the interior portion of the picture frame/holding element, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

93. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

94. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple activations of the user-activated switch corresponding to the first picture.

95. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays a plurality of pictures, wherein the one or more audio messages are played back in response to activation of at least one user-activated switch.

96. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays a plurality of pictures, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of a plurality of audio messages.

97. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein each of the displayed pictures has associated therewith at least one audio message.

98. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the apparatus includes at least one face, whereinwith at least one face includes a clock element.

99. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein one or more audio messages are played back in response to a signal from the clock element.

100. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the apparatus includes at least one face that includes a clock element.

101. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein one or more audio messages are played back in response to a signal from the clock element.

102. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the picture frame/holding element is substantially in the form of a geometric shape.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein the picture frame/holding element displays a plurality of pictures, wherein the audio storage/clocking circuit stores electrical representations of a plurality of audio messages.

104. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein each of the displayed pictures has associated therewith at least one audio message.