Reading aid

• US 6,568,939 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charon Holding Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Charon Holding Pty Limited
• Inventors: Edgar, Mark Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US09/587,965
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 404/118, 404/156-159, 404/167, 404/169, 404/170, 404/172, 404/173, 404/174, 404/175, 404/176, 404/178, 404/179, 404/180, 404/181, 404/182, 404/183, 404/184, 404/307.R, 404/307.A
• US Class Current: 434/179
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/04 for increasing the rate of reading; Reading rate control
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems

Abstract

A system (11) for presenting textual and/or graphical information for reading. The system includes a visual display unit (15) for displaying the textual and/or graphical information within a general layout screen, a microcomputer including processing means (13) to receive the textual and/or graphical information in an electronically encoded form and process the same for presentation on the visual display unit (15). A computer program (19) is provided for controlling the presentation of the textual and/or graphical information on the visual display unit (15) in a prescribed manner. A keyboard and mouse input (17) is included for inputting control signals to operate the processing means (13) and the computer program (19) or for altering control parameters of same. The computer program (19) sequentially locates discrete and successive portions of the textual and/or graphical information at the same position on the layout screen at a prescribed blanking time apart, each portion being displayed at this position for a prescribed display time. The general layout screen is divided into a browser pane (37) for displaying a block of textual and/or graphical information to be presented and a flash pane (39), within which the position for sequentially locating the discrete and successive portions of the textual and/or graphical information is centrally situated.

Claims

1. A system for presenting textual and/or graphical information for reading including:

display means for displaying the textual and/or graphical information on a display medium;

processing means to receive the textual and/or graphical information in an electronically encoded form and process the same for presentation on said display medium;

control means for controlling the presentation of the textual and/or graphical information on said display medium;

input means for inputting control signals to operate said processing means and said control means or for altering control parameters for said processing means and said control means;

said control means being adapted to sequentially locate discrete and successive portions of said textual and/or graphical information at the same position on said display medium, the entire portion of each discrete and successive portion being displayed substantially instantaneously at said position for a prescribed display time;

said control means including application means to define the general layout of said display medium for the presentation of the textual and/or graphical information and the visual control attributes of the system; and

wherein said control means further includes paning means to arrange said general layout into one or more panes in which the textual and/or graphical information is presented.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said application means is directly responsive to said control parameters for said control means and invokes particular control functions for defining and specifying particular characteristics of the presentation of the textual and/or graphical information within said general layout, in accordance with the setting of a particular control parameter therefor and the inputting of said control signals from said input means.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said panes include a flash pane and a browser pane, said flash pane including said position and said browser pane including an area for locating a larger portion of said textual and/or graphical information from which said discrete portions are derived.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said paning means arranges for said flash pane and said browser pane to be displayed in the same window in conjunction with each other for simultaneous operation.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means includes centring scrolling means for automatically scrolling the presentation of said larger portion within said browser pane and centring the row of said larger portion which is presenting corresponding textual and/or graphical information to said discrete portion, within said browser pane.

6. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said paning means includes highlighting means to highlight said corresponding textual and/or graphical information within said browser pane.

7. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control means includes block selection means for selecting a block of said textual or graphical information displayed within said browser pane for subsequent sequential presentation of said discrete and successive portions thereof on said flash pane.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes delay means for setting the control parameters for said prescribed display time.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes portion selection means for setting the control parameters for said discrete and successive portion.

10. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control means includes pane scaling means for making said browser pane a scalable proportion of a said window containing both said browser pane and said flash pane, relative to said flash pane.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes scanning rate means for calculating a progressive tally of said textual and/or graphical information being scanned per time interval and displaying same for said general layout.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said scanning rate means calculates and displays the word per minute rate of textual information being located and displayed at said position.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes control parameter varying means for varying certain of the settable control parameters concurrently and independently of the operation of other control parameters and functions of said control means.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said control means includes delay means for setting the control parameters for said prescribed delay time, and said control parameter varying means interacts with said delay means for varying the control parameters for said prescribed delay time, after having been set, in a controlled and continuous manner.

15. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means displays each said discrete and successive portion of said textual and/or graphical information at a prescribed blanking time apart.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said control means includes delay means for setting the control parameters for said prescribed blanking time.

17. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said control means includes delay means for setting the control parameters for said prescribed display time, and control parameter varying means for varying certain of the settable control parameters concurrently and independently of the operation of other control parameters and functions of said control means, and wherein said control parameter varying means interacts with said delay means for varying the control parameters for said prescribed blanking time, after having been set, in a controlled and continuous manner.

18. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said control means includes repainting means for repainting the pane on which said textual and/or graphical information is sequentially located the same colour as the background colour of said pane for the entire duration of said prescribed blanking time, immediately after the elapsing of said prescribed display time.

19. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing means is a microcomputer having a graphical user interface including a multitasking windowing function.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said control means includes a time management means for monitoring the prospective and elapsed time of functions performed thereby and coordinating the relinquishment and return of control to and from said multitasking windowing function.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said time management means monitors the time required to perform functions of the system and determines whether a current function is scheduled to take longer than the requisite time interval allowed for such functions by said multitasking windowing function;

in response to determining current functions scheduled to take longer than said requisite time interval, said time management means relinquishes control of the system to said multitasking windowing function and regains said control after it is returned from said multitasking windowing function and on said return said time management means calculates the remaining time to perform said current function and if greater than said requisite time interval, repeats the relinquishing of said control to said multitasking windowing function;

in response to determining current functions scheduled to take less than said requisite time interval, said time management means unconditionally dwindles time until the function is completed and monitors the next function.

22. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said control means is a computer program comprising a compilation of a plurality of source files including a main source code file, a header file, a resources file and a resource header file, said source files forming an executable file for running together with one or more prescribed dynamic linked libraries on said computer.

23. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control means is a computer program operated by means of menu items each having a corresponding accelerator for sending out a message invoking a function in a prescribed class, said prescribed classes including one or more of the following functions:

i) creation of an application for said computer program and an instance for the function holding said browser pane and said flash pane;

ii) holding said browser pane and said flash pane for displaying on said display means;

iii) obtaining various delay rates for operating said flash pane from said input means;

iv) obtaining the number of discrete items of said textual and/or graphical information per flash of said flash pane from said input means;

v) storing the offsets identifying the block selection of said textual and/or graphical information and centring same in said browser pane;

vi) managing the display of said textual and/or graphical information in said flash pane;

vii) displaying a prescribed number of discrete items of said textual and/or graphical information to constitute said portion.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein a said function may invoke further functions.

25. A method for presenting textual and/or graphical information for reading including:

selecting discrete and successive portions of the textual and/or graphical information;

displaying said portions sequentially at the same position of a display medium; and

displaying the entire portion of each discrete and successive portion substantially instantaneously at said position for a prescribed display time;

defining and specifying particular characteristics of the presentation of the textual and/or graphical information within a general layout for displaying on said display medium in accordance with the setting of particular control parameters therefor; and

arranging said general layout into one or more panes in which the textual and/or graphical information is prescribed;

wherein said panes include a flash pane and a browser pane, said flash pane including said position and said browser pane including an area for locating a larger portion of said textual and/or graphical information from which said discrete portions are derived.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, including displaying said flash pane and said browser pane in the same window in conjunction with each other and simultaneously operating same.

27. A method as claimed in claim 25, including automatically scrolling the presentation of said larger portion within said browser pane and centring the row of said larger portion which is presenting corresponding textual and/or graphical information to said discrete portion, within said browser pane.

28. A method as claimed in claim 25, including highlighting means to highlight said corresponding textual and/or graphical information within said browser pane.

29. A method as claimed in claim 25, including selecting a block of said textual or graphical information displayed within said browser pane and subsequently presenting said discrete and successive portions thereof on said flash pane.

30. A method as claimed in claim 25, including setting the control parameters for said prescribed display time.

31. A method as claimed in claim 25, including setting the control parameters for said discrete and successive portion.

32. A method as claimed in claim 25, including:

displaying said flash pane and said browser pane in the same window in conjunction with each other;

simultaneously operating same; and

making said browser pane a scalable proportion of the visual layout relative to said flash pane.

33. A method as claimed in claim 25, including calculating a progressive tally of said textual and/or graphical information being scanned per time interval and displaying same or said visual layout.

34. A method as claimed in claim 25, including varying certain of the settable control parameters concurrently and independently of the operation of other control parameters and functions.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, including varying the control parameters for said prescribed delay time, after having been set, in a controlled and continuous manner.

36. A method as claimed in claim 25, including displaying each said discrete and successive portion of said textual and/or graphical information at a prescribed blanking time apart.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, setting the control parameters for said prescribed blanking time.

