Products and methods for providing education with a virtual book

• US 8,632,341 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Calabrese, Luigi-Theo
• Primary Examiner(s): MOSSER, KATHLEEN MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US10/371,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,987 Days
• Field of Search: 434/169, 434/185, 434/317, 434/307.R, 434/319
• US Class Current: 434/169
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/067 Combinations of audio and projected visual presentation, e.g. film, slides

Abstract

A product and method for providing a read along educational activity to a user are provided. The product is a single data storage medium containing both book information and associated, coordinated audio narration information. The book information comprises visual images of a book, including pages of a book, moving images of the pages being turned, text on the pages of the book, and pictures or illustrations related to the book or story. The user views the book information on a video screen, as if it were an actual book, while listening to the associated and coordinated audio narration. The product also comprises supplemental features to enhance the read along activity and assist in learning.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium capable of providing a read along activity to a user, the non-transitory computer readable medium executable on a playback device to perform the following steps:

presenting a language menu system for selecting a language from a plurality of languages in which to present the read along activity;

presenting an activity menu system for selecting from a plurality of read along activities;

presenting book information, the book information comprising at least text in the language selected and images of pages within a book and moving images of the pages turning within the book;

presenting audio narration, the audio narration being coordinated with the presentation of book information and synchronized with the moving image of the page turning such that the user may hear the audio narration while reading the text and wherein the user controls the moving image of the page turning; and

presenting a visual and audio vocabulary lesson upon receiving a selection corresponding to the vocabulary lesson on the activity menu system, the vocabulary lesson comprising;

displaying at least one visual story image and at least one sentence;

presenting one or more vocabulary words corresponding to one or more of;

the at least one story image and the at least one sentence;

displaying one or more vocabulary word images visually representing the one or more vocabulary words;

presenting a vocabulary lesson language menu comprising a plurality of language selections for pronunciation of the one or more vocabulary words; and

after a predetermined period of silence, pronouncing the one or more vocabulary words in a selected language.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer readable medium is a digital video disc (DVD) and the playback device is a DVD player.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer readable medium is a digital video disc (DVD) and the playback device is a computer with a DVD drive.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the language of the audio narration is the same as the language of the book information.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the book information is presented in a first language and the audio narration is presented in a second language.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of read along activities comprises at least sing-along songs, music videos, vocabulary lessons, and web searching activities.

7. A method for providing a read along activity to a user, the method comprising:

presenting book information derived from a computer readable medium on a display associated with an electronic device, wherein the book information comprises text of a story and visual data simulating the appearance of a book and the appearance of the pages of the book turning;

presenting audio narration, the audio narration being selectable in a plurality of languages and synchronous with the book information and with the pages of the book turning, wherein the presenting of audio narration is in a first language and can be changed to a second language by input from a user and wherein the user controls the moving image of the page turning; and

presenting a visual and audio vocabulary lesson upon receiving a selection corresponding to the vocabulary lesson on an activity menu system, the vocabulary lesson comprising;

displaying at least one visual story image and at least one sentence;

presenting one or more vocabulary words corresponding to one or more of;

the at least one story image and the at least one sentence;

displaying one or more vocabulary word images visually representing the one or more vocabulary words;

presenting a vocabulary lesson language menu comprising a plurality of language selections for pronunciation of the one or more vocabulary words; and

after a predetermined period of silence, pronouncing the one or more vocabulary words in a selected language.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium executable by a playback device to perform:

presenting a language menu system for selecting a language from a plurality of languages;

presenting an activity menu system containing selections comprising;

a story and a vocabulary lesson;

responsive to selection of the story, presenting the story as a read along activity in one or more of the plurality of languages; and

responsive to selection of the vocabulary lesson;

presenting the vocabulary lesson in one or more of the plurality of languages;

displaying at least one visual story image and at least one sentence;

presenting one or more vocabulary words corresponding to one or more of;

the at least one story image and the at least one sentence;

displaying one or more vocabulary word images visually representing the one or more vocabulary words;

presenting a vocabulary lesson language menu within the vocabulary lesson for selecting another language of the plurality of languages for pronunciation of the one or more vocabulary words included in the vocabulary lesson; and

after a predetermined period of silence, pronouncing the one or more vocabulary words in a selected language.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein presenting the story as a read along activity in one or more of the plurality of languages further comprises presenting text of the read along story in a first language of the plurality of languages and presenting audio of the read along story in a second language of the plurality of languages.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein presenting the story as a read along activity in one or more of the plurality of languages further comprises presenting one or more visual images corresponding to the story.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein presenting the story as a read along activity in one or more of the plurality of languages further comprises presenting animated page turning.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the non-transitory medium is a digital video disc (DVD).

13. A method comprising:

presenting on a display operatively connected to a computer readable medium a language menu system for selecting a language from a plurality of languages;

presenting on the display an activity menu system containing selections comprising;

a story and a vocabulary lesson;

responsive to selection of the story, using the display and an audio device to present the story as a read along activity in one or more of the plurality of languages; and

responsive to selection of the vocabulary lesson, using one or more of the display and the audio device to present;

the vocabulary lesson in one or more of the plurality of languages; and

at least one visual story image and at least one sentence;

one or more vocabulary words corresponding to one or more of;

the at least one story image and the at least one sentence;

one or more vocabulary word images visually representing the one or more vocabulary words; and

a vocabulary lesson language menu within the vocabulary lesson for selecting another language of the plurality of languages for pronunciation of the one or more vocabulary words included in the vocabulary lesson; and

after a predetermined period of silence, pronouncing the one or more vocabulary words in a selected language.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein to present the story comprises presenting on the display text of the read along story in a first language of the plurality of languages and presenting though an audio device audio of the read along story in a second language of the plurality of languages.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein to present the story further comprises presenting on the display one or more visual images corresponding to the story.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein to present the story further comprises presenting on the display animated page turning.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein to present the story further comprises, responsive to user selection of the another language, pronouncing via the audio device the vocabulary word in the another language.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium executable by a playback device to perform:

presenting a language menu system for selecting a language from a plurality of languages;

presenting an activity menu system containing selections comprising a vocabulary lesson; and

responsive to selection of the vocabulary lesson;

presenting the vocabulary lesson in one or more of the plurality of languages;

displaying at least one visual story image and at least one sentence;

presenting one or more vocabulary words corresponding to one or more of;

the at least one story image and the at least one sentence;

displaying one or more vocabulary word images visually representing the one or more vocabulary words;

presenting a vocabulary lesson language menu within the vocabulary lesson for selecting another language of the plurality of languages for pronunciation of the one or more vocabulary words included in the vocabulary lesson; and

after a predetermined period of silence, pronouncing the one or more vocabulary words in a selected language.