Textual Content Speed Player

Abstract

A computer program that requires nothing more of a user than to read their choice of textual content in an animated format to increase reading speed via reconditioned reading behavior. The computer program: highlights a word on a page and puts a copy of the word in the center of the page so a reader can fix their eyes on the center of the page and still satisfy the common scanning strategy of repositioning the eyes to project a word on the center of the retina while the reader is reconditioned, by the highlighting of words progressing through the body text, to use the faster scanning strategy of fixing the eyes and changing the position on the retina being read; presents a picture representing the meaning of each word in order to recondition a user to use the faster cognitive strategy of triggering recognition of meaning with a picture; presents textual content with a timing based on syllables in order to create a presentation of textual content in sync with the natural timing of speech; can add a speaking voice to the animated format which enables the non-reader to learn printed language through context alone; can record the audio of an individual word read out loud from a selection of textual content for future playback of any textual content containing the word.

Description

PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/381,625, titled “Textual Content Speed Player,” and filed on Aug. 31, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The ability to read fast with a high level of comprehension is a vital skill in an information age. Most readers can read less than 300 words per minute while the fastest readers can read more than 3000 words per minute.

The reading strategy that most readers use is a combination of a scanning strategy and a cognitive strategy. The scanning strategy involves repositioning the eyes to project a word that is being read presently on the center of the retina. The cognitive strategy involves imagining the sound of a word expressed in text on a page in order to trigger recognition of meaning, commonly called subvocalization. I will refer to this combined reading strategy as “Traditional reading strategy.” I will refer to the act of using this strategy as “Traditional reading behavior” and to those who engage in using this strategy as “Traditional readers.”

The reading strategy that the fastest readers use is also a combination of a scanning strategy and a cognitive strategy. The scanning strategy involves fixing the eyes on a point on a page and changing the position on the retina that is being read. The cognitive strategy involves imagining a picture representing a word expressed in text on the page in order to trigger recognition of meaning. I will refer to this combined reading strategy as “Speed reading strategy.” I will refer to the act of using this strategy as “Speed reading behavior” and to those who engage in using this strategy as “Speed readers.”

Traditional readers have known for many years the strategies Speed readers employ but still only few readers enjoy the benefits of reading 3,000 words per minute with a high level of comprehension.

The problem is not understanding Speed reading strategy but how to recondition Traditional reading behavior which has been ingrained by years of experience. The amount of time and level of immersion required to recondition most Traditional readers is far beyond a Speed reading course with practice sessions and exercises. Instead, a reconditioning strategy must be created to enable a Traditional reader to read their choice of textual content while creating a behavioral bridge to new found Speed reading behavior.

SUMMARY

The solution is a computer program which presents a body of text on a computerized display in an animated format. The computer program requires nothing more of a Traditional reader than reading their choice of book, magazine or newspaper in the animated format in order to recondition the Traditional reader to engage in Speed reading behavior.

Most readers are accustomed to fixing their eyes and engaging in the cognitive strategy of imagining the sound of a word in groups of 30 characters, so the computer program, as a default, highlights a word or word group in a body of text 30 characters long or less. In the computer program's animated format, the highlighted word or word group indicates the textual content in the body of text the reader is reading presently. Simultaneous to highlighting the word or word group being read presently, the computer program displays a copy or “additional expression” of the now highlighted word or word group in an additional position, ideally, located in the center of the body of text. Simultaneous to highlighting the word or word group being read presently and displaying the additional expression in the center of the body of text the computer program displays a picture or “pictorial representation” representing the meaning of the word or word group being read presently.

The Traditional reader uses the computer program's animated format by fixing the eyes on the additional expression of the word or word group being read presently located in the center of the body of text. The additional expression enables the Traditional reader to fix the eyes, as Speed readers do, and still functionally read by satisfying the need of the Traditional reader's scanning strategy to have a word being read presently projected on the center of the retina.

The human eye is conditioned to notice motion, so with the Traditional reader's eyes now fixed on the additional expressions located in the center of the body of text, the highlighting of words and/or word groups progressing through the body of text draws attention and in time reconditions the Traditional reader to move the position on the retina that is being read, as in the Speed reader's scanning strategy.

The combination of highlighting a word or word group in the body of text and displaying an additional expression in the center of the body of text constitutes a reconditioning strategy, which I will refer to as “Additional Expression strategy,” that creates a behavioral bridge between the scanning strategies of Traditional readers and Speed readers.

If I were to show you a picture of a helicopter you would recognize the subject was a helicopter much quicker than compared to the time it takes to say “Helicopter.” An imagined picture to trigger recognition of meaning is the cognitive strategy Speed readers use to attain phenomenal reading speeds while actually increasing comprehension. After repeated exposure, the computer program's simultaneous displaying of the pictorial representation of the word or word group being read presently literally outruns a Traditional reader's cognitive strategy of subvocalization to triggering recognition of meaning. As a result, the Traditional reader is reconditioned away from subvocalization and toward the Speed reader's cognitive strategy of triggering recognition of meaning with a picture. This reconditioning strategy, which I will refer to as “Picture Trigger strategy” creates a behavioral bridge between the cognitive strategies of Traditional readers and Speed readers.

