Abstract: A network of terminals, where each terminal is operable by a student in a group as a response apparatus, is in contemporaneous communication with a teacher station. The modes of operation include visual, i.e. hand writing, hand drawing and typing, as well as audio, in particular the voice of the user, which may contemporaneously accompany the visual, such as when explaining what is being drawn. Such an apparatus can also be used by a teacher to author a lesson, including graphics and audio, providing information and questions which are recorded at the teacher station. The communication means between the student apparatuses and the teacher's station is in a preferred embodiment of the invention via an 802.11 wireless gateway when the students are in the same room as the teacher or in close proximity, or via the Internet especially in the case where individual students are remotely located from the teacher.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image using a copier, scanner or camera by designating the part of the image to be processed with at least one small uniquely designed indicia element, such as a patterned tile or lightly adherent tab, and processing the image according to the location of the indicia and/or the indicia pattern. This invention can be used for executing in fewer steps conventional tasks requiring higher computer literacy, such as cropping and assembly of graphics and/or text. It can also be used for executing unique tasks such as the reproduction of an image which is larger than the bed of the flatbed copier or scanner being used; or avoidance of a skew copy due to a skewly loaded document; or prevention of shadows near the spine or edges when copying thick books, or for translating a designated passage from a document into a desired language.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a desired image from an original image on image capturing and processing machines, including copiers, scanners and cameras, comprises designating the part of the image desired with at least one small and uniquely designed indicia element, such as a marked lightly adhesive tab or a marked tile, by placing it on the original image and digitally identifying and processing it according to the design and location of the element. It is shown how such uniquely designed indicia can be used to crop pictures and text from documents including word-to-word cropping, and/or to specify characteristics of the desired image such as resolution, and to determine the rotation or location of the desired images to be produced.

Abstract: A networked teaching and learning system (1, 9, 29) having a plurality of student computers (9), a network server (29, 6) and at least one teacher's computer (1) includes comparison and evaluation logic (200-232) in communication with the student computers (9) for comparing and evaluating each student keystroke with the characters of an answer, if any, immediately after every student keystroke. The system (1, 9, 29) provides character-by-character evaluation for quick learning feedback for students, as well as simultaneous observation at the teacher's computer (1) of multiple student responses identified as correct or incorrect. The system operates (1, 9, 29) in a Hybrid Mode, which combines the Social Mode and the Self-paced Mode. The system (1, 9, 29) enables quick construction of various exercise types, the scoring of unanticipated responses, and the introduction of an explanation component in addition to a direct response to a question.

Abstract: A computerized teaching system is described including an interactive group communication system, wherein students interact with a teacher and the teacher can obtain quantitative reports on student performance without preprogrammed lessons and where a lesson program can be constructed from the responses of the students. The teaching system may be spread over a large geographic area comprising a multiplicity of learning centers with a multiplicity of students at each center, wherein the students interact with a teacher who is remotely located from one or more learning centers.

Abstract: A computerized teaching system is described, which comprises an interactive group communication system, wherein students in a first group interact with a teacher in Social Mode, and, in some case, while students in a second group proceed with work in Independent Mode.