Stimulus-response conditioning process

• US 6,652,457 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David V. Lundquist, Gary L. Skiba, Wendy S. Coren
• Original Assignee: David V. Lundquist, Gary L. Skiba, Wendy S. Coren
• Inventors: Skiba, Gary L., Coren, Wendy S., Lundquist, David V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Application Number:
  US09/738,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/558, 600/587, 434/156, 434/185, 701/300
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

A method for interactive training of a user, includes the following steps: providing one or more stimulus/response training modules for user selection, each of the modules comprising a sequence of several stimulus/response sessions; for a selected module, scheduling the sessions at time intervals; for each of the sessions, implementing a sequence of one or more incidents, each incident comprising presenting to the user a visual and/or audio stimulus requiring a verbose response; evaluating each response for acceptability, and informing the user of any unacceptable response; and terminating a module when the scheduled sessions have been performed.

Claims

1. A method for interactive training of a user, comprising the steps of:

providing a stimulus/response training module that includes a sequence of several stimulus/response sessions, at least some of said sessions being repetitive,

scheduling said sessions at time intervals;

for each of said sessions, implementing a sequence of one or more incidents, each incident comprising presenting to the user a visual and/or audio stimulus requiring a verbose response;

evaluating each response for acceptability, and informing the user of any unacceptable response; and

terminating the module when the scheduled sessions have been performed.

2. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein said step of providing a training module comprises providing a plurality of stimulus/response training modules for user selection, and wherein each of said modules comprises a sequence of several stimulus/response sessions, and further comprising the step of user selection of a training module.

3. The method as defined by claim 2, further comprising providing a system that includes:

a processor subsystem with memory and clock functions, at least one medium coupled with the processor subsystem for presenting stimuli to a user and at least one medium coupled with the processor subsystem for receiving responses from the user; and

including the step of programming the processor subsystem to perform the interactive training method.

4. The method as defined by claim 3, wherein said step of providing a system that includes at least one medium for presenting stimuli to a user comprises providing a system that includes a video and/or audio output.

5. The method as defined by claim 4, wherein said step of providing a system that includes at least one medium for receiving responses from a user comprises providing a system that includes a tactile and/or speech activated input.

6. The method as defined by claim 2, wherein said step of providing a plurality of training modules comprises providing training modules that include at least ten stimulus/response sessions.

7. The method as defined by claim 5, wherein said step of providing a plurality of training modules comprises providing training modules that include at least ten stimulus/response sessions.

8. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein said step that includes implementing said incidents by presenting to the user a stimulus comprises presenting a stimulus that requires a verbose response of at least two words.

9. The method as defined by claim 2, wherein said step that includes implementing said incidents by presenting to the user a stimulus comprises presenting a stimulus that requires a verbose response of at least two words.

10. The method as defined by claim 5, wherein said step that includes implementing said incidents by presenting to the user a stimulus comprises presenting a stimulus that requires a verbose response of at least two words.

11. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein said step of scheduling said sessions comprises scheduling sessions spaced apart in time by intervals of at least one hour, and wherein said intervals can be equal or unequal intervals.

12. The method as defined by claim 2, wherein said step of scheduling said sessions comprises scheduling sessions spaced apart in time by intervals of at least one hour, and wherein said intervals can be equal or unequal intervals.

13. The method as defined by claim 5, wherein said step of scheduling said sessions comprises scheduling sessions spaced apart in time by intervals of at least one hour, and wherein said intervals can be equal or unequal intervals.

14. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein said step of evaluating each response and informing the user of an unacceptable response, further comprises presenting the user with a further opportunity for response to the stimulus.

15. The method as defined by claim 14, wherein said step of presenting the user with a further opportunity for response to the stimulus includes the step of presenting a hint to the user.

16. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein the initiation of a session comprises presenting a cue to the user.

17. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein each of said sessions is performable within about two minutes.

18. The method as defined by claim 2, wherein each of said sessions is performable within about two minutes.

19. The method as defined by claim 5, wherein each of said sessions is performable within about two minutes.