Abstract: The present invention is a system that comprises a toothbrush with fiducial markers (a fiduciated toothbrush), a sensor and a computation engine. The system tracks the position, orientation and motion of the fiduciated brush relative to the sensor or relative to another object within view of the sensor, Several marker systems offer elevated fiducial salience above the salience of other objects in the scene. These systems include retroreflective markers illuminated by a light source near the sensor, or light emitting markers, or fluorescent markers illuminated by ultraviolet light. In every case the illumination can be modulated to create from each fiducial marker a set of temporal fiducials that allow for intra-frame motion analysis. Non-uniform temporal modulation patterns as well a differently colored markers help disambiguate the sensor data.

Abstract: A tooth brushing training system that appears to be a game to children captures video of a user during tooth brushing and displays the captured video alongside an animated or recorded video illustrating the desired tooth brushing motion. An animated character with exaggerated teeth and a head that flips open may aid in illustrating the desired tooth brush position and motion, guides the user through a desired brushing routine. At the conclusion of the brushing routine, a series of screens are displayed to the user in which the user's position at a particular point in the brushing routine is shown in one quadrant while three instructional images are shown in the other quadrants. The user is asked to select the correct instructional image that corresponds to the user's displayed tooth brush position. Points are assigned for correct answers and various types of electronic rewards are provided for high scores.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel affordance to algebra. It combines the immediacy of a manipulative with the power of a computer algebra system. Operations are executed in-place on a mutable expression, by direct manipulation of its terms by the user. Terms, whether simple or complex, can be selected by the user and dragged from one location in the expression to another. The equivalence of the expression is maintained by changes to the moving term and other terms in the expression. A highly interactive interface illuminates to the user the range of potential actions. The beneficiaries of this technology are students, who have a new avenue for exploratory learning and technologists, who have a new tool for symbolic reasoning.

Abstract: A logic visualization machine that uses dynamic physical analog pictograms to illustrate logical argument structures. With this approach, an analysis of alternative hypotheses is presented in a side-by-side comparison in which each hypothesis is visualized by a similar physical analog pictogram. Elements of evidence are illustrated as physical analog components in the pictograms and ascribed to each pictogram on a consistent basis allowing dynamic adjustment of the pictogram to visually represent the comparative weighting of the evidence in the competing hypotheses. The invention further includes mechanism for incorporating and visualizing logical complexities into the pictograms, including logical operations (e.g., and, or and xor groups) and nested statements. Logic trees and the entry points for individual pieces of evidence can be readily revealed. Quantitative factors including the valence assigned to evidence and validity assessments are made explicit and exposed visually within the pictogram construct.

Abstract: A toothbrush training system for children includes an instrumented toothbrush with physics sensors, along with optional feedback elements, interacting with a dynamic audio-visual instructional program providing guidance, assessment and feedback on proper brushing procedures. The system provides instruction on tooth brushing technique in combination with monitoring and corrective feedback based on that technique in the context of an audio-visual game environment. The instructional program uses an animated character to illustrate the desired toothbrush positioning and movement for cleaning specific tooth surfaces. The content and progress of the audio-visual presentation may be dynamically altered based on data received from the toothbrush to adjust the presentation in response to a comparison of the instructional information and the actual tooth brushing movement performed by the user.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel affordance to algebra. It combines the immediacy of a manipulative with the power of a computer algebra system. Operations are executed in-place on a mutable expression, by direct manipulation of its terms by the user. Terms, whether simple or complex, can be selected by the user and dragged from one location in the expression to another. The equivalence of the expression is maintained by changes to the moving term and other terms in the expression. A highly interactive interface illuminates to the user the range of potential actions. The beneficiaries of this technology are students, who have a new avenue for exploratory learning and technologists, who have a new tool for symbolic reasoning.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating authentication of users of a mouse device. Different individuals have different ways of manipulating a mouse to enter mouse-clicks requested via an on-screen image or other software programs. An individual's characteristic way of manipulating the mouse is determined and stored and later retrieved to facilitate verification of a user's identification.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed with which a graphics designer can select an exact color to be shown on a video display device. The apparatus includes a control element movable in a region having at least two geometrical dimensions, each position in the region corresponding to a different color. If the region is only two-dimensional, the color element position defines two of the three independent variables needed to define the desired color, and the third is controlled independently.