Body interactively learning method and apparatus

• US 8,315,552 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chiu-Sheng Tseng, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Mei-Fang Chu
• Original Assignee: Chiu-Sheng Tseng, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Mei-Fang Chu
• Inventors: Yu, Hung-Hsiu, Liu, Ching-Yi, Wang, Wei-Han, Tseng, Chiu-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAGE, EVAN RANDALL
• Application Number:
  US12/032,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20090170057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 434308-321
• US Class Current: 434/321
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• 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

Abstract

A body interactively learning method is disclosed, which comprises the steps of: turning on the power of a body interactively learning apparatus while selecting an operation mode for the same; attaching a motion sensor of the body interactively learning apparatus onto body of a user; using the motion sensor to detect vibrations of the body and consequently sending the detected vibration signals to a processing unit; enabling the processing unit to perform an evaluation for determining whether the vibration signals are valid. With the aforesaid method and apparatus, the user is able to use the valid vibration signals to control a proceeding of an audio/video content that is stored in a data storage unit of the apparatus selected from the group consisting of: playing the audio/video content, pausing the playing of the audio/video content, recording the audio/video content, setting pause points in the audio/video content, searching the pause point of the audio/video content, and changing playing speed of the audio/video content, and responding interactively to the audio/video content. In an exemplary embodiment, the user can either stop the playing of the audio/video content by pressing a stop button of the apparatus or by moving his/her body to generate a specific vibration signal.

Claims

1. A body interactively learning method, comprising the steps of:

(A) turning on the power of a body interactively learning apparatus and selecting an operation mode;

(B) attaching a motion sensor of the body interactively learning apparatus onto a user;

(C) using the motion sensor to detect vibrations of the user'"'"'s body and consequently sending the detected vibration signals to a processing unit, initiating a time counting process when a vibration signal is received by the processing unit having a larger magnitude than a predefined maximum threshold level, and defining a specific duration for the time counting process to last while actively determining whether a first number of vibration signals have magnitudes larger than a second threshold level and a second number of vibration signals have magnitudes smaller than a minimum threshold level;

(D) enabling the processing unit to perform an evaluation for determining whether the vibration signals are valid;

if so, go to step (E);

otherwise, go back to step (C);

(E) enabling the user to use the valid vibration signals for controlling a proceeding of an audio/video content that is stored in a data storage unit of the apparatus selected from the group consisting of;

playing the audio/video content, pausing the playing of the audio/video content, recording the audio/video content, setting pause points in the audio/video content, searching the pause points of the audio/video content, and changing playing speed of the audio/video content, or for responding interactively to the audio/video content;

(F) determining whether the user goes back to step (C) or stops the playing of the audio/video content by performing an action selected from the group consisting of;

pressing a stop button of the body interactively learning apparatus, and generating a specific vibration signal indicating stop playing; and

(G) ending;

wherein the user can use a magnitude level adjusting unit to adjust the maximum threshold level of vibration signal to get valid vibration signal for different users or for different environment when learning.

2. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the interactively learning apparatus is a portable device.

3. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the power source of the body interactively learning apparatus is a source selected from the group consisting of a battery and a solar power source.

4. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a device selected from the group consisting of:

a sensor configured inside the body interactively learning apparatus, and an independent sensor or several independent sensors connecting to the body interactively learning apparatus by a means selected between a wired means and a wireless means.

5. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is adapted to be attached to a body portion of the user selected from the group consisting of the two hands, the two arms, the two legs, the waist and the head thereof.

6. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the audio/video content is composed of at least a file selected from the group consisting of an audio data and a video data.

7. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the audio/video content is capable of being transmitted to a device selected from the group consisting of an external data process unit and another body interactively learning apparatus by the use of a data transmission unit configured in the body interactively learning apparatus.

8. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the recording of the audio/video content executed in the step (E) is performed by a process comprising the steps of:

enabling the user to activate the recording of the audio/video content by a specific body motion or pressing a recording button;

setting up several pause points during the recording of the audio/video content by another specific body motions in a manner that the body interactively learning apparatus playing the recorded audio/video content is paused as soon as the playing reaches any of the pause points;

enabling the user to use a repeat button with a specific body motion to repeat the playing of the portion of the audio/video content that is recorded between a current pause point and another pause point previous to the current pause point; and

enabling the user to use a specific body motion to initiate the playing of the portion of the audio/video content that is recorded between the current pause point and another pause point next to the current pause point.

9. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the setting of pause points executed in the step (E) is enabled for the audio/video content during recording or during playing by the user'"'"'s body motion.

10. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the searching of the pause point of the audio/video content executed in the step (E) is performed in a manner selected from the group consisting of:

enabling the user to execute a specific body motion for activating a forward searching operation until a specific pause point is achieved;

enabling the user to execute a specific body motion for activating a backward searching operation until a specific pause point is achieved; and

inputting a serial number corresponding to a specific pause point by the use of a keypad unit so as to play the audio/video content from the specific pause point.

11. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the changing of playing speed of the audio/video content executed in the step (E) is performed in a manner that the playing speed of the audio/video content is adjusted according to the time interval measured between two body motions of the user.

12. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the user is able to use a repeat button to repeat the playing of any portion of the audio/video content.

13. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the audio/video content is outputted by a device selected from the group consisting of:

a display device and a speaker.

14. The body interactively learning method of claim 13, wherein the display device is a device selected from the group consisting of:

a LED, a LCD displayer, a LED displayer, a plasma displayer, and a CRT displayer.

15. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, capable of being adapted for learning a skill selected from the group consisting of:

language, music and rhythm.

16. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, capable of being adapted for learning a skill selected from the group consisting of:

language, music, rhythm, and any knowledge capable of being learned by memorizing.

17. The body interactively learning method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a device selected from the group consisting of:

an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a force sensor, a displacement sensor and a mechanical vibration sensor.

18. A language-learning method utilizing a body interactively learning apparatus comprising the steps of:

(A1) turning on the power of a body interactively learning apparatus and attaching a motion sensor of the body interactively learning apparatus onto a user;

(A2) selecting an operating mode;

(A3) detecting body motions of the user by detecting vibration signals, initiating a time counting process when a vibration signal is detected having a larger magnitude than a predefined maximum threshold level, and defining a specific duration for the time counting process to last while actively determining whether a first number of vibration signals have magnitudes larger than a second threshold level and a second number of vibration signals have magnitudes smaller than a minimum threshold level;

(A4) playing a question;

(A5) detecting body motions of the user;

(A6) playing an answer relating to the question;

(A7) recording the time interval measured between the two detections of the body motions of the user;

(A8) determining whether to repeat the aforesaid question;

if so, go back to step (A4);

otherwise, go to step (A9);

(A9) selecting a playing speed according to the time interval from step (A7), enabling the user to control the tempo of an audio/video content playing on the body interactively learning apparatus by adjusting the tempo of his/her motions;

(A10) updating the question;

(A11) determining whether the user stops the playing by performing an action selected from the group consisting of;

pressing a stop button of the body interactively learning apparatus, and generating a specific vibration signal indicating stop playing;

if so, go to step (A12);

otherwise, go to the step (A3) so as to get ready to play the updated question according to the playing speed selected from the step (A9); and

(A12) ending;

wherein the user can use a magnitude level adjusting unit to adjust the maximum threshold level of vibration signal to get valid vibration signal for different users or for different environment when learning.

19. The language-learning method of claim 18, wherein the detection of body motions executed in any one of the step (A3) and the step (A5) is performed by the use of a device selected from the group consisting of:

an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a force sensor, a displacement sensor and a mechanical vibration sensor.

20. A music-learning method utilizing a body interactively learning apparatus comprising the steps of:

(B1) turning on the power of a body interactively learning apparatus and attaching a motion sensor of the body interactively learning apparatus onto a user;

(B2) selecting an operating mode;

(B3) detecting body motions of the user by detecting vibration signals, initiating a time counting process when a vibration signal is detected having a larger magnitude than a predefined maximum threshold level, and defining specific duration for the time counting process to last while actively determining whether a first number of vibration signals have magnitudes larger than a second threshold level and a second number of vibration signals have magnitudes smaller than a minimum threshold level;

(B4) setting up a time interval of the music;

(B5) playing music;

(B6) comparing the time interval of the music with a recorded time interval measured by detecting body motions of the user;

(B7) making an evaluation to determining whether one of the following condition is happened;

the music is over, and the user stops the playing of the music by pressing a stop button of the body interactively learning apparatus or by generating a specific vibration signal;

if so, go to step (B8);

otherwise, go back to step (B3);

(B8) calculating an error rate according to the comparison executed in the step (B6); and

(B9) displaying the error rate;

wherein the user can use a magnitude level adjusting unit to adjust the maximum threshold level of vibration signal to get valid vibration signal for different users or for different environment when learning.

21. The music-learning method of claim 20, wherein the detection of body motions executed in the step (B3) is performed by the use of a device selected from the group consisting of:

an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a force sensor, a displacement sensor and a mechanical vibration sensor.

22. A Q&

A learning method utilizing a body interactively learning apparatus comprising the steps of;

(C1) turning on the power of a body interactively learning apparatus and attaching a motion sensor of the interactively learning apparatus onto a user;

(C2) selecting an operating mode;

(C3) playing a question;

(C4) detecting body motions of a user by detecting vibration signals, initiating a time counting process when a vibration signal is detected having a larger magnitude than a predefined maximum threshold level, and defining a specific duration for the time counting process to last while actively determining whether a first number of vibration signals have magnitudes larger than a second threshold level and a second number of vibration signals have magnitudes smaller than a minimum threshold level;

(C5) making an evaluation for determining whether the body motions corresponding to the question are valid or not;

if so, go to step (C6);

otherwise, go back to step (C7);

(C6) informing the user that the body motions corresponding to the question are valid by an audio/video means and then go to step (C9);

(C7) informing the user that the body motions corresponding to the question are invalid by an audio/video means and then go to step (C8);

(C8) displaying the correct answer of the aforesaid question;

(C9) updating the question;

(C10) determining whether the user stops the playing by performing an action selected from the group consisting of;

pressing a stop button of the body interactively learning apparatus, and generating a specific vibration signal indicating stop playing;

if so, go to step (C11);

otherwise, go back to the step (C3) so as to get ready to play the updated question; and

(C11) ending;

wherein the user can use a magnitude level adjusting unit to adjust the maximum threshold level of vibration signal to get valid vibration signal for different users or for different environment when learning.

23. The Q&

A learning method of claim 22, wherein the detection of body motions executed in the step (C4) is performed by the use of a device selected from the group consisting of;

an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a force sensor, a displacement sensor and a mechanical vibration sensor.

24. The Q&

A learning method of claim 22, wherein the evaluation for determining whether the body motions corresponding to the question are valid or not in the step (C5) is performed in a manner selected from the group consisting of;

counting the times of body motions performed by the user while evaluating the validity of the answer by comparing the counted amount with a predefined number;

recognizing a gesture from the detected body motions while evaluating the validity of the answer by comparing the gesture with a predefined gesture; and

comparing the sequence of the detected body motions with a predefined sequence for evaluating the validity of the answer.

25. The Q&

A learning method of claim 22, wherein the audio/video means used in step (C6) and the step (C7) is able to inform the user by a manner selected from the group consisting of;

a light indication from a light display with function indicator, an audio reminder from an audio device, an image displaying from a display device, and the composition thereof.

26. The Q&

A learning method of claim 22, wherein the displaying of the correct answer of the aforesaid question executed in the step (C8) is performed by a manner selected from the group consisting of;

an audio reminder from an audio device, an image displaying from a display device, and the composition thereof.