Reading speed is generally expressed in units of words read per minute. The user sets a preferred reading speed in units of words per minute. The user can opt to also have the presentation of their textual content timed based on words per minute. In this case, the computer program highlights a word or word group being read presently for a length of time determined by the sum of words, allocating a percentage of a word for each space and form of punctuation, in the word or word group multiplied by the set duration of time one word of textual content is to be displayed. However, this is not the ideal embodiment. Alternatively, the computer program can use the set reading speed in words per minute to calculate the number of syllables per minute needed to create a presentation of textual content of equal duration and then highlight the word or word group being read presently for a length of time determined by the sum of syllables, allocating a percentage of a syllable for each space and form of punctuation, in the word or word group multiplied by the set duration of time one syllable of textual content is to be displayed. The presentation of textual content with timing based on syllables per minute flows naturally because the timing of the presentation is in sync with the natural timing of speech.

To accommodate people with no or limited knowledge of printed language a voice speaking a word or word group being read presently can be added to the computer program's format. The speaking voice or “vocal representation” completes the context necessary for a non-reader to enjoy printed content while being exposed to the knowledge needed to read printed language. This reconditioning strategy, which I will refer to as “Complete Context strategy,” can eliminate the need for instruction in reading printed language by teaching reading through context alone.

When using a device capable of audio recording, the user can read a body of text in the animated format out loud and the computer program will record the audio of the user speaking. An individual recording of each word spoken is created and associated with the word in a database so that the audio recording of the word spoken can be used to create a vocally enhanced textual presentation of not only the body of text the word was recorded in recitation of but also any body of text containing the word.

This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts concerning a textual content speed reader, which is further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Example embodiments of a textual content speed player are described with the reference to the following illustrations. The same numbers are used throughout the illustrations to reference like features and elements.

FIGS. 1A-1D constitutes a slide show of the animated format including: a body of text with a black font against a white background; highlighting via enclosing in a rectangle; an additional expression in a rectangle: and dual fixed pictorial representations.

FIGS. 2A-2D constitutes a slide show of the animated format including: a body of text with a black font against a white background; highlighting via bold font and a pointer animation; an additional expression in a rounded rectangle with a bold font: and dual fixed pictorial representations that change position.

FIGS. 3A-3D constitutes a slide show of the animated format including: a body of text with a black font against a white background; highlighting via a bold and italic font; an additional expression with a bold and italic font; a cumulative pictorial representation of a line of textual content.

FIGS. 4A-4D constitutes a slide show of the animated format including: a body of text with a black font against a light grey background; highlighting via a white font background; an additional expression with a white font background; a single pictorial representation tracking the highlighting through a line of text.

FIGS. 5A and 5B combined constitute a workflow diagram representing the computer code implemented to create the core functionality of a textual content speed player.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

A textual content speed player described in this document is a computer program that presents a body of text on a computerized display in an animated format for the purpose of reconditioning reading behavior in order to increase reading speed and comprehension. Unlike conventional solutions, the computer program reconditions Traditional readers to engage in Speed reading behavior while requiring nothing more of the user than reading their choice of textual content presented in the computer program's animated format.

A textual content speed player includes: a method of highlighting a word or word group being read presently within a body of text; and displaying an additional expression of the word or word group being read presently in one or multiple positions on the computerized display. Unlike conventional solutions, the additional expression of the word or word group being read presently enables a Traditional reader to fix the eyes on a point, like a Speed reader, and still functionally read as described in the Additional Expression strategy. Unlike conventional solutions, the highlighting of words and/or word groups progressing through the body of text reconditions the Traditional reader to engage in the Speed reader's scanning strategy as describe in the Additional Expression strategy.

An “additional expression” refers to a copy of a selected series of letter, numbers, spaces, symbols and/or punctuation from a body of text on a computerized display with or without the same aesthetic qualities as the selected series of letter, numbers, spaces, symbols and/or punctuation which is positioned in an additional location on the computerized display.

Textual content speed player also includes displaying a pictorial representation of the word or word group being read presently on the computerized display. Unlike conventional solutions, displaying a pictorial representation of a word or word group being read presently reconditions the reader to engage in the Speed reader's cognitive strategy as described in Picture Trigger strategy.

A “pictorial representation” refers to digitized visual media (e.g., photograph, movie, illustration, animation, drawing, painting, etching, sketch, mono print, woodcutting and lithograph) used to represent the meaning of a word or word group visually.

Reading speed is generally expressed in units of words read per minute. The user sets a preferred reading speed in units of words per minute. The use can opt to also have the presentation of textual content timed based on words per minute. In this case, the computer program highlights a word or word group for a length of time determined by the sum of words, allocating a percentage of a word for each space and form of punctuation, in the word or word group multiplied by the set duration of time one word of textual content is to be displayed. However, this is not the ideal embodiment. Alternatively, the computer program can use the set reading speed in words per minute to calculate the number of syllables per minute needed to create a presentation of textual content of equal duration.

The calculation of syllables per minute can be accomplished using a simple ratio between the total number of words in a body of text divide by the user's set reading speed in words per minute and the total number of syllables in the body of text divided by the syllables per minute. An example embodiment, of a formula that would make this calculation is SPM=(TSYL×WPM)/TWRD, where: SPM is the syllables per minute; TSYL is the total number of syllables in the body of text, allocating a percentage of a syllable for each space and form of punctuation; WPM is the user's set reading speed expressed in words per minute; and TWRD is the total number of words in the body of text, allocating a percentage of a word for each space and form of punctuation.

