Abstract: An electronic scale for use in a weight control program in which the weighing histories and desired weight goals for each of a number of individuals are stored. A weigh signal is produced when an individual steps onto the platform of the scale, and the weight is displayed on the top of a column upstanding from the base and spoken. Following entry of information identifying the individual into a keyboard also atop the column, a microprocessor assembles two types of messages, at least one informational and at least one psychologically reinforcing, from stored message components in accordance with the identified individual's stored weighing history and stored desired weight goal and the message is spoken. In response to manual operation of other keys, the scale can calculate any individual's ideal weight goal and can review his stored weight history.

Abstract: A portable electronic dictionary with a micro-computer in a hand-held housing which mounts a plurality of alpha-numeric displays and a keyboard. A plug-in ROM stores a plurality of pairs of sequences of alpha-numeric characters and is searched by a central processing unit in the micro-computer under instructions stored as firmware in another ROM forming part of the micro-computer. One sequence of each stored pair is compared with a sequence which is entered into the keyboard and stored in a RAM also forming part of the micro-computer until a match is found. After one or more sequences have been entered into the keyboard and locations of matching pairs stored in the micro-computer RAM, the pairs of stored sequences can be rolled across the display. Either sequence of each pair can be compared with a sequence entered into the keyboard.