Abstract: A computer program for execution on a computing device is provided to cross-train students in language development skills such as letter-word correspondence, word recognition, vocabulary, and sentence and paragraph comprehension. A set of programs provide an adaptive methodology for training a student in decoding (semantic, syntactic, phonological, and morphological relationships), knowledge of rhymes, synonyms, antonyms, and homophones, spelling, letter-word correspondences, sentence comprehension, grammatical comprehension, working memory, vocabulary, paragraph comprehension, and improved reading comprehension. In each program, students are presented with an animated scene that poses a question, and a set of answers. The set of answers contain a correct response, and a number of incorrect responses or foils. The student advances to more complex levels by satisfying predetermined correct thresholds. Through repetition and intensity, the student's language skills are developed.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators,also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: A method for adaptively training a subject, using auditory processing of phonemes within command sentences, to improve the subject's listening comprehension, grammatical parsing, and serial memory is provided. The method utilizes a number of training installments, each designed for testing a particular aspect of the subject's language skills, all tied together by a common story. More specifically, installments are provided that narrate a story, test the subject's listening comprehension to the narrated story, test the subject's ability to grammatically parse increasingly difficult sentence structures, and test the subject's ability to select and manipulate graphical objects in response to auditory commands. Speech processing is used for the narration, as well as for commands within each test to allow the subject to more easily distinguish between similar sounding phonemes.

Abstract: A method for training of auditory and graphical discrimination in humans, and a human's short term memory, is provided within an animated game environment. The method provides a number of stimulus sets, each stimulus set having similar sounding phonemes associated with graphemes. Upon initiation of a trial, a grid of tiles is presented to a subject. The subject selects the tiles, one at a time. As the tiles are selected, an associated phoneme is presented to the subject. The subject clears away tiles by pairing them with identical tiles. When all the tiles in a trial are cleared, the subject is either promoted or demoted in skill level. Promotion/demotion varies the number of tiles presented, the phonemes used within each trial, and the amount of audio processing that is applied to the phonemes.

Abstract: A method for training of auditory and graphical discrimination in humans is provided within an animated game environment. The method provides a number of stimulus sets, each stimulus set having a target phoneme and a plurality of associated foils (similar sounding phonemes). Upon initiation of a trial, a target phoneme is presented to a subject. Subsequently, the target phoneme is presented to the subject, along with one of the associated foils, in randomized order. As the target phoneme and associated foil is presented, a graphical animation associates the target and foil each with its own graphical image. The subject then designates identification of the target phoneme by selecting its associated image. Speech processing is used to provide multiple levels of emphasis for enhancing the subject's ability to discriminate between the target phoneme and the foils.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: An apparatus and method on a computing device for training of auditory and graphical discrimination in humans is provided. The method and apparatus provides a number of stimulus sets, each stimulus set having a number of different phonemes. Speech processing is used to provide multiple levels of emphasis and or stretching for enhancing a subject's ability to discriminate between similarly sounding phonemes. The processing is applied to phonemes and presented to the human as a trial. As a subject correctly identifies phonemes in the stimulus sets, the amount of processing applied to the phonemes is reduced, ultimately to the level of normal speech. A performance feedback mechanism is provided to allow the human to obtain a summary of his/her success over the stimulus sets, at the different processing levels. More detailed feedback is also provided indicating specific processing levels achieved for each of the stimulus sets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for screening an individual's ability to process acoustic events is provided. The invention provides sequences (or trials) of acoustically processed target and distractor phonemes to a subject for identification. The acoustic processing includes amplitude emphasis of selected frequency envelopes, stretching (in the time domain) of selected portions of phonemes, and phase adjustment of selection portions of phonemes relative to a base frequency. After a number of trials, the method of the present invention develops a profile for an individual that indicates whether the individual's ability to process acoustic events is within a normal range, and if not, what processing can provide the individual with optimal hearing. The individual's profile can then be used by a listening or processing device to particularly emphasize, stretch, or otherwise manipulate an audio stream to provide the individual with an optimal chance of distinguishing between similar acoustic events.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for training the cognitive and memory systems in a subject is provided. The apparatus and method incorporates a number of different games to be played by the subject. The games artificially process selected portions of language elements, called phonemes, so they will be more easily distinguished by the subject, and gradually improves the subject's neurological processing and memory of the elements through repetitive stimulation. The programs continually monitor a subject's ability to distinguish the processed language elements, and adaptively configures the programs to challenge and reward the subject by altering the degree of processing. That is, the subject advances through a number of different processing or skill levels as their ability to distinguish between language elements improves. The subject's progress through the processing levels is recorded to allow an adaptive timing mechanism to optimize game play time for each of the games.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for training of auditory and graphical discrimination in humans is provided. The method and apparatus provides a number of stimulus sets, each stimulus set having a target phoneme, and associated grapheme, and a number of distractor phonemes, and associated graphemes. Upon initiation of a trial, a target phoneme is presented to a subject. A stimulus stream is then prepared that consists of a random sequence of distractor phonemes. Located within the sequence of distractor phonemes is the target phoneme. The stimulus sequence is presented to the subject for identification of the target phoneme within the sequence. Speech processing is used to provide multiple levels of emphasis for enhancing a subject's ability to discriminate between similarly sounding phonemes. The processing is applied to the presentation of the target phoneme and the stimulus stream.

Abstract: A method for adaptively training a human subject to process, and to distinguish between, similar acoustic events that are common in spoken language is provided. The method utilizes sequences of up/down frequency sweeps, of varying frequency and duration, and having varying inter stimulus intervals (ISI) between the frequency sweeps. A sequence is presented to the subject for order identification. The subject must listen to the up/down order of a sequence, and signal identification of the up/down order according to what s/he heard. Signal identification is provided utilizing a computer display, a mouse, and graphical buttons corresponding to the up/down frequency sweeps. Correct order identification causes the process to adaptively reduce the ISI separating the frequency sweeps, to reduce the duration of the frequency sweeps, to alter the frequency of the frequency sweeps, and to increase the number of frequency sweeps within a sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for training of auditory and graphical discrimination in humans is provided. The method and apparatus provides a number of stimulus sets, each stimulus set having a target phoneme, and associated grapheme, and a number of distractor phonemes, and associated graphemes. Upon initiation of a trial, a target phoneme is presented to a subject. A stimulus stream is then prepared that consists of a random sequence of distractor phonemes. Located within the sequence of distractor phonemes is the target phoneme. The stimulus sequence is presented to the subject for identification of the target phoneme within the sequence. Speech processing is used to provide multiple levels of emphasis for enhancing a subject's ability to discriminate between similarly sounding phonemes. The processing is applied to the presentation of the target phoneme and the stimulus stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for training the cognitive and memory systems in a subject is provided. The apparatus and method incorporates a number of different programs to be played by the subject. The programs artificially process selected portions of language elements, called phonemes, so they will be more easily distinguished by the subject, and gradually improves the subject's neurological processing and memory of the elements through repetitive stimulation. The programs continually monitor a subject's ability to distinguish the processed language elements, and adaptively configures the programs to challenge and reward the subject by altering the degree of processing. Through adaptive control and repetition of processed speech elements, and presentation of the speech elements in a creative fashion, a subject's cognitive processing of acoustic events common to speech, and memory of language constructs associated with speech elements are significantly improved.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: A listener's ability to recognize and identify similar sounds is improved by forming exaggerated sounds which differ in spectral/temporal energy distribution from one another more than the similar sounds differ from one another and in generally the same way in which the similar sounds differ and testing the listener's ability to recognize and identify the exaggerated sounds. The exaggerated sounds are formed as follows: The similar sounds are spectrally transformed into a coordinate space and a linear function is projected between a pair of points representing the similar sounds in the coordinate space. Between the pair of points, the linear function represents a continuum of sounds between the similar sounds. To exaggerate the sounds, points are extrapolated outward from the pair of points along the linear function.

Abstract: An interactive multimedia application executes in a debug mode in which a tester can specify a particular classification of user event and a user event satisfying the particular classification is emulated. For example, classifications can include correct and incorrect responses. To emulate a correct response, an interactive module of the interactive multimedia application determines correct criteria and provides those criteria to a debug manager upon request. In addition, characterization of user events is performed by a user interface module which communicates user events in the form of event messages to the interactive module. The debug manager emulates a user event of the particular category by retrieving the classification criteria from the interactive module, forming an event message representing an event satisfying the criteria for the particular classification, and sending the event message to the interactive module.

Abstract: An interactive multimedia application executes in a debug mode in which previously recorded user events are retrieved from memory and emulated in sequence. Each user event is represented by a record which specifies a particular classification of user event. Accordingly, a user event satisfying the particular classification is emulated. The debug manager emulates a user event of the particular category by retrieving the classification criteria from the interactive module, forming an event message representing an event satisfying the criteria for the particular classification, and sending the event message to the interactive module. Accordingly, the interactive module receives an event message which could have come from either the debug manager or the user interface module. As such, the particular computer instructions executed by the interactive module in response to the event are the same regardless of whether the event is emulated.