Abstract: A personality model is created for a population and used as an input to a text generation system. Alternative texts are created based upon the emotional effect of the generated text. Certain words or phrases are “pinned” in the output, reducing the variability of the generated text so as to preserve required information content, and a number of tests provide input to a discriminator network so that proposed outputs both match an outside objective regarding the information content, emotional affect, and grammatical acceptability. A feedback loop provides new “ground truth” data points for refining the personality model and associated generated text.

Abstract: The present invention features a method of teaching a child the letters of the alphabet, the numbers, the shapes, and the primary colors by a caregiver. The method features obtaining a teachable clothing system featuring a teachable clothing article of clothing having a character attached thereon. The character is located in view of a wearer when worn. The character is reachable by a hand of the wearer when worn. The system features a teachable clothing game book. The method features outfitting the teachable clothing article of clothing on a child, verbalizing a character name, verbalizing a character color, pointing to an object in an occupied room having the same character color as the character, and reading the teachable clothing game book to the child at a child's end of the day and playing a game described in the teachable clothing game book with the child.

Abstract: The invention provides a simple, yet flexible mechanism for affixing items to a magnetic board such that they are accurately aligned to the board and to one another. Such mechanism allows positioning and repositioning of the items as desired by the user, including stacked configurations. Contact between the items and the board is aesthetically pleasing, and provides a bearing surface that allows for repositioning of items using a sliding motion. Further, aligning the items is convenient for the user and does not distract from the primary task at hand.

Abstract: A teaching system comprising a set of magnetic playing pieces, a display mitt comprising a first panel being associated with the palm of a user of the mitt; including a flexible metallic layer for attracting at least one magnet, an exterior layer covering the flexible layer of the first panel; a second panel associated with the back of a hand of a user of the mitt; a hand space formed between the first and second panels for receiving at least a portion of a hand of a person so as to provide a firm display surface on at least one of the first and second panels; and a hand entrance opening providing access to the hand space so that the mitt may by worn and taken off; whereby the first and second panels form a wearable mitt that can receive the magnetic playing pieces associated with teaching or playing games.

Abstract: A pre-writing teaching aid assists beginning writers in creating letters and pre-writing strokes. The teaching aid includes a magnetic-responsive drawing tablet including a housing, a writing surface and structure for displaying an image responsive to magnetic contact on the writing surface. Structure for erasing the image is provided enabling the writing surface to be used over and over. The teaching aid also includes at least four magnetic stamps that are appropriately sized relative to the writing surface and are shaped as big line, little line, big curve and little curve. All of the capital letters in the English alphabet can be formed using these four simple shapes. The resulting assembly provides a fun and effective learning activity.

Abstract: A method of teaching pronunciation is provided which includes communicating by a voice portal server to a user a model word and detecting a response by the user to the voice portal server. The method also includes comparing the response word to the model word and determining a confidence level based on the comparison of the response word to the model word. The method further includes comparing an acceptance limit to the confidence level and confirming a correct pronunciation of the model word if the confidence level one of equals and exceeds the acceptance limit.

Abstract: A finger-tip encirclement worn on a finger of a user's hand when writing or studying to act as a placebo in recalling previously learned educational materials by having a surface positioned thereon to be rubbed between at least two fingers of the hand during the act of information retrieval.

Abstract: A binder has a front cover and a back cover. A first page assembly for mounting in the binder includes a first magnet. A second page assembly for mounting in the binder in an overlying relationship with the first page assembly includes a second magnet for releasably attaching the second page assembly to the first page assembly in the binder. Each one of the page assemblies may include a magnet portion, a hinge portion, and a display portion, which may be all formed as one piece. The binder has a base member, made of a magnetic material, to which the magnets are attracted to mount the page assemblies in the binder.

