Computer software and portable memory for an electronic educational toy having a contact sensitive display screen

• US 7,214,066 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tinkers & Chance
• Original Assignee: Tinkers & Chance
• Inventors: Marcus, Brian I., Heit, Warren S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng; Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US10/756,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20040142311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 434/201, 434/309, 434/323, 434/335, 434/339, 434/359, 434/362, 434/156, 434/167, 434/169, 434/172, 434/176, 434/322, 345/173
• US Class Current: 434/323
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/06 and being attachable to, or mounted on, the support
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/16 the elements each bearing a plurality of different symbols, signs, or combinations of symbols and signs, only one symbol, sign, or combination thereof, of each element to be used at a time
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/36 the elements being connectible by corresponding projections and recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 11/00 Teaching hand-writing, shorthand, drawing, or painting
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/00 Teaching reading teaching lip-reading G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/003 electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/025 with electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 3/02 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 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 5/065 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 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

Computer software and portable memory for an electronic educational toy designed to stimulate the development of a child'"'"'s mind using audio feedback, the educational toy including an enclosure enclosing a processor, data storage medium and a speaker and having a substantially planar surface, at least a portion of which comprises a contact-sensitive display screen for being contacted by the child.

Claims

1. A portable memory to add educational software to an electronic educational toy by a user thereof, wherein the educational toy includes a housing having a contact-sensitive display screen on which the user may make an input to the toy by causing contact with the display screen and a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad through which the user may make an input to the toy by actuating a button, and the educational toy includes a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button, the educational software designed to teach letters of an alphabet, the portable memory comprising:

a portable memory housing designed to be compatible with and inserted into a portable memory receiving device associated with the electronic toy by the user thereof;

a memory medium contained in the portable memory housing; and

computer software embodied on the memory medium for use with a toy processor in the educational toy, the computer software having;

an instruction or indication to the toy to indicate whether it is operating using the first input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen or the second input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a plurality of questions or instructions output via a speaker, the question or instruction presenting a problem about a letter of an alphabet and designed to encourage the user to make a cognitive selection relating to a letter;

data for use by the toy processor to determine whether the information the processor receives indicative of the user'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the user actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a first audio feedback response output by the speaker, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

data for use by the toy processor to generate a second audio feedback response output by the speaker, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

2. A portable memory as in claim 1, wherein contact with a contact-sensitive display screen is caused by placement of an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

3. A portable memory as in claim 1, wherein the software generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

4. A portable memory as in claim 3, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

5. A portable memory as in claim 1, wherein the interaction between the toy users and added educational software is facilitated by a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen.

6. A portable memory as in claim 5, wherein the plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen can be changed.

7. A portable memory to add educational software to an electronic educational toy by a user thereof, wherein the educational toy includes a housing having a contact-sensitive display screen on which the user may make an input to the toy by causing contact with the display screen and a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad through which the user may make an input to the toy by actuating a button, and the educational toy includes a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button, the educational software designed to teach words, the portable memory comprising:

a portable memory housing designed to be compatible with and inserted into a portable memory receiving device associated with the electronic toy by the user thereof;

a memory medium contained in the portable memory housing; and

computer software embodied on the memory medium for use with a toy processor in the educational toy, the computer software having;

an instruction or indication to the toy to indicate whether it is operating using the first input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen or the second input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a plurality of questions or instructions output via a speaker, the question or instruction presenting a problem about a word and designed to encourage the user to make a cognitive selection relating to the word;

data for use by the toy processor to determine whether the information the processor receives indicative of the user'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the user actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a first audio feedback response output by the speaker, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

data for use by the toy processor to generate a second audio feedback response output by the speaker, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

8. A portable memory as in claim 7, wherein contact with a contact-sensitive display screen is caused by placement of an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

9. A portable memory as in claim 7, wherein the software generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

10. A portable memory as in claim 9, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

11. A portable memory as in claim 7, wherein the interaction between the toy users and added educational software is facilitated by a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen.

12. A portable memory as in claim 11, wherein the plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen can be changed.

13. A portable memory to add educational software to an electronic educational toy by a user thereof, wherein the educational toy includes a housing having a contact-sensitive display screen on which the user may make an input to the toy by causing contact with the display screen and a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad through which the user may make an input to the toy by actuating a button, and the educational toy includes a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button, the educational software designed to teach numbers, the portable memory comprising:

a portable memory housing designed to be compatible with and inserted into a portable memory receiving device associated with the electronic toy by the user thereof;

a memory medium contained in the portable memory housing; and

computer software embodied on the memory medium for use with a toy processor in the educational toy, the computer software having;

an instruction or indication to the toy to indicate whether it is operating using the first input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen or the second input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a plurality of questions or instructions output via a speaker, the question or instruction presenting a problem about a number and designed to encourage the user to make a cognitive selection relating to the number;

data for use by the toy processor to determine whether the information the processor receives indicative of the user'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the user actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a first audio feedback response output by the speaker, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

data for use by the toy processor to generate a second audio feedback response output by the speaker, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

14. A portable memory as in claim 13, wherein contact with a contact-sensitive display screen is caused by placement of an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

15. A portable memory as in claim 13, wherein the software generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

16. A portable memory as in claim 15, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

17. A portable memory as in claim 13, wherein the interaction between the toy users and added educational software is facilitated by a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen.

18. A portable memory as in claim 17, wherein the plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen can be changed.