Using the calculated syllables per minute, the computer program then displays the highlighting of the word or word group for a length of time determined by the sum of syllables, allocating a percentage of a syllable for each space and form of punctuation, in the word or word group multiplied by the set duration of time one syllable of textual content is to be displayed. The presentation of textual content with timing based on syllables per minute flows naturally because the timing of the presentation is in sync with the natural timing of speech.

“Display speed mode” refers to the choice to display a highlighting of a word or word group for a length of time based on words per minute or syllables per minute.

Textual content speed player also includes the option of adding a vocal representation of a word or word group being read presently in the form of a recording of a human voice or a computer-generated voice. Unlike conventional solutions, the vocal representation completes the context necessary for the non-reader to enjoy textual content while learning to read printed language as describe in Complete Context strategy. Furthermore, children's books rendered in the computer program's animated format with a vocal representation added could teach children 2-5 years old to read while they are still learning the spoken form of the language taking advantage of the sponge-like state the brain of a child at that age is in.

“Vocal representation” refers to the use of a computer generated voice or a recording of a human voice to speak a word or word group.

When using a device capable of audio recording, the user can read a body of text in the animated format out loud and the computer program will record the audio of the user speaking. An individual recording of each word spoken is created and associated with the word in a word/picture/vocal database so that the audio recording of the word spoken can be used to create a vocally enhanced textual presentation of not only the body of text the word was recorded in recitation of but also any body of text containing the word.

The audio recording can be created by reading a body of text in the animated format at the users set reading speed or by the user touching/clicking a word as they read the word out loud. The touching/clicking method allows for the creation of a vocally enhanced textual presentation of a body of text with an irregular reading rate. Unlike conventional solutions, this recorded reading process enables a parents to read their child a book so that the child can re-experience, at a later time, the book being read to them in the animated format by the parent ad infinitum.

Example Embodiments

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, a body of text 100 is displayed with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black against a white background using a tablet computer 102. The method of highlighting 104 in the body of text 100 is placing a rectangle around the word or word group being read presently 106. A single additional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 is displayed in the center of the body of text 100 and is made to stand out by placing the additional expression 108 in a rectangle 110. Dual pictorial representations 112 are displayed in fixed positions to the left and right of the additional expression 108, in the space the highlighting is not currently using, in this case, below the additional expression.

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 2A-2D, a body of text 100 is displayed with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black against a white background using a tablet computer 102. The method of highlighting 204 in the body of text 100 is making the font of the word or word group being read presently 106 bold combined with a pointer animation 214 created with lines extending from both the rounded rectangle 210 and the pictorial representations 212 toward the word or word group being read presently 106. A single additional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 is displayed in the center of the body of text 100 and is made to stand out by placing the additional expression 108 inside a rounded rectangle 210 and making the font bold. Dual pictorial representations 212 are displayed to the left and right of the additional expression 108 in fixed positions that change position vertically as the highlighting 204 of words and/or word groups 106 progresses through the body of text 100.

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 3A-3D, a body of text 100 is displayed with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black against a white background using a tablet computer 102. The method of highlighting 304 in the body of text 100 is making the font of the word or word group being read presently 106 bold and italic. A single additional expression 108 of the word for word group being read presently 106 is displayed in the center of the body of text 100 and made to stand out by making the font bold and italic 310. As the highlighting 304 of words and/or word groups 106 progresses left to right through a line of text, pictorial representations 312 are displayed and remain in fixed positions, in the space the highlighting is not currently using, in this case, below the additional expression 108, starting on the left with successive pictorial expressions being added on the right of the previous, until highlighting 304 of the line of text is complete creating a cumulative pictorial expression of the entire line of text.

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 4A-4D, a body of text 400 is displayed with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black against a light grey background using a tablet computer 102. The method of highlighting 404 in the body of text 400 is making the font background of the word for word group being read presently 106 white. A single additional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 is made to stand out from the rest of the body of text 400 by making the font background white 410. A single pictorial representation 412 tracks the highlighting 404 of the words or word group being read presently 106 through a line of text.

In example embodiments seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D &4A-4D, a body of text 100/400 is displayed using a tablet computer 102. Alternatively, any computerized display could be used to run textual context speed player.

A “computerized display” refers to a digital visual display device (e.g., LCD monitor/tv, plasma monitor/tv, CRT monitor/tv, laptop computer screen, tablet computer screen, eyeglass computer screen, digital projector and cell phone screen) connected to a computerized device (e.g., desktop computer, network computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, cell phone, mainframe computer, super computer, mini computer, micro computer, work station computer, PDA computer, enterprise server computer, smart watch computer, eyeglass computer, clothing computer and streaming device computer).

In an example embodiments seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D, the body of text 100 is created with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black against a white background. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 4A-4D, a body of text 400 is created with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black against a light gray background. There are countless variations that could be created and successfully implemented in displaying a body of text with all the possible combinations of font characteristics, background color and line spacing.

“Font characteristics” refers to aesthetic variations in a type face and the space immediately surrounding the type face including font (e.g., Arial, Times new roman, Courier and Helvetica Neue), font size, font type (e.g., bold, italic, underlined, outline, strikethrough, shadow, superscript and subscript), font style (e.g., condensed black, thin, light, medium and regular), font color, font background color, character spacing, baseline shift and capitalization (e.g., all caps, small caps and title case).

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, the method of highlighting 104 is placing a rectangle around the word or word group being read presently 106 in the body of text 100. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 2A-2D, the method of highlighting 204 is making the font of the word or word group being read presently 106 in the body of text 100 bold. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 3A-3D, the method of highlighting 304 is making the font of the word or word group being read presently 106 in the body of text 100 bold and italic. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 4A-4D, the method of highlighting 404 is making the font background of the word or word group being read presently 106 in the body of text 400 white. There are countless variations that could be created and successfully implemented as a method of highlighting with all the possible combinations of font characteristics, use of a pointer, underlining, use of textual animation and enclosing in a shape.

“Highlighting” refers to altering the aesthetic qualities of a selected section of a computerized display and/or a selected series of letters, numbers, spaces, symbols and/or punctuation contained in the selected section of the computer display in order to make the selected section of the computerized display and the selected series of letters, numbers, spaces, symbols and/or punctuation stand out from the unselected section of the computer display containing the unselected letters, numbers, spaces, symbols and/or punctuation.

“textual animation” refers to continually altering the aesthetic qualities of a selected section of a computerized display and/or a selected series of letters, numbers, spaces, symbols, punctuation and/or graphic elements contained in the selected section of the computer display in order to create a sense of motion (e.g.: pointer animation, which creates a pointer directed at the highlighted word or word group; movement animation, which moves and element such as a shape, underline or font; font characteristic animation, which changes the font characteristics during display; size animation, which changes the size of a non-textual element such as a shape, underline or pointer; and border animation, which animates the border of a shape or underline.)

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, the additional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 displayed in the center of the body of text 100 is made to stand out by placing the additional expression 108 in a rectangle 110. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 2A-2D, the additional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 displayed in the center of the body of text 100 is made to stand out by placing the additional expression 108 in a rounded rectangle and making the font bold 210. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 3A-3D, the additional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 displayed in the center of the body of text 100 is made to stand out by making the font bold and italic 310. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 4A-4D, the additional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 displayed in the center of the body of text 400 is made to stand out by making the font background color white 410. There are countless variations that could be created and successfully implemented as a method of making the additional expression stand out with all the possible combinations of font characteristics, separating with space, underlining, use of textual animation and enclosing in a shape.

The fastest Speed readers fix their eyes on a page of text in 3 places. In example embodiments seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D &4A-4D, one additional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 is displayed in a position at the center of the body of text 100/400 which constitutes one fixation. While a single additional expression in the center of the computerized display is the ideal embodiment, textual content speed player allows users to choose multiple positions for the display of the additional expression. Those positions would be spread out evenly along an imaginary vertical line, ideally, in the center of the computerized display so that each additional expression is at the center of its own section on the computerized display with each section having an equal number of lines of text. However, the user has the option to select custom positions by touching or clicking each additional expression and dragging it to a preferred location on the computer display. Additionally, the user has the option to display a word or word group being read presently in all of the additional expression positions or just the additional expression position that is closest to the highlighting of the word or word group in the body of text at any given time.

In an example embodiments seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D & 4A-4D, photographs and illustrations are displayed as pictorial representations 112, 212, 312, 412 intended to visually represent the meaning of the word or word group being read presently. Alternative forms of pictorial representations, exemplified in the definition of “pictorial representation,” could also be implemented successfully to recondition the user to trigger recognition of meaning with a picture.

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, duplicate pictorial representations 112 are presented in fixed positions to the left and right of the additional expression 108, in the space the highlighting 104 of the word or word group being read presently 106 is not currently using, in this case, below the additional expression 108. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 2A-2D, Dual pictorial representations 212 of the word or word group being read presently 106 are presented to the left and right of the additional expression 108 in fixed positions that change position vertically as the highlighting 204 of words and/or word groups 106 progresses through a line of text 100. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 3A-3D, As the highlighting 304 of words and/or word groups 106 progresses left to right through a line of text, single pictorial representations 312 are displayed and remain in a fixed positions, in the space the highlighting is not currently using, in this case, below the additional expression, starting on the left, with successive pictorial expressions 312 being added on the right of the previous, until highlighting 304 of the entire line of text is complete creating a cumulative pictorial representation of the entire line of text. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 4A-4D, a single pictorial representation 412 tracks the highlighting 404 of the word or word group being read presently 106 through a line of text.

Pictorial representations that are displayed: in a fixed position; in a fixed position that changes in response to the movement of the highlighting of words and/or word groups progressing through a line of text; building a cumulative pictorial representation representing an entire line of textual content; and tracking the highlighting of words and/or word groups progressing through a line of text all are effective “pictorial representation behaviors” for reconditioning a user to trigger recognition of meaning with a picture. There are countless variations that could be created and successfully implemented as a method of displaying pictorial representations with all the potential combinations of pictorial representation behavior, size, quantity and framing.

Computer Program Code

We've looked at a number of example embodiments of how a computer program utilizing the reconditioning strategies of a textual content speed player might present textual content in an animated format. Ultimately, a computer program is written in computer code so let's look at an example embodiment of computer code expressed visually in a workflow diagram. When FIGS. 5A and 5B are combined, we see a workflow diagram that a person skilled in the art could use to write the computer code necessary to create the core functionality of a textual content speed player.

The example embodiment will include, by proxy, computer code commonly used in word processing. I will refer to the common elements and behaviors of a text document in a word processing computer program as “word processing functionality” and the adjustments a user is able to make to a text document in a word processing computer program as “word processing parameters.”

In the example embodiment, the computer program has already been installed on a tablet computer and the computer program is already running. As seen in FIG. 5A, the user starts the process by opening a textual content file 500 in the computer program containing a book, magazine or newspaper in a file format including an ASCII text file and presses play 502 to start reading.

In the example embodiment, let's say the user has previously selected word processing parameters necessary for displaying a body of text on a computerized display including font characteristics, background color and line spacing. The computer program then consults the user's selected word processing parameters 504 and uses the parameters to set-up basic word processor functionality 506 similar to in a word processor document.

In this example embodiment, let's say the user has selected as additional expression parameters to have one additional expression positioned in the center of the body of text and made to stand out by placing the additional expression in a rectangle. The computer program then consults the user's additional expression parameter 508 and inserts a rectangle 510. As in typical word processor functionality, any text added to the body of text on the computer display will wrap around the rectangle instead of overwriting the rectangle.

The computer program then accesses the ASCII text file 512 and determines if the cursor is at the end of the ASCII text file 514, which will become important later. The answer to this question at present is no, so the computer program selects the next word in ASCII text file 516 which in this case is the first word in the ASCII text file. Next the computer program determines if their is room to display the selected word 518 in the body of text on the computerized display. The answer to this question at present is yes, so the computer program displays the selected word in the body of text on the computerized display 520.

The computer program has a block of memory set aside for containing a subset of the text in the ASCII text file. I will refer to this block of memory as the “page buffer” and the group of words it contains as the “text subset”.

Next the computer program adds the selected word to the text subset in the page buffer 522. The computer program then accesses the ASCII text file 512 and determines if the cursor is at the end of the ASCII text file 514. The answer to this question at present is no, so the computer program selects the next word in ASCII text file 516. Next the computer program determines if their is room to display the selected word in the body of text on the computerized display 518. The answer to this question at present is yes, so the computer program displays the selected word in the body of text on the computerized display 520.

The process of: determining yes, there is room to display the word in the body of text on the computerized display 518; displaying the selected word in the body of text on the computerized display 520; adding the selected word to the text subset in the page buffer 522; accessing the ASCII text file 512; determining no, the cursor is not at the end of the ASCII text file 514; selecting the next word in the ASCII text file 516; and again determining if there is room to display the selected word on the computerized display 518 continues until the body of text on the computerized display is full which changes the answer to determining if there is room to display the selected word on the computerized display 518 to no.

Displaying the body of text of the first page is complete which to the user is an instantaneous process. The computer program then marks the cursor's place in the ASCII text file 524 after the previous word which was successfully displayed. The flow of the diagram continues down to FIG. 5B.

In FIG. 5B, in the upper left hand corner, we see the flow of the diagram continue from FIG. 5A. The computer program then accesses the text subset in the page buffer 526. The page buffer is filled with all the words now displayed in the body of text of the first page. The computer program then determines if there is at least one word in the page buffer 528, which will become important later. The answer to this question at present is yes, so the computer program selects the first word in the page buffer 530.

At this point, the computer program determines if the user has requested a pause in play 532. If the answer is yes, the user has requested a pause in play, the computer program will pause the workflow which to the user will appear as instantaneous upon pressing the play/pause button 114, as seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D & 4A-4D. The computer program will then hold until the user presses play 534 which results in the computer program resuming the workflow. Let's backup and say the user has not requested a pause in play and move on to the next step in the workflow.

The computer program has access to a database containing words and word groups each connected to their corresponding pictorial representation and vocal representation in individual data sets. The database, which I will refer to as the “word/picture/vocal database”, contains data sets for the approximately 180,000 words in human language. The computer program then searches for the word it has selected from the page buffer in the word/picture/vocal database 536. The computer program then determines if a match has been found 538.

Not all words will result in a determination of yes, a match has been found. The word “the,” for example, will return a determination of no, a match has not been found, because the word “the” should not be presented on its own but instead in front of a second word. In response to a determination of no, a match has not been found, The computer program accesses the text subset in the page buffer 540 and adds the currently selected word to the next word in the page buffer 542. The computer program then searches the word/picture/vocal database 536 for the combined term. The computer program again determines if a match has been found for the combined term 538.

Let's back up and say that the first word selected from the page buffer is not a combined term. The computer program determines that yes, a match has been found 538. The computer program then determines if the selected word from the page buffer is the first word 544 displayed in the body of text on the computerized display. The answer to this question at present is yes, so the computer program displays a short countdown 546, two or three seconds, in the rectangle reserved for displaying the alternate expression of the word or word group being read presently. The countdown draws the user's attention to the rectangle and settles the user in preparation for beginning the reading process. When the countdown is complete, the computer program then consults the user selected display parameters 556 containing: the method of highlighting for the word or word group being read presently in the body of text; the font characteristics for the additional expression in the rectangle; the number, size, framing and behavior associated with displaying pictorial representations. The computer program then [highlights the word or words group being read presently in the body of text; displays the additional expression of the word or word group being read presently in the rectangle; and displays the pictorial representations] 548 on the computerized display. The computer program then deletes the selected word that is currently being displayed on the computerized display from the text subset in the page buffer 550.

The computer program then accesses the text subset in the page buffer 526 and determines if there is at least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528. The answer is to the question is yes, so the computer program then selects the first word in the page buffer 530 which is actually the second word in the body of text displayed on the computerized display since the first word in the body of text displayed on the computerized display has been deleted from the text subset in the page buffer. Let's say the computer program then: determines that no, the user has not requested a pause 532; searches the word/picture/vocal database 536; and determines that yes, a match has been found 538. The computer program then determines if the selected word is the first word displayed in the body of text 544 on the computerized display. The answer to this question is now no, so the computer program consults the user selected reading speed 552 in order to create a delay of the appropriate length of time necessary for the user to read the currently displayed content. When the delay has concluded, the computer program [removes the highlighting of the word being read presently; deletes the additional expression of the word being read presently in the rectangle; and deletes the pictorial representations] 554, from the computerized display. The computer program then consults user selected display parameters 556 and [highlights the word or word group being read presently in the body of text; displays the additional expression of the word or word group being read presently in the rectangle; and displays the pictorial representations] 548 on the computerized display. The computer program then deletes the selected word that is currently being displayed on the computerized display from the text subset in the page buffer 550. The computer program then accesses the text subset in the page buffer 526 and determines if there is at least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528.

The computer program continues the process of: determining if there is at least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528; selecting the first word in the page buffer 530; determining no, the user hasn't requested a pause 532; searching the picture/word/vocal database 536; determining that yes, a match has been found 538 or no and going through the sub-process (540, 542, 536, 538) to find a combined term match; determining that no, the selected word is not the first word in the body of text 544; consulting the user's selected reading speed 552; [removing the highlighting of the word or word group being read presently; deleting the additional expression of the word or word group being read presently in the rectangle; and deleting the pictorial representations] 554; consulting the user's selected display parameters 556; [highlighting the word or word group being read presently in the body of text; displaying the additional expression of the word or word group being read presently in the rectangle; and displaying the pictorial representations] 548; deleting the displayed text form the text subset in the page buffer 550; accessing the text subset in the page buffer 526 and again determining if there is at least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528 until all the words and/or word groups in the body of text have been highlighted and therefore deleted from the text subset in the page buffer.

The computer program then determines no, there is not at least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528, as the page buffer is empty. The flow of diagram then goes back up to FIG. 5A.

Presentation of the first page is complete so the computer program must make way for the second page. In FIG. 5A, we see the computer program deletes all displayed text on the computerized display 558. The computer program recalls the cursor's place marker in the ASCII text file 560, so it can begin to display the body of text of the second page on the computerized display, and then accesses the ASCII text file 512.

The process, starting from the first time the computer program accessed the ASCII text file 512 to start to display the body of text of the first page until the current step of accessing the ASCII text file 512 to start to display the body of text on the second page replicates to display the body of text and highlight all remaining pages, save the last page.

Fast forward, the current step is the computer program accessing the ASCII text file 512 to start to display the body of text of the last page. The process of: accessing the ASCII text file 512; determining no, the cursor is not at the end of the ASCII text file 514; selecting the next word in the ASCII text file 516; determining yes, there is room to display the word in the body of text on the computerized display 518; displaying the selected word in the body of text on the computerized display 520; adding the selected word to the text subset in the page buffer 522; and again accessing the ASCII text file 512 continues until all the words of the last page have been displayed in the body of text on the computerized display.

After the last word in the ASCII text file has been displayed in the body of text on the computerized display 520 and added to the text subset in the page buffer 522, the computer program will then access the ASCII text file 512 and then determine if the cursor has reached the end of the ASCII text file 514. The answer to the question will now be yes, so the computer program will then determine if there is at least one word remaining in the text subset in the page buffer 562. The answer to this question will be yes, so the computer program will mark the cursor's place in the ASCII text file 524. The flow of the diagram moves down to FIG. 5B.

The computer program then accesses the text subset in the page buffer 526. The process, starting from the step where the computer program: determines if there is at least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528 and finishing where [the currently displayed word or word group is deleted from the text subset in the page buffer 550; the computer program accesses the text subset in the page buffer 526; and again determines if there is at least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528] continues until all words or word groups have been presented in the animated format and all words of the text subset in the page buffer have been deleted. Since all words in the body of text on the last page have been presented in the animated format the page buffer is therefore empty. As a result, the computer program determines that no, there is not at least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528.

The flow of the diagram moves back up to FIG. 5A. The computer program deletes all text displayed on the computerized display 558. The computer program then recalls the cursor's place marker in the ASCII text file 560 which is now at the end of the ASCII text file. The computer program accesses the ASCII text file 512 and then determines if the cursor has reached the end of the ASCII text file 514. The answer to this question is yes, so the computer program then determines if there is at least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 562. The answer to this question is now no, so the computer program stops play 564. The presentation of the ASCII text file in the computer programs's animated format is now complete.

User Interface

In FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D & 4A-4D, notice that added to the display of textual content are: a play/pause button 114; a display of the current reading speed 116; controls for adjusting reading speed 118; a display of the current page 120; and controls for moving from page to page 122 within the book, magazine or newspaper.

The reading speed display 116 can be touched/clicked and a dialogue box will pop up allowing the entry of a reading speed directly as well as offering a display speed mode choice of words or syllables per minute.

The current page display 120 can be touched/clicked and a dialogue box will pop allowing the entry of a page number directly as well as offering the table of contents of the book, magazine or newspaper being read.

Touching/clicking a word on the computer display will move the highlighting of the word being read presently to the word touched/clicked on and pause play. Double tapping/clicking a word will activate a pop up dialogue box with definition, pictorial representation choices and vocal representation choices for the word. Additionally, the pop up dialogue box can be used to record audio of the word and add personal pictorial representations.

Touching/clicking the menu icon 124 activates a pop up dialogue box with an account to facilitate interacting with a host website. The account allows the user to access the host website to purchase books, magazines and newspapers rendered in the animated format with options for different supporting pictorial representations and vocal representations. The website will also contain a global word/picture/vocal database with multiple data sets for the approximately 180,000 words in human language which the user can select from. The account will store a subset of the global word/picture/vocal database on the user's device. Additionally, the users can share their personal pictorial representations and recorded vocal representations with the global word/picture/vocal database. The account can also be used to share user metrics to support software development.

Touching/clicking the settings icon 126 activates a pop up dialogue box containing a user profile. The user profile will store user selectable parameters for configuring the computer program. Tabs along the top of the dialogue box will offer different categories of parameters including body of text, highlighting, additional expression, pictorial representation, reading speed and vocal representation.

The body of text parameter are used to determine the basic word processing functionality for displaying a body of text on a computerized display and include font characteristics, background color and line spacing.

The highlighting parameters are used to determine the method of highlighting of the word being read presently in the body of the text and include font characteristics, use of a pointer, underlining, textual animation and enclosing in a shape.

The “additional expression parameters” are used to determine the manner in which additional expressions are displayed and include number, placement strategy and method of highlighting.

The placement strategies include: vertical line, which involves the computer program placing the selected number of additional expressions evenly spaced on an imaginary vertical line with a default placement of the imaginary vertical line in the center of the body of text which can be custom set; and custom, which initially displays the selected number of expressions evenly space on an imaginary vertical line but then allows the user to touch/click each additional expression and drag it to a preferred location.

The method of highlighting includes: change in font characteristics, use of spacing, underlining, use of textual animation and enclosing in a shape. The method of highlighting for additional expressions also has a tick box to duplicate the method of highlighting used to highlight the word or word group being read presently. Use of textual animation includes: pointer animation, which creates a pointer directed at the highlighted word or word group; movement animation, which moves and element such as a shape, underline or font; font characteristic animation, which changes the font characteristics during display; size animation, which changes the size of a non-textual element such as a shape, underline or pointer; and border animation, which animates the border of a shape or underline.

The pictorial representation parameters are used to determine the manner in which pictorial representations are displayed and include: number, size, framing and behavior. Behavior includes: static, which displays pictorial representations in a section of the body of text the highlighting of the word or word group is not using; vertical swap, which moves a pictorial representation on the left, down, and a pictorial representation on the right, up, as the highlighting of the word or word group progresses through a line of text; cumulative, which builds a series of pictorial representations left to right in a section of the body of text the highlighting of the word or word group is not using as the highlighting of the word or word group progresses through a line of text; and tracking, which tracks the highlighting of a word or word in close proximity as the highlighting of the word or word group progresses through a line of text.

The reading speed parameters are used to set default reading speed and display speed mode. The display speed mode is used to determine if the duration a highlighting of a word or word group is displayed should be based on words per minute or syllables per minute.

The vocal representation parameters are to used to determine the manner in which vocal representations is played/recorded and include: a play on/off button; computer generated, which offers a selection of computer generated voices to be used; and audio recording, which offers a selection of human voices to be used including user created voices. In order to facilitate the creation of personal audio recordings, additional selections include: a record on/off button; timing preference, which offers a choice between default timing based on the set reading speed and custom timing which allows for the creation of a vocally enhanced textual content presentation with an irregular reading speed by the user touching/clicking each word as the word is read out loud.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of presenting textual content, comprising:

(a) displaying a body of text on a computerized display;

(b) highlighting a word element,

wherein, a word element is selected from the group comprising a word and a word group in the body of text,

wherein highlighting comprises altering aesthetic qualities of a selected section of the body of text on the computerized display in order to make the selected section stand out from an unselected section of the body of text on the computerized display; and

(c) displaying an additional expression of the word element in an additional position on

the computerized display in conjunction with the highlighting of the word element,

wherein said additional expression refers to a copy of a selected series of elements,

wherein said selected series of elements are selected from the group comprising letters, numbers, spaces, symbols and punctuation,

wherein said additional position is a location on the computerized display that is different from a location of said word element;

wherein said highlighting of the word element in the body of text indicates a word element intended to be read presently and relocates to highlight a successive word element after a duration of time repeatedly which culminates in a series of temporarily highlighted word elements that progresses through the body of text.

2.-87. (canceled)

88. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying an aesthetic variation to one or more font characteristics of said word element, wherein said font characteristics are selected from the group comprising font, font size, font type, font style, font color, font background color, character spacing, baseline shift and capitalization.

