Abstract: Computer software for language analysis and material design, and a method of natural language training, comprising: receiving a plurality of texts in a predetermined natural language; establishing one or more groups of core words of the natural language; and compiling teaching materials that comprise at least a predetermined percentage of words that are within one or more of the groups. At least one of the groups comprises high frequency words in the natural language.

Abstract: A cap composition that can mechanically attach to a stethoscope headpiece, the cap composition having a cap; a cap element having a design that includes a shape and characteristic dimensions that enable the cap to mechanically attach to a stethoscope headpiece; and a speaker attached to and positioned on or at least partially within the cap, such that when the cap is attached to the stethoscope headpiece, the speaker is either touching or proximate to the stethoscope diaphragm such that a sound or signal emitted by the speaker can cause the stethoscope diaphragm to vibrate.

Abstract: A method and computer usable program product for generating meal plans based on a set of nutritional policies. The process determines nutritional requirements specified by a set of nutritional policies in response to receiving a request for a set of meal plans for a set of users. The set of nutritional policies correspond to the set of users. The process identifies a set of potential meal plans in response to determining the nutritional requirements specified by the set of nutritional policies. Each potential meal plan in the set of potential meal plans satisfies all nutritional requirements for the set of nutritional policies. The process generates a listing of ingredients required by the selected meal plan that is unavailable in a current inventory in an amount required by the selected meal plan, in response to receiving a selection of a potential meal plan to form a selected meal plan.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to an online test platform adapted to facilitate the development, delivery, and management of educational tests with interactive participation by students, teachers, proctors, and administrators even when some or all of them are remotely located. The platform may include administrator interfaces, test proctor interfaces, and test taker (e.g. student) interfaces to allow each participant to view, navigate, and interact with aspects of the online test platform that are intended to meet their needs.

Abstract: An online game that promotes healthy behavior by engaging computer users and by providing educational information about health and nutrition. User participation is measured in relation to an avatar of a belly that gains and loses weight according to game play. Users are assigned an avatar according to answers to profile questions. Users earn points by correctly answering health and nutrition questions. When a user answers a question correctly, the player can help him- or herself or “sabotage” a friend. Users also have options to help a friend. The game has consequences for incorrect answers. Updates to a leader board and a message board allow users to see how friends are doing. Social networking aspects of the game keep users engaged and entertained, and therefore, more likely to participate. Participation helps users to increase their knowledge of health and nutrition facts and therefore, their knowledge regarding healthy behaviors.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods of developing and implementing educational products or materials, including testing products or materials, by utilizing multiple-choice questions. Starting with a given set of facts to be presumed in a question, the method may require one to examine each answer choice, and inquire how a set of facts to be presumed could be modified to make that answer choice the “correct” or “best” answer choice. If a given answer choice is already correct, no modification is needed. If a given answer choice is not correct, various modifications may be employed, including changing some of the words or phrases, or other symbols or objects within the set of facts to be presumed.

Abstract: A system for knowledge assessment and encouraging learning comprises transmitting to the a terminal a plurality of multiple choice questions and two-dimensional answers thereto, the answers including a plurality of full-confidence answers consisting of single-choice answers, a plurality of partial-confidence answers consisting of sets of multiple single-choice answers, and an unsure answer. The system further administers a confidence-based assessment (CBA) test that presents to the test subject the plurality of multiple choice questions directed to categorical topics, and the two-dimensional answers thereto, by which the test subject indicates both their substantive answer and the level of confidence category of their answer. The system compiles a knowledge profile from the scored CBA test, and encourages learning so that the user can address knowledge deficiencies as identified through the CBA test.

Abstract: A method and system for performing automatic text analysis is described. A local ranking for one or more contexts with respect to a word and a global ranking for one or more contexts are generated. The rankings are based on the frequency with which the contexts appear in a corpus. A statistic may be generated using the local and global rankings, such as a log ratio rank statistic equal to the logarithm of the global rank divided by local rank, to measure the similarity of contexts with respect to words with which they combine. A source matrix of word to context values is then created. Singular value decomposition is used to create sub-matrices from the source matrix. Vectors from the sub-matrices corresponding to context(s) and/or word(s) are then selected to determine term-term or context-context similarity or term-context correspondence.

Abstract: A psychological testing and treatment system according to the present disclosure employs a computer to provide objective, unbiased language, independent interaction with users to circumvent natural human psychological defenses and gather information about traumatic or troubling events of the user. A user's interaction with relevant icons permits the computer to gather data to permit diagnosis and treatment. At the same time, the system enables the extraction, archiving and measurement of this data from the user. Subsequent and consequent to this communication via the system, the disturbance in the user is ameliorated to a degree by virtue of the interaction.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying content in a browser window associated with an end-user is described. In one implementation, data that includes links is received from a content provider, each of the links is identified and encoded, and the received data along with the links are displayed in the end-user's browser window.

