Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for a geographical trivia boardgame for learning about a state. The apparatus consists of a gameboard with a state map affixed thereon. The state map is divided into city regions. The players also are provided a score sheet and trivia cards. The players may place individual game pieces on the map after successfully locating the city name and answering a trivia question located on a trivia card. Points are also awarded and recorded on the score sheet.

Abstract: A card game which includes a plurality of cards. Each of the plurality of cards has a front side and a back side. The front side has a first identification information section printed thereon. A first name information section is printed below the identification information section on the front side of the card. The first identification information section has information corresponding to said first name information section on another of the cards. The back side of the card has a second name information section printed thereon. The second name information section has information corresponding to the first identification information section. The back side of the card also has a leader information section at a different location than the second name information section. The leader information section has information corresponding to the second name information section on another of the plurality of cards.

Abstract: The present invention entails a geography game kit that is designed for teaching children and others the identity and location of counties within a particular state, the county seat of respective counties, and general information and history concerning the counties and the state. In particular, the geography game kit includes a puzzle board that includes a back panel having a raised state shaped outline extending around the back panel that conforms to the shape of a particular state. There is also provided a plurality of county puzzle pieces that conform to or represent the shape of the respective counties constituting the particular state. In addition, the game kit comprises a series of question and answer cards that relate to information about the respective counties and state. Finally, the geography game kit of the present invention includes a timer and at least one die that is used to determine which player begins play.

Abstract: An ellipse is rotated in such a way that the time interval which elapses between the successive passages of the major axis of the ellipse and the minor axis of the ellipse through the same position corresponds to the time interval which elapses between a successive high tide and low tide. The ellipse is rotated substantially in phase with the lunar cycle.

Abstract: By providing an interactive communication system whereby individuals are able to electronically select at least one possible outcome of a plurality of outcomes of a future event, individuals are able to participate in the outcome of that event and possibly share in a prize award associated with the event. In the preferred embodiment, individuals forming the home audience of a televized game show are able to electronically communicate a series of random numbers using their telephone to participate in possibly winning the prize awards of the show. In addition, both on-camera game participants and the studio audience also participate and have the ability to win prizes.

Abstract: A global mapping system which organizes mapping data into a hierarchy of successive magnitudes or levels for presentation of the mapping data with variable resolution, starting from a first or highest magnitude with lowest resolution and progressing to a last or lowest magnitude with highest resolution. The idea of this hierarchical structures can be likened to a pyramid with fewer stones or "tiles" at the top, and where each successive descending horizontal level or magnitude contains four times as many "tiles" as the level or magnitude directly above it. The top or first level of the pyramid contains 4 tiles, the second level contains 16 tiles, the third contains 64 tiles and so on, such that the base of a 16 magnitude or level pyramid would contain 4 to the 16th power or 4,294,967,296 tiles. This total includes "hyperspace" which is later clipped or ignored. Digital data corresponding to each of the separate data base tiles is stored in the database under a unique filename.

Abstract: An educational visual display system for teaching geography in which objects having some geographical or topographical significance, e.g., states of the Union, may be detachably affixed and arranged to demonstrate relationship between the objects. The preferred system includes (1) a primary background surface of iron velvet fabric material to which hook type fasteners may be detachably adhered, (2) a plurality of primary objects having geographical significance and comprising a soft foam core with a layer of iron velvet fabric on one side and a plurality of hook type fasteners on the other side, the primary objects being arrangeable to represent in combination a larger geographical unit, and (3) a plurality of secondary objects each having geographical or topographical significance and having hook type fasteners on one side thereof for being detachably affixable to the layer of iron velvet fabric of the primary objects.

Abstract: Instructional devices include information, such as a map, instructions, or any other visually discernable type of information is formed on one surface and is physically and spatially related to information on a second surface, and in one embodiment, the first surface is a map of the world and a second surface is an antipodal map of the world reversed by 180.degree.. By making a mark on the first surface, a Mark-Thru is produced at the corresponding point on the second surface. This concept is shown as applied to anaglyphs on which the information is projected on surfaces and on examinations or tests in which examination questions of multiple-choice type are formed on a first surface and the Mark-Thru indicates the correctness of answer on the second surface.