38. A method as claimed in claim 36, including varying certain of the settable control parameters concurrently and independently of the operation of other control parameters and functions, and varying the control parameters for said prescribed blanking time, after having been set, in a controlled and continuous manner.

39. A method as claimed in claim 25, including repainting the pane the same colour as the background colour of said flash pane for the entire duration of said prescribed blanking time, immediately after the elapsing of said prescribed display time.

40. A method as claimed in claim 25, including presenting the textual and/or graphical information for reading in conjunction with a multitasking windowing function.

41. A method as claimed in claim 40, including monitoring the prospective and elapsed time of functions performed by the presenting of the textual and/or graphical information and coordinating the relinquishment and return of control to and from said multitasking windowing function.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41, including monitoring the time required to perform functions and determining whether a current function is scheduled to take longer than the requisite time interval allowed for such functions by said multitasking windowing function, relinquishing control to said multitasking windowing function and regaining control therefrom in response to determining a current function scheduled to take longer than said requisite time interval, calculating the remaining time to perform said current function on the return of control from said multitasking windowing function, and if greater than the requisite time function, repeating the relinquishing of control to said multitasking windowing function, and unconditionally dwindling time until the function is completed in response to determining a current function scheduled to take less than the requisite time interval and monitoring the next function after said dwindling.

43. A method as claimed in claim 25, including operating menu items each having a corresponding accelerator for sending out a message invoking a function in a prescribed class, said prescribed classes including one or more of the following functions:

i) creation of an application for a computer program and an instance for the function holding said browser pane and said flash pane;

ii) holding said browser pane and said flash pane for displaying on said display medium;

iii) obtaining various delay rates for operating said flash pane from an input means;

iv) obtaining the number of discrete items of said textual and/or graphical information per flash of said flash pane from said input means;

v) storing the offsets identifying the block selection of said textual and/or graphical information and centring same in said browser pane;

vi) managing the display of said textual and/or graphical information in said flash pane;

vii) displaying a prescribed number of discrete items of said textual and/or graphical information to constitute said portion.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein a said function may invoke further functions.

45. A system for presenting textual and/or graphical information for reading including:

display means for displaying the textual and/or graphical information on a display medium;

processing means to receive the textual and/or graphical information in an electronically encoded form and process the same for presentation on said display medium;

control means for controlling the presentation of the textual and/or graphical information on said display medium; and

input means for inputting control signals to operate said processing means and said control means or for altering control parameters for said processing means and said control means;

said control means being provided to sequentially locate discrete and successive portions of said textual and/or graphical information at the same position on said display medium, the entire portion of each discrete and successive portion being displayed substantially instantaneously at said position for a prescribed display time;

wherein said processing means is a microcomputer having a graphical user interface including a multitasking windowing function;

and wherein said control means includes a time management means for monitoring the prospective and elapsed time of functions performed thereby and coordinating the relinquishment and return of control to and from said multitasking windowing function.

46. A system for presenting textual and/or graphical information for reading including:

display means for displaying the textual and/or graphical information on a display medium;

processing means to receive the textual and/or graphical information in an electronically encoded form and process the same for presentation on said display medium;

control means for controlling the presentation of the textual and/or graphical information on said display medium; and

input means for inputting control signals to operate said processing means and said control means or for altering control parameters for said processing means and said control means;

said control means being provided to sequentially locate discrete and successive portions of said textual and/or graphical information at the same position on said display medium, the entire portion of each discrete and successive portion being displayed substantially instantaneously at said position for a prescribed display time;

wherein said display means, said processing means said control means and said input means combine to provide a graphical interface to a user of the system for the purpose of inputting control parameters to the control means and for selecting portions of textual and/or graphical information from a sequence of said received textual and/or graphical information for presentation by said control means.

47. A system for presenting textual and/or graphical information for reading including:

display means for displaying the textual and/or graphical information on a display medium;

processing means to receive the textual and/or graphical information in an electronically encoded form and process the same for presentation on said display medium;

control means for controlling the presentation of the textual and/or graphical information on said display medium; and

input means for inputting control signals to operate said processing means and said control means or for altering control parameters for said processing means and said control means;

wherin said control means sequentially locates discrete and successive portions of said textual and/or graphical information at the same position on said display medium at a prescribed blanking time apart, each portion being displayed at said position for a prescribed display time.