19. A portable memory to add educational software to an electronic educational toy by a user thereof, wherein the educational toy includes a housing having a contact-sensitive display screen on which the user may make an input to the toy by causing contact with the display screen and a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad through which the user may make an input to the toy by actuating a button, and the educational toy includes a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button, the educational software designed to teach numerical operations, the portable memory comprising:

a portable memory housing designed to be compatible with and inserted into a portable memory receiving device associated with the electronic toy by the user thereof;

a memory medium contained in the portable memory housing; and

computer software embodied on the memory medium for use with a toy processor in the educational toy, the computer software having;

an instruction or indication to the toy to indicate whether it is operating using the first input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen or the second input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a plurality of questions or instructions output via a speaker, the question or instruction presenting a problem about a numerical operation and designed to encourage the user to make a cognitive selection relating to the numerical operation;

data for use by the toy processor to determine whether the information the processor receives indicative of the user'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the user actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction using information;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a first audio feedback response output by the speaker, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

data for use by the toy processor to generate a second audio feedback response output by the speaker, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

20. A portable memory as in claim 19, wherein contact with a contact-sensitive display screen is caused by placement of an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

21. A portable memory as in claim 19, wherein the software generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

22. A portable memory as in claim 21, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

23. A portable memory as in claim 19, wherein the interaction between the toy users and added educational software is facilitated by a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen.

24. A portable memory as in claim 23, wherein the plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen can be changed.

25. A portable memory to add educational software to an electronic educational toy by a user thereof, wherein the educational toy includes a housing having a contact-sensitive display screen on which the user may make an input to the toy by causing contact with the display screen and a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad through which the user may make an input to the toy by actuating a button, and the educational toy includes a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button, the portable memory comprising:

a portable memory housing designed to be compatible with and inserted into a portable memory receiving device associated with the electronic toy by the user thereof;

a memory medium contained in the portable memory housing; and

computer software embodied on the memory medium for use with a toy processor in the educational toy, the computer software having;

an instruction or indication to the toy to indicate whether it is operating using the first input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen or the second input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a plurality of questions or instructions output via a speaker, the question or instruction designed to encourage the user to make a cognitive decision;

data for use by the toy processor to determine whether the information the processor receives indicative of the user'"'"'s cognitive decision triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the user actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a first audio feedback response output by the speaker, the first audio feedback response indicating that the decision by the user corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

data for use by the toy processor to generate a second audio feedback response output by the speaker, the second audio feedback response indicating that the decision by the user is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

26. A portable memory as in claim 25, wherein contact with a contact-sensitive display screen is caused by placement of an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

27. A portable memory as in claim 25, wherein the software generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

28. A portable memory as in claim 27, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

29. A portable memory as in claim 25, wherein the interaction between the toy users and added educational software is facilitated by a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen.

30. A portable memory as in claim 29, wherein the plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen can be changed.

31. A portable memory to add educational software to an electronic educational toy by a user thereof, wherein the educational toy includes a housing having a contact-sensitive display screen on which the user may make an input to the toy by causing contact with the display screen and a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad through which the user may make an input to the toy by actuating a button, and the educational toy includes a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button, the educational software designed to teach spelling, the portable memory comprising:

a portable memory housing designed to be compatible with and inserted into a portable memory receiving device associated with the electronic toy by the user thereof;

a memory medium contained in the portable memory housing; and

computer software embodied on the memory medium for use with a toy processor in the educational toy, the computer software having;

an instruction or indication to the toy to indicate whether it is operating using the first input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen or the second input mode where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a plurality of questions or instructions output via a speaker, the question or instruction presenting a problem about spelling and designed to encourage the user to make a cognitive selection relating to the spelling problem;

data for use by the toy processor to determine whether the information the processor receives indicative of the user'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the user actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

data for use by the toy processor to generate a first audio feedback response output by the speaker, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

data for use by the toy processor to generate a second audio feedback response output by the speaker, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the user is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

32. A portable memory as in claim 31, wherein contact with a contact-sensitive display screen is caused by placement of an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

33. A portable memory as in claim 31, wherein the software generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

34. A portable memory as in claim 33, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

35. A portable memory as in claim 31, wherein the interaction between the toy users and added educational software is facilitated by a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen.

36. A portable memory as in claim 35, wherein the plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen can be changed.

37. A portable memory to add software to an electronic device by a user thereof, wherein the electronic device includes a contact-sensitive first display screen on which the user may make an input to the device by causing contact with the first display screen, a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad through which the user may make an input to the device by actuating a button, a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the device are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive first display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the device are triggered off of actuation of the button, and a second electronic display screen, the second electronic display screen displaying a plurality of visual prompts designed to encourage the user to make a selection in response to the visual prompts, wherein the user makes a selection in response to the visual prompts via the first input mode and/or the second input mode, the portable memory comprising:

a portable memory housing designed to be compatible with and inserted into a portable memory receiving device associated with the electronic device by the user thereof;

a memory medium contained in the portable memory housing; and

computer software embodied on the memory medium for use with a processor-based control system in the electronic device, the computer software having;

data for use by the processor-based control system to generate a plurality of visual prompts by the second display screen, wherein the user makes a selection in response to a visual prompt via the first input mode and/or the second input mode;

data for use by the processor-based control system to generate a plurality of images on the first display screen to facilitate the interaction between the user and the device; and

data for use by the processor-based control system to provide feedback to the user in response to the information the processor-based control system receives indicative of the user'"'"'s selection triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive first display screen when the device employs the first input mode and triggered off of the user actuating the button when the device employs the second input mode.

38. A portable memory as in claim 37, wherein contact with the contact-sensitive first display screen is caused by placement of an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

39. A portable memory as in claim 37, wherein the computer software further comprises an instruction or indication to the device to indicate whether it is operating using the first input mode where inputs to the device are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen or the second input mode where inputs to the device are triggered off of actuation of the button.

40. A portable memory as in claim 37, wherein the processor-based control system includes a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor.