Interactive games for teaching financial principles

• US 6,890,179 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CASHFLOW Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CASHFLOW Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Gipp, David Andrew, Rogan, Philip Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US10/267,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20040067469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 434/107, 434/350, 434/362, 273/256, 705/1
• US Class Current: 434/107
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/205 Education administration or guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/16 Control of vehicles or other craft simulators G09B9/02
• 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

Electronic media for teaching others financial principles includes an interactive game that includes a financial lesson. The interactive game may be remotely accessed by users via a network such as the Internet. In certain embodiments the interactive game includes (i) a lesson portion; (ii) a game play portion; and, optionally, (iii) a lesson reinforcement portion. In other embodiments the interactive game includes one or more rewards for successfully completing each interactive game. Such rewards may include a certificate of achievement and/or access to an otherwise inaccessible game.

Claims

1. A system for teaching financial principles, the system comprising:

a server computer operative to be accessed by one or more client terminals over a communications network; and

software stored on a tangible medium in communication with the server computer, the software including machine readable code that when executed by a processor is configured for;

providing output to a user of the one or more client terminals via the communications network, wherein the output comprises video data representations of one or more animated characters conveying one or more financial lessons; and

receiving input from the user via the one or more client terminals and communications network, the input comprising user response information relating to the one or more financial lessons;

wherein the user response information comprises user actions to assist the one or more animated characters to accomplish a financial goal;

wherein the financial goal comprises earning a greatest profit from a sale of an item; and

wherein the provided output to the user further comprises video data representations of an interactive evaluation tool for the user actions to assist the one or more animated characters to earn the greatest profit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the machine readable code, when executed by the processor is further configured for:

processing the received input and updating the output to the user based on the processed received input.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the communications network comprises an Internet.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the updated output comprises information for reinforcing the one or more financial lessons.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the updated output comprises accuracy information confirming the accuracy of the user response information.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the updated output further comprises recognition information recognizing a user'"'"'s efforts in responding.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the recognition information comprises indicia of an achievement award.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more financial principles pertain to at least one financial principle selected from the group consisting of:

debts, return on investment, earned income, charity, profit, elasticity of price and demand, and asset income.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the financial goal comprises obtaining money for playing a game.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the financial goal comprises giving to charity.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the financial goal comprises generating a greatest asset income.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the interactive evaluation tool assists the user in determining an elasticity of price and demand for the item.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the provided output to the user further comprises video data representations for user selection of one from a plurality of available financial games.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the provided output to the user further comprises video data representations for user selection of a complexity of the one or more financial lessons.

15. A method of hosting a system for teaching financial principles comprising:

facilitating access by one or more client terminals to a server computer over a communications network, wherein the server computer includes access to software stored on a tangible medium, the software including machine readable code that when executed by a processor is configured for;

(i) providing output to a user of the one or more client terminals via the communications network, wherein the output comprises video data representations of one or more animated characters conveying one or more financial lessons; and

(ii) receiving input from the user via the one or more client terminals and communications network, the input comprising user response information relating to the one or more financial lessons

facilitating communication of the output to the one or more client terminals; and

facilitating communication of the user response information to the server computer;

wherein the one or more financial lessons comprises a profit lesson wherein the user assists the one or more animated characters to earn the greatest profit from a sale of a product.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or more financial lessons comprises an investment lesson wherein the user interacts with the software to obtain money by working, borrowing or investing.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or more financial lessons comprises a charity lesson wherein the user interacts with the software to set aside money in three separate accounts comprising a savings account, an expenses account and a charity account.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or more financial lessons comprises an asset income lesson wherein the user interacts with the software to place investments assets in locations on a displayed map to generate asset income.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or more financial lessons are presented to the user in a game context and wherein the one or more lessons comprise a profit lesson, an investment lesson, a charity lesson and an asset income lesson.

20. A computer program product comprising machine-readable code stored on a tangible medium, the machine readable code comprising:

code for communicating with a client terminal over a communications network;

code for outputting video display information to the client terminal, the video display information comprising graphics data representations of one or more characters animated to convey one or more financial principles;

code for processing response information received from the client terminal via the communications network; and

code for updating video display information according to the received response information;

wherein the video display information further includes graphics data for visually representing a tool for a user to use in determining a demand at a specified price of an item.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the video display information further comprises graphics data prompting a user to select one from a plurality of available games for teaching financial principles.

22. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the video display information further comprises graphics data prompting a user to select one from a plurality of available levels of complexity of the one or more financial principles.

23. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the output video display information comprises data for visually and audibly representing:

a first animated character to explain the one or more financial principles to a user; and

a second animated character for which the user is prompted to assist reach a financial goal.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the financial goal comprises earning a greatest profit from a sale of an item.

25. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the financial goal comprises obtaining money in various ways.

26. The computer program product of claim 25 wherein obtaining money in various ways comprises working for money, borrowing money, and investing in assets for money.

27. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the financial goal comprises giving to charity.

28. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the financial goal comprises generating income by positioning an income asset in a desirable location on a user displayed map.

29. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the video display information further comprises data for visually and audibly representing a user controlled character navigating through a side scrolling background to collect desirable items and avoid undesirable items.

30. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the desired items comprise money, income assets and goodwill, and wherein the undesirable items comprise expenses.

31. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the money, income assets and goodwill are respectively represented by tokens, money trees and hearts, and wherein expenses are represented by falling doodads.

32. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the code for updating video display information according to the received response information comprises code for outputting updated video display information informing a user whether the received response information is accurate.

33. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the updated video display information comprises audio data and graphics data.

34. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the updated video display information comprises at least one of a first message confirming an accuracy of the response information, and a second message reinforcing the one or more conveyed financial principles.

35. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising:

code for rewarding a user for providing accurate received response information.

36. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising:

code for a recreational game; and

code for not otherwise allowing the client terminal to access the recreational game without a user first accurately completing lessons associated with the one or more conveyed financial principles.

37. A method of hosting a system for teaching financial principles comprising:

facilitating access by one or more client terminals to a server computer over a communications network, wherein the server computer includes access to software stored on a tangible medium, the software including machine readable code that when executed by a processor is configured for;

(i) providing output to a user of the one or more client terminals via the communications network, wherein the output comprises video data representations of one or more animated characters conveying one or more financial lessons; and

(ii) receiving input from the user via the one or more client terminals and communications network, the input comprising user response information relating to the one or more financial lessons

facilitating communication of the output to the one or more client terminals; and

facilitating communication of the user response information to the server computer;

wherein the one or more financial lessons comprises a charity lesson wherein the user interacts with the software to set aside money in three separate accounts comprising a savings account, an expenses account and a charity account.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the one or more financial lessons comprises an investment lesson wherein the user interacts with the software to obtain money by working, borrowing or investing.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the one or more financial lessons comprises an asset income lesson wherein the user interacts with the software to place investments assets in locations on a displayed map to generate asset income.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the one or more financial lessons are presented to the user in a game context and wherein the one or more lessons comprise a profit lesson, an investment lesson, a charity lesson and an asset income lesson.

41. A method of hosting a system for teaching financial principles comprising:

facilitating access by one or more client terminals to a server computer over a communications network, wherein the server computer includes access to software stored on a tangible medium, the software including machine readable code that when executed by a processor is configured for;

(i) providing output to a user of the one or more client terminals via the communications network, wherein the output comprises video data representations of one or more animated characters conveying one or more financial lessons; and

(ii) receiving input from the user via the one or more client terminals and communications network, the input comprising user response information relating to the one or more financial lessons

facilitating communication of the output to the one or more client terminals; and

facilitating communication of the user response information to the server computer;

wherein the one or more financial lessons comprises an asset income lesson wherein the user interacts with the software to place investments assets in locations on a displayed map to generate asset income.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the one or more financial lessons comprises an investment lesson wherein the user interacts with the software to obtain money by working, borrowing or investing.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the one or more financial lessons are presented to the user in a game context and wherein the one or more lessons comprise a profit lesson, an investment lesson, a charity lesson and an asset income lesson.

44. A computer program product comprising machine-readable code stored on a tangible medium, the machine readable code comprising:

code for communicating with a client terminal over a communications network;

code for outputting video display information to the client terminal, the video display information comprising graphics data representations of one or more characters animated to convey one or more financial principles;

code for processing response information received from the client terminal via the communications network; and

code for updating video display information according to the received response information;

wherein the output video display information comprises data for visually and audibly representing;

a first animated character to explain the one or more financial principles to a user; and

a second animated character for which the user is prompted to assist reach a financial goal; and

wherein the financial goal comprises generating income by positioning an income asset in a desirable location on a user displayed map.

45. A computer program product comprising machine-readable code stored on a tangible medium, the machine readable code comprising:

code for communicating with a client terminal over a communications network;

code for outputting video display information to the client terminal, the video display information comprising graphics data representations of one or more characters animated to convey one or more financial principles;

code for processing response information received from the client terminal via the communications network; and

code for updating video display information according to the received response information;

wherein the video display information further comprises data for visually and audibly representing a user controlled character navigating through a side scrolling background to collect desirable items and avoid undesirable items.

46. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the desired items comprise money, income assets and goodwill, and wherein the undesirable items comprise expenses.

47. The computer program product of claim 46 wherein the money, income assets and goodwill are respectively represented by tokens, money trees and hearts, and wherein expenses are represented by falling doodads.