Computing device providing electronic book data having selectable content layers with different difficulty levels and related methods

• US 9,443,442 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Batarseh, Issa, Haddad, Ghaith, Oreifej, Rashad, Al-Haddad, Rawad
• Primary Examiner(s): Bycer, Eric J
• Application Number:
  US13/735,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20130177892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/582 Pseudo-random number generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/185 for building block systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/186 for digital electronics; for computers, e.g. microprocessors
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/125 the stations being mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/073 all student stations being capable of presenting the same questions simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/077 different stations being capable of presenting different questions simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

A computing device may include a display, a memory to store electronic book data having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficulty level, and a processor coupled to the display and the memory. The processor may determine a selected content difficulty level for viewing of the electronic book data, and display on the display the respective content layer of the electronic book data associated with the selected content difficulty level.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a display;

a memory to store electronic book data comprising at least one problem to be solved and having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficulty level; and

a processor coupled to said display and said memory to

determine a selected content difficulty level for viewing of the at least one problem, and determine a given solution technique for solving the at least one problem from among a plurality of different solution techniques,

solve the at least one problem to generate a solution therefor based upon the determined content difficulty level and the given solution technique, and

display on said display the at least one problem of the electronic book data and the solution therefor.

2. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one of a scientific problem, an engineering problem, and a mathematics problem.

3. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem.

4. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a symbolic solution technique.

5. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a numerical solution technique.

6. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the different content layers provide cumulative layers of complexity with respect to one another.

7. The computing device of claim 1 further comprising an input device coupled to said processor to select the content difficulty level.

8. A method for using a computing device comprising a display and a memory, the method comprising:

storing electronic book data comprising at least one problem to be solved in the memory, the electronic book data having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficulty level;

determining a selected content difficulty level for viewing of the at least one problem, and a given solution technique for solving the at least one problem from among a plurality of different solution techniques;

solving the at least one problem to generate a solution therefor based upon the determined content difficulty level and the given solution technique; and

displaying on the display the at least one problem of the electronic book data and the solution therefor.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one of a scientific problem, an engineering problem, and a mathematics problem.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a symbolic solution technique.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a numerical solution technique.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the different content layers provide cumulative layers of complexity with respect to one another.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a computing device comprising a display and a memory, the non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing the computing device to perform steps comprising:

storing electronic book data comprising at least one problem to be solved in the memory, the electronic book data having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficulty level;

determining a selected content difficulty level for viewing of the at least one problem, and a given solution technique for solving the at least one problem from among a plurality of different solution techniques;

solving the at least one problem to generate a solution therefor based upon the determined content difficulty level and the given solution technique; and

displaying on the display the at least one problem of the electronic book data and the solution therefor.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one of a scientific problem, an engineering problem, and a mathematics problem.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the different content layers provide cumulative layers of complexity with respect to one another.