Communication and academic achievement assistive device, system, and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus providing assistance in communication of user expressions from users and academic achievement to such users possessing fine motor coordination impairment, comprising:
- a computer having software and a storage medium having a plurality of potential user expressions;
at least one user screen in communication with said computer having software upon which a plurality of potential user expressions are displayable, said at least one user screen comprising a plurality of user screen sections; and
a plurality of widely spaced apart physical torso operated controls mounted at an acute angle to the user, in association with but separate from said user screen, each one of said controls always corresponding to and associated with a respective same one of said user screen sections and corresponding to said potential user expressions displayed on said user screen sections,wherein when the user wishes to select one of said potential user expressions, the user operates said control that corresponds to the one of said user screen sections upon which the desired potential user expression appears using substantially only gross motor movements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for providing assistance in communication and academic achievement to individuals possessing fine motor coordination impairment. A computer is provided having software and a storage medium having a plurality of potential user expressions. At least one user screen is in communication with the computer upon which a plurality of potential user expressions are displayable. A plurality of widely spaced apart controls are provided in association with the user screen corresponding to the potential user expressions. When the user wishes to select one of the potential user expressions, the user operates the control that corresponds to the desired potential user expression using gross motor movements. A primary component is image-based for pre-literate users, and a secondary component is character-based for literate users. In the primary component, an operator sends images from which the user chooses. In the secondary component, the user selects characters for a two-dimensional content area.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. Apparatus providing assistance in communication of user expressions from users and academic achievement to such users possessing fine motor coordination impairment, comprising:
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a computer having software and a storage medium having a plurality of potential user expressions; at least one user screen in communication with said computer having software upon which a plurality of potential user expressions are displayable, said at least one user screen comprising a plurality of user screen sections; and a plurality of widely spaced apart physical torso operated controls mounted at an acute angle to the user, in association with but separate from said user screen, each one of said controls always corresponding to and associated with a respective same one of said user screen sections and corresponding to said potential user expressions displayed on said user screen sections, wherein when the user wishes to select one of said potential user expressions, the user operates said control that corresponds to the one of said user screen sections upon which the desired potential user expression appears using substantially only gross motor movements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of enabling or assisting communication of user expressions from users and academic achievement to such users possessing fine motor coordination impairment, comprising the steps of:
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i) providing at least one user screen having a plurality of user screen sections; ii) providing a first plurality of potential user expressions on the plurality of user screen sections; and iii) providing a plurality of widely spaced apart physical torso-operated controls mounted at an acute angle to the user, in association with but separate from the at least one user screen, each one of the torso-operated controls always corresponding to and associated with a respective one of the user screen sections and corresponding to the potential user expressions displayed on the user screen sections, wherein when the user wishes to select a potential user expression, the user operates the control that corresponds to the user screen section upon which the desired user expression appears using substantially only gross motor movements of the torso. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification