Abstract: Described herein are techniques for providing a dictionary capabilities associated with foreign language learning content items. In some cases, a foreign language learning application operation on a device may cause definitions associated with a word to be displayed on a display of the device concurrently with the word and at least some text surrounding the word. In some cases, the definitions may be provided in the language of the content item and in a language native the user.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for improving foreign language learning of a user. In some cases, the system may present text in a foreign language to the user while outputting audio associated with the text. At various periods, the system may prompt the user to rate the difficulty associated with the text and based at least in part on the difficulty rating presenting the user with various options to alter the experience associated with consuming the text to improve the users foreign language absorption rate.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure enable synchronized content items, such as an ebook and corresponding audiobook, to be navigated via a rotational interface (e.g., a “jog wheel”). Specifically, a playback device is disclosed that enables a rotational interface to be used to select locations within an audiobook or other audio content. During selection of a location, the playback device can maintain an output indicator indicating one or more words within a textual content that match the selected location within the audio content. Thus, a user is enabled to easily and intuitively select precise locations within audio content. In some embodiments, an acceleration or speed of input to the rotational interface may modify how quickly locations within the content item are traversed.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for improving foreign language learning of a user. In some cases, the system may present text in a foreign language to the user while outputting audio associated with the text. At various periods, the system may prompt the user to rate the difficulty associated with the text and based at least in part on the difficulty rating presenting the user with various options to alter the experience associated with consuming the text to improve the users foreign language absorption rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed enabling recommendations of content items based on a difficulty of the content item as well as a skill level of the user. Skill-based content recommendations may be utilized, for example, in recommending content to language learners. Skill-based recommendations may be based on a variety of difficulty metrics of the content item, such as vocabulary and complexity of the language (e.g., words per paragraph, syllables per word, etc.), as well as a variety of skill metrics of the user (e.g., as explicitly provided by the user or implicitly determined based on a user's interaction with content items). Advantageously, such metrics can enable generation of recommendations based on a multi-dimensional difficulty assessment. Further, difficulty metrics, skill metrics, or the relationship between such metrics may be dynamically updated over time based on continued feedback from users, such that recommendations are dynamically improved.

Abstract: An interface is presented that can be used by those with little or no computer skills and little or no reading skills. In an exemplary embodiment, the icon pictures are detailed enough that they do not need text to be understood. Most icons do not require that they be clicked to be selected, rather they select on cursor hover. When an icon is hovered over, in an exemplary embodiment, it increases in size to make it easier for a user to select it. The interface has a help function that provides a voice that tells the function of an icon when the icon is moused over or otherwise tentatively chosen by a user. The help function voice may be accompanied by a virtual companion—a picture of a person, who, in some embodiments, is animated and appears to be speaking the help text.

Abstract: An interface is presented that can be used by those with little or no computer skills and little or no reading skills. In an exemplary embodiment, the icon pictures are detailed enough that they do not need text to be understood. Most icons do not require that they be clicked to be selected, rather they select on cursor hover. When an icon is hovered over, in an exemplary embodiment, it increases in size to make it easier for a user to select it. The interface has a help function that provides a voice that tells the function of an icon when the icon is moused over or otherwise tentatively chosen by a user. The help function voice may be accompanied by a virtual companion a picture of a person, who, in some embodiments, is animated and appears to be speaking the help text.