89. The method of claim 1, wherein the alteration of aesthetic qualities comprises altering the word element by applying one or more aesthetic manipulations selected from the group comprising, enclosing the word element in a shape, underlining the word element, applying a textual animation to the word element, and applying a pointer directed at the word element,

wherein the textual animation comprises continually altering aesthetic qualities of the selected section of the body of text on the computerized display to create a sense of motion.

90. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of highlighting the additional expression, wherein highlighting the additional expression comprises altering aesthetic qualities of the additional expression on the computerized display in order to make the additional expression stand out from the unselected section of the body of text on the computerized display.

91. The method of claim 90, further comprising the step of applying an aesthetic variation to one or more font characteristics of said additional expression, wherein said font characteristics are selected from the group comprising font, font size, font type, font style, font color, font background color, character spacing, baseline shift and capitalization.

92. The method of claim 90, wherein the alteration of aesthetic qualities of the additional expression comprises altering the additional expression by applying one or more aesthetic manipulations selected from the group comprising, enclosing the additional expression in a shape, underlining the additional expression, applying a textual animation to the additional expression, and applying a pointer directed at the additional expression.

wherein the textual animation comprises continually altering aesthetic qualities of the selected section of the body of text on the computerized display to create a sense of motion.

93. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional expression is displayed in one or more fixed positions.

94. The method of claim 1, wherein the body of text is apportioned into one or more sections with each section containing a centrally located fixed position for the display of the additional expression.

95. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(a) playing a vocal representation of the word element in conjunction with the highlighting of the word element,

wherein a vocal representation is an audible representation of the word element being read presently produced by means selected from the group comprising a computer generated voice and a recording of a human voice.

96. A computer implemented method of presenting textual content, comprising:

(a) displaying a body of text on a computerized display;

(b) highlighting a word element,

wherein, a word element is selected from the group comprising a word and a word group in the body of text,

wherein highlighting comprises altering aesthetic qualities of a selected section of the body of text on the computerized display in order to make the selected section stand out from an unselected section of the body of claim text on the computer display; and

(c) displaying a pictorial representation of the word element on the computerized display in conjunction with the highlighting of the word element,

wherein the pictorial representation refers to pictorial digital media selected from the group comprising a still image and a moving image intended to represent the meaning of the word element visually,

wherein said highlighting of the word element in the body of text indicates a word element intended to be read presently and relocates to highlight a successive word element after a duration of time repeatedly which culminates in a series of temporarily highlighted word elements that progresses through the body of text.

97. The method of claim 96, further comprising the step of applying an aesthetic variation to one or more font characteristics of said word element, wherein said font characteristics are selected from the group comprising font, font size, font type, font style, font color, font background color, character spacing, baseline shift and capitalization.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the alteration of aesthetic qualities comprises altering the word element by applying one or more aesthetic manipulations selected from the group comprising, enclosing the word element in a shape, underlining the word element, applying a textual animation to the word element, and applying a pointer directed at the word element,

wherein the textual animation comprises continually altering aesthetic qualities of the selected section of the body of text on the computerized display to create a sense of motion.

99. The method of claim 96, wherein the pictorial representation is displayed with the highlighting of the word element in one or more fixed positions on the computerized display.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein as said series of temporarily highlighted word elements progresses through the body of text from word element to successive word element the positions on the computerized display that pictorial representations are affixed to relocate.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein as said series of temporarily highlighted word elements moves from word element to successive word element progressing through a line of text a position on the left side of the computerized display that pictorial representations are affixed to relocates starting at the bottom edge of the computerized display and successively relocating upward finishing at the top edge of the computerized display while simultaneously a second position on the right side of the computerized display that pictorial representations are affixed to relocates starting at the top edge of the computerized display and successively relocating downward finishing at the bottom edge of the computerized display.

102. The method of claim 100, wherein as said series of temporarily highlighted word elements moves from word element to successive word element progressing through a line of text a position on the computerized display that pictorial representations are affixed to relocates starting on the left edge of the computerized display and finishing on the right edge of the computerized display with pictorial representations remaining in place as successive word elements are highlighted and their pictorial representation added on the right side of the previous pictorial representation until all the word elements in the line of text have been highlighted creating a series of pictorial representations representing the entire line of text.

103. The method of claim 100, wherein as said series of temporarily highlighted word elements moves from word element to successive word element progressing through a line of text a position on the computerized display that pictorial representations are affixed to relocates to track the highlighting of the word element,

wherein track refers to relocating positions pictorial representations are affixed to in order to maintain proximity with successive highlighting of the text element being read presently.

104. The method of claim 96, wherein said duration of time is determined by multiplying a user selected duration of time one text element is to be displayed, wherein text elements are selected from the group comprising syllables and words, and a sum of: the number of text elements contained in said word element; the number of spaces in said word element multiplied by a predetermined coefficient that is expressed in units of the selected text element; and each piece of punctuation multiplied by its corresponding predetermined coefficient that is expressed in units of the selected text element.

105. The method of claim 96, further comprising the step of:

(a) playing a vocal representation of the word element in conjunction with the highlighting of the word element,

wherein a vocal representation is an audible representation of the word element being read presently produced by means selected from the group comprising a computer generated voice and a recording of a human voice.

106. The method of claim 96, further comprising the step of:

(a) recording audio of the word element being spoken in conjunction with the highlighting of the word element.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein the recorded audio is associated with the word element in a database.