Systems and methods for computerized interactive training

• US 9,679,495 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Breakthrough Performancetech LLC
• Original Assignee: Breakthrough Performancetech LLC
• Inventors: Cohen, Martin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gishnock, Nikolai A
• Application Number:
  US14/255,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20150072321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 434322, 434323, 434350, 434362
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• 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 7/06 of the multiple-choice answer-type, i.e. where a given question is provided with a series of answers and a choice has to be made from the answers

Abstract

Interactive electronic training systems and methods are described herein. Certain embodiments provide preprogrammed video, audio, and/or textual presentations of training materials which provide information related to skills/information to be trained. A scenario including real or animated actors is presented, simulating an interaction. The training system presents related queries for the trainee who audibly responds. The training system stores a score based in part on a comparison of the trainee'"'"'s response with an answer stored in training system memory. Optionally, the scores are substantially immediately presented by the system to the trainee.

Claims

1. A method of computerized training using an interactive computerized training system, comprising:

providing over a network by an application server for display a terminal of a content designer an avatar user interface configured to enable the content designer to at least;

select an avatar from a library of avatars;

assign a role in a presentation to a selected avatar;

assign a voice to a selected avatar;

receiving at the application server over the network from the content designer terminal at least a selection of first avatar from the library of avatars, and role assignment, a first voice assignment for a first presentation, and a second voice assignment for a second presentation;

presenting via a user terminal to a user the first presentation of the first avatar speaking using the received first voice assignment, in the assigned role, using a first script, wherein the first avatar is animated and lips of the first avatar are synchronized with vocalization, using the first assigned voice, of the first script;

presenting via the user terminal to the user the second presentation of the first avatar speaking using the received second voice assignment, in the assigned role, using the first script, wherein the first avatar is animated and lips of the first avatar are synchronized with vocalization, using the second assigned voice, of the first script so that the user can evaluate the effect of voice on a listener.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first voice assignment is of a voice having a first style and the second voice assignment is of a voice having a second style.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first voice assignment is of a voice having a quicker speaking style than the voice of the second voice assignment.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the appearance of the first avatar is the same in the first presentation and the second presentation.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the appearance of the first avatar in the first presentation differs from the appearance of the first avatar in the second presentation.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising querying the user via the user terminal to identify correct and incorrect speaking style technique implementations in the first and/or second presentations.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising storing a user'"'"'s response to a query regarding whether the first avatar was more effective in the first presentation or the second presentation.

8. A system comprising:

a computing device;

a network interface;

non-transitory memory that stores instructions that when executing by the computing device are configured to cause the system to perform operations comprising;

provide, over a network using the network interface, for display a terminal of a first user an avatar user interface configured to enable the user to at least;

select an avatar from a library of avatars;

assign a role in a presentation to a selected avatar;

assign a voice to a selected avatar;

receive, using the network interface from the first user terminal at least a selection of first avatar from the library of avatars, and role assignment, a first voice assignment for a first presentation, and a second voice assignment for a second presentation;

cause to be presented on a terminal of a second user the first presentation of the first avatar speaking using the received first voice assignment, in the assigned role, using a first script, wherein the first avatar is animated and lips of the first avatar are synchronized with vocalization, using the first assigned voice, of the first script;

cause to be presented on a terminal of a second user the second presentation of the first avatar speaking using the received second voice assignment, in the assigned role, using the first script, wherein the first avatar is animated and lips of the first avatar are synchronized with vocalization, using the second assigned voice, of the first script so that the user can evaluate the effect of voice on a listener.

9. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the first voice assignment is of a voice having a first style and the second voice assignment is of a voice having a second style.

10. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the first voice assignment is of a voice having a quicker speaking style than the voice of the second voice assignment.

11. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the appearance of the first avatar is the same in the first presentation and the second presentation.

12. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the appearance of the first avatar in the first presentation differs from the appearance of the first avatar in the second presentation.

13. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the system is further configured to cause a query to be presented to the second user via the second user terminal to identify correct and incorrect speaking style technique implementations in the first and/or second presentations.

14. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the system is further configured to receive over a network via the network interface a user'"'"'s response to a query regarding whether the first avatar was more effective in the first presentation or the second presentation.