Reading aid for electronic text and displays

• US 20020167534A1
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Garrett Burke
• Original Assignee: Garrett Burke
• Inventors: Burke, Garrett
• Application Number:
  US09/853,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167534A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A reading aid for electronic text serves to frame specific and generally desired portions of text or other displayed information for easier reading and attention-focusing purposes. In conjunction with video memory or other video signal transmission elements, an overlay generator serves to bias a portion of the video signal for a computer display. The bias is such that the framed portion of the display is made distinct from the framing portion which generally maintains its visibility and/or legibility despite opacity. In this way, the framed portion is not subject to over-isolation. While the user may scroll the opaqued portion into the framed portion of the display, the framing portion is generally visible but held in contrast or distinction to the framed portion. Adjustments may be made to the framed and framing areas, and additional features are provided.

Claims

1. A highlighter for electronic text displayed via video memory storing display data, comprising:

an overlay generator, said overlay generator providing partial overlay data for use in conjunction with the display data, said partial overlay data serving to make partially opaque a first portion of display data when the display data is displayed, said partial overlay data generally maintaining legibility of the display data, said partial overlay data indicating a second portion of the display data that is not made partially opaque by said partial overlay data;

whereby

said second clear portion is made more prominent by contrast with said first, more opaque portion to more easily direct a viewer'"'"'s eye to said second clear portion.

2. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first portion made opaque lies on opposite sides of said second portion.

3. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 1, wherein said overlay generator is a software application affecting the display data.

4. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 1, wherein said overlay generator further comprises:

at least one adjustment available to a viewer of the display data.

5. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 4, wherein said adjustment is selected from the group consisting of:

a width adjustment;

an opacity adjustment;

a position adjustment; and

a color adjustment.

6. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

said width adjustment adjusting a width of said second clear portion;

said opacity adjustment adjusting a degree of opacity of said first opaque portion;

said position adjustment adjusting a position of said second clear portion;

said color adjustment adjusting a color of said first opaque portion.

7. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 1, wherein said overlay generator enables scrolling of the display data beneath said first and second overlay portions to highlight other portions of a document associated with the display data.

8. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 1, wherein said overlay generator enables movement of said second clear portion associate with movement of a cursor.

9. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 1, wherein said overlay generator enables transposition of said second clear portion with said first opaque portion and said first opaque portion with said second clear portion.

10. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 1, wherein said overlay generator further comprises:

a bookmark utility, said bookmark utility including a bookmark database, said bookmark database having an entry indicating a point of interest in a document for display in conjunction with said overlay generator.

11. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 10, wherein said bookmark utility further comprises:

a bookmark control utility, said bookmark control utility having operations selected from the group consisting of bookmark creation, retrieval, editing and deletion utilities.

12. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 11, wherein said bookmark creation utility further comprises:

said bookmark creation utility creates a first bookmark for entry into said bookmark database by indicating a portion of a displayed document and entering information associated with said highlighted portion of said displayed document into said bookmark database.

13. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 11, wherein said bookmark retrieval utility further comprises:

said bookmark retrieval utility retrieving a second bookmark from said bookmark database, retrieves and opens a document associated with said second bookmark, and positions said second bookmark for display in said second clear portion of the display data.

14. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 13, wherein said bookmark retrieval utility further comprises:

said bookmark retrieval utility indicating a portion of said opened document originally indicated when said second bookmark was created.

15. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 13, wherein said bookmark retrieval utility further comprises:

a list of bookmarks present in said bookmark database; and

indicated text associated with a particular one of said bookmarks in said list.

16. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 15, wherein said bookmark retrieval utility further comprises:

said indicated text displayed when said particular one bookmark is indicated for possible selection.

18. The highlighter for electronic text as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

said width adjustment adjusting a width of said second clear portion;

said opacity adjustment adjusting a degree of opacity of said first opaque portion;

said position adjustment adjusting a position of said second clear portion;

said color adjustment adjusting a color of said first opaque portion.

20. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 19, wherein said first portion made opaque lies on opposite sides of said second portion.

21. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 19, the steps further comprising:

providing an overlay generator, said overlay generator providing a partial overlay signal for use in conjunction with said video display, said partial overlay signal serving to make partially opaque said first portion of said video display, said partial overlay signal indicating said second portion of said video display that is free from opacity made by said partial overlay signal.

22. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 21, wherein said partial overlay signal further comprises:

partial overlay data used in conjunction with display data, said display data transmitted as said video display.

23. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 21, wherein said overlay generator is a software application affecting said video display.

24. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 19, the steps further comprising:

providing at least one adjustment available to a viewer of said video display.

25. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 24, wherein said adjustment is selected from the group consisting of:

a width adjustment;

an opacity adjustment;

a position adjustment; and

a color adjustment.

26. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 25, further comprising:

said width adjustment adjusting a width of said second clear portion;

said opacity adjustment adjusting a degree of opacity of said first opaque portion;

said position adjustment adjusting a position of said second clear portion; and

said color adjustment adjusting a color of said first opaque portion.

27. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

scrolling said information presented for viewing beneath said first and second overlay portions to highlight other portions of a document associated with said presented information.

28. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

moving said second clear portion in association with movement of a cursor.

29. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

transposing said second clear portion with said first opaque portion and said first opaque portion with said second clear portion.

30. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

providing a bookmark utility, said bookmark utility including a bookmark database, said bookmark database holding an entry, said entry indicating a point of interest in a document for display as presented information displayed for viewing.

31. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 30, said bookmark utility further comprising:

a bookmark control utility, said bookmark control utility having bookmark creation, retrieval, editing and deletion utilities;

said bookmark creation utility creating a first bookmark for entry into said bookmark database by indicating a portion of a displayed document and entering information associated with said highlighted portion of said displayed document into said bookmark database;

said bookmark retrieval utility retrieving a second bookmark from said bookmark database, retrieves and opens a document associated with said second bookmark, and positions said second bookmark for display in said second clear portion of said display data, said bookmark retrieval utility indicating a portion of said opened document originally indicated when said second bookmark was created;

said bookmark retrieval utility including a list of bookmarks present in said bookmark database and indicated text associated with a particular one of said bookmarks in said list, said indicated text displayed when said particular one bookmark is indicated for possible selection.

17. A highlighter for electronic text displayed via video memory storing display data, comprising:

an overlay generator, said overlay generator being a software application affecting the display data, said overlay generator providing partial overlay data for use in conjunction with the display data, said partial overlay data serving to make partially opaque a first portion of display data when the display data is displayed, said partial overlay data generally maintaining legibility of the display data, said partial overlay data indicating a second portion of the display data that is not made partially opaque by said partial overlay data;

said first portion made opaque generally lying on opposite sides of said second portion;

said overlay generator having at least one adjustment available to a viewer of the display data selected from the group consisting of;

a width adjustment;

an opacity adjustment;

a position adjustment; and

a color adjustment;

said overlay generator enabling scrolling of the display data beneath said first and second overlay portions to highlight other portions of a document associated with the display data;

said overlay generator enabling movement of said second clear portion associate with movement of a cursor;

said overlay generator enabling transposition of said second clear portion with said first opaque portion and said first opaque portion with said second clear portion;

said overlay generator having a bookmark utility, said bookmark utility including a bookmark database, said bookmark database having an entry indicating a point of interest in a document for display in conjunction with said overlay generator;

said bookmark utility having a bookmark control utility, said bookmark control utility having bookmark creation, retrieval, editing and deletion utilities;

said bookmark creation utility creating a first bookmark for entry into said bookmark database by indicating a portion of a displayed document and entering information associated with said highlighted portion of said displayed document into said bookmark database;

said bookmark retrieval utility retrieving a second bookmark from said bookmark database, retrieves and opens a document associated with said second bookmark, and positions said second bookmark for display in said second clear portion of the display data, said bookmark retrieval utility indicating a portion of said opened document originally indicated when said second bookmark was created; and

said bookmark retrieval utility including a list of bookmarks present in said bookmark database and indicated text associated with a particular one of said bookmarks in said list, said indicated text displayed when said particular one bookmark is indicated for possible selection;

whereby

said second clear portion is made more prominent by contrast with said first, more opaque portion to more easily direct a viewer'"'"'s eye to said second clear portion.

19. A method for enhancing a video display for viewing, the steps comprising:

making opaque a first portion of a video display, said video display presenting information displayed for viewing;

generally maintaining legibility of displayed information subject to said first portion of said video display made opaque; and

providing a second portion of said video display free from opacity, said second portion of said video display being clear;

whereby

said second clear portion of said video display is made more prominent in contrast to said first portion, to more easily direct a viewer'"'"'s eye to said second clear portion.

32. A method for enhancing a video display for viewing, the steps comprising:

providing an overlay generator in the form of a software application, for use in conjunction with a video display, said video display presenting information displayed for viewing;

said overlay generator providing a partial overlay signal for use in conjunction with said video display, said partial overlay signal making opaque a first portion of said video display while generally maintaining legibility of said displayed information subject to said first portion of said video display made opaque, said partial overlay signal providing a second portion of said video display free from opacity, said second portion of said video display being clear and generally free from opacity, said partial overlay signal including partial overlay data used in conjunction with display data transmitted as said video display;

said first portion made opaque lying on opposite sides of said second portion;

providing at least one adjustment available to a viewer of said video display said adjustment is selected from the group consisting of;

a width adjustment;

an opacity adjustment;

a position adjustment; and

a color adjustment;

scrolling said information presented for viewing beneath said first and second overlay portions to highlight other portions of a document associated with said presented information;

moving said second clear portion in association with movement of a cursor;

transposing said second clear portion with said first opaque portion and said first opaque portion with said second clear portion; and

providing a bookmark utility, said bookmark utility including a bookmark database, said bookmark database holding an entry, said entry indicating a point of interest in a document for display as presented information displayed for viewing, said bookmark utility including a bookmark control utility, said bookmark control utility having bookmark creation, retrieval, editing and deletion utilities, said bookmark creation utility creating a first bookmark for entry into said bookmark database by indicating a portion of a displayed document and entering information associated with said highlighted portion of said displayed document into said bookmark database, said bookmark retrieval utility retrieving a second bookmark from said bookmark database, retrieves and opens a document associated with said second bookmark, and positions said second bookmark for display in said second clear portion of said display data, said bookmark retrieval utility indicating a portion of said opened document originally indicated when said second bookmark was created, said bookmark retrieval utility including a list of bookmarks present in said bookmark database and indicated text associated with a particular one of said bookmarks in said list, said indicated text displayed when said particular one bookmark is indicated for possible selection;

whereby

said second clear portion of said video display is made more prominent in contrast to said first portion, to more easily direct a viewer'"'"'s eye to said second clear portion.

33. The method for enhancing a video display for viewing as set forth in claim 32, further comprising:

said width adjustment adjusting a width of said second clear portion;

said opacity adjustment adjusting a degree of opacity of said first opaque portion;

said position adjustment adjusting a position of said second clear portion; and

said color adjustment adjusting a color of said first opaque portion.