Abstract: The methodology of the present invention is implemented by a system which defines concepts about which a respondent is required to demonstrate knowledge of a relationship. The concepts are represented by respondent-manipulable devices that are uniquely associated with the concepts, and the respondent is able to manipulate attributes of the devices to create an arrangement of the devices representative of the respondent's understanding of the relationship of the concepts with which the devices are associated. The attributes of the manipulated devices are recorded and converted into a response pattern based on the cognitive relationships of the devices as manipulated by the respondent. One or more predefined rubric patterns are associated with the constructed response item and define possible cognitive patterns of the concepts as represented by the devices. The response pattern is compared to the rubric pattern to identify matches between the response pattern and the rubric pattern.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically producing a schedule of classes for an educational institution having a plurality of teachers, a plurality of students, and a curriculum. The method preferably includes receiving designations of a plurality of curriculum modules of the curriculum, each curriculum module including educational material, one or more of the curriculum modules being prerequisite modules for one or more subsequent modules. The method also preferably includes receiving, as an input into a computer system, curriculum information comprising an indication of which of the modules are prerequisite modules for subsequent modules. An input into the computer system includes student information comprising, for one or more of the plurality of students, an indication of his level of competence with respect to the educational material of one or more modules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for influencing a person to develop, accept and/or understand a concept, position or idea using questioning, including a technique sometimes known as the Socratic Method. A universe of question and answer subsets comprising questions and respective multiple choice answers to each question designed in advance, arranged and inter-connected on a stand-alone computer, a computer on a local area network or computer network, or any computer network and displayed in such a way as to allow the participant to follow the individual's own path by selecting answers he accepts, which tend to logically lead the individual toward agreement and or understanding on the subject.

Abstract: A technique of enabling a singer to auditorily recognize how to change the way of singing is provided. The CPU (11) of a karaoke device (1) associates model voice data stored in a model voice data storage area (14c) with inputted learner voice data in a time axis direction. Then the CPU (11) shifts the pitch of the learner voice data so that it may coincide with the corresponding pitch of the model voice data according to the result of the association, compresses or extends the section (mora) of the learner voice data in the time axis direction so that the section length of the learner voice data coincides with the corresponding section length of the model voice data, and outputs the resultant learner voice data to a voice processing section (18). The voice processing section (18) converts the learner voice data supplied from the CPU (11) into an analog signal and generates the sound from a loudspeaker (19).

Abstract: A multi-scaled instructional apparatus is provided in which a plurality of measurement scales are disposed on a base medium. Each of the measurements scales are longitudinally aligned such that equal units of measure are commonly aligned among all of the measurement scales. A first measurement scale is provided in which a plurality of uniquely color-coded base units of measurement are periodically disposed on the base medium. A second measurement scale, uniformly aligned and adjacent to the first measurement scale includes a plurality of color-coded subunits of measurement periodically disposed on the base medium. Each set of subunits equaling one half of each base unit and color-coded in a color shade corresponding to the color of the base unit. An elongated element is provided to receive the base medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that automatically interject brain activations into video imaging activities or other activities of daily living. During a video game, for example, an interrupt causes a pause in the game and a commencement of an activity involving but not limited to bilateral portions of the body, the peripheral vision of the game-player, and a visual pursuit-type and saccadic-type action on the video screen. Alternatively, the brain activation can be merged into the content of the video game so as to be generally indistinguishable to the user. Automatic feedback from the system encourages more frequent brain activations when performance is determined to be diminished and less frequent brain activations when performance is determined to be enhanced. The combination of events in the activity is believed to engage the frontal lobes of the brain as well as other brain structures and stimulate brain health.

Abstract: A surgical-training device for measuring roughness (non-delicate manipulation) during a simulated-surgical technique is described. The device has a housing, a platform, and a sensor module. The platform is movably coupled to the housing, and is configured for three-dimensional motion relative to the housing. The platform is further configured to move from a start position to a displaced position when a force is applied to the platform as a result of a user performing a simulated-surgical technique on the platform. A sensor module, coupled to the housing, is configured to determine when the platform moves a distance (from the start position to the displaced position) that exceeds a preset-threshold distance. If the preset-threshold distance is exceeded, sensor module indicates (by visual and/or auditory alarms within the device, and/or computerized counting and scoring reports) that the user applied excessive force, and was therefore too rough when performing the simulated-surgical technique.

Abstract: Method for prescriptive learning. The method includes providing a user independent hierarchy of competencies, competency characteristics and assessments with associated rules that identify learning activities and identifying a user specific path through the hierarchy for a selected competency and competency characteristic based on the hierarchy, scoring of at least one question associated with at least one assessment associated with the selected competency characteristic. The rules and user specific information provide a user specific identification of learning activities.

Abstract: A communication system for communicating with students in an education environment includes a plurality of remote units, a base station that receives messages from the remote units, a processor, a memory, and a display simultaneously visible to all users of the remote units. The base station receives a response to a current question from a remote unit. The processor determines whether the current response is a valid response, and uses the display to visually indicate to a user of the remote unit whether the response is valid.

Abstract: A process for using a computer to assess problem-solving skill includes a computer program that grades multi-step problems and is made aware of several different but equally valid formulas or methods that use answers to one or more prior steps to arrive at a correct answer to any problem step for which such choices exist. The user is allowed to submit answers, repeatedly if necessary, to any or all of a problem's steps, in any desired order, until all steps are either graded as correct or the correct answer was requested and given. A user's problem-solving skill level is assessed by compiling how many times answers to each step were submitted and on which Tries; if graded as correct, the Try on which credit was given and whether credit was given for a submitted answer, a submitted formula, or an unsubmitted answer for which prior-answer credit was given; if the correct answer was requested, the Try for which the request was made; and if hints are provided, a summary of their use.