Abstract: A mathematics teaching system for visually and physically teaching a student how to perform multiplication and division calculations in a simple to understand format. The mathematics teaching system includes a housing having a plurality of apertures aligned in vertical and horizontal rows, an upper opening within the housing for inserting tokens into, a lower opening for allowing tokens to escape, a vertical slot and a horizontal slot within the housing for receiving slider members, a plurality of vertical reference numerals and a plurality of horizontal reference numerals, and a stopper member slidably positioned within a lower portion of the housing for retaining the tokens in a desired location for allowing calculation by a student.

Abstract: An educational system is provided including a recipient surface such as a cloth or base having a plurality of entities positioned thereon which are selected from the group of entities including colors, shapes, alphabetic characters, and numbers. Also included are marbles and figurines for being removably positioned adjacent to the entities.

Abstract: An audio-visual work and method of its creation which work has writings placed on the pictures of the work so that as each word or other utterance is heard a writing to be associated with the hearing is coordinated with seeing of the writing such that the future presentation of either the utterance or the writing shall evoke the other in the mind of the original viewer-listener. Each word will when appropriate appear in a legible perspective adjacent to the mouth of the utterer. The work can be displayed linearly or under computer control of the viewer/listener along with additional educational materials.

Abstract: An audio-visual work and method of its creation which work has writings placed on the pictures of the work so that as each word or other utterance is heard a writing to be associated with the hearing is coordinated with seeing of the writing such that the future presentation of either the utterance or the writing shall evoke the other in the mind of the original viewer-listener. Each word will when appropriate appear in a legible perspective adjacent to the mouth of the utterer. The work can be displayed linearly or under computer control of the viewer/listener along with additional educational materials.

Abstract: A word kit includes an assemblage of objects, each object presenting a plurality of surfaces. The assemblage includes a first set of objects having a first surface of the plurality surfaces. A word selected from an interchangeable part of speech is depicted on the first surface and each additional surface of the plurality surfaces depicts another word selected from the interchangeable part of speech. A second set of objects has each of the plurality of surfaces thereof depicting a noninterchangeable series of letters.

Abstract: A book having at least one fold out page with a metal insert which assists the placement or arrangement of magnetic manipulatives onto a page of the book.

Abstract: A changeable magnetic sign kit including; interlocking pieces, upon which are imprinted alphanumeric characters, which can be reconstructed into different messages, and which vary in width to accomodate the variety of widths of characters within a font style, the width dimension of each character piece having a specific mathematical relationship with the width dimension of another; similar interlocking framepieces which connect with the alphanumeric imprinted pieces to connect them with a straight edged perimeter, and connector pieces which interlock with either the framepieces or the character pieces to join one parallelogram comprised of these two type pieces to another parallelogram comprised of these two type pieces.

Abstract: Two-dimensional designs are created by providing a magnetic surface and attaching magnetic parts to the surface. The parts may be precut geometric and representational forms cut from flexible magnetic material. The surface may be a surface painted with a magnetic paint. Three-dimensional designs are created by providing a metallic surface and attaching parts to the surface using small permanent magnets. A magnetic paint formulation and formulations for moldable clay-like and dough-like magnetic compositions are disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic apparatus (10) is provided having a bottom plate (12), a top plate (14), a first magnet guide (16), a second magnet guide (18) and a magnet member (20) which is slidable upon a slide axis (22) through apertures (40) and (54) of first magnet guide (16) and second magnet guide (18) respectively. The magnetic apparatus (10) is shown in a closed position in FIG. 1 for use in conjunction with a reed switch (86) (see FIG. 3) mounted on bottom plate (12). In the closed position magnet member (20) is close enough to the reed switch (86) to magnetically toggle reed switch (86) and thus electrically toggle electrical circuit (100). When the magnetic apparatus (10) is moved in three-dimensional space so that reference plane (24) is changed with respect to gravity line (26) to a sufficient degree, then magnet member (20) will shift along slide axis (22) toward second magnet guide (18).

Abstract: Magnetic alphanumeric characters having substantially the capability to be properly aligned to one another during display is proposed. The characters consist of magnetic materials with concentrated magnetic strength on one face. The magnetized face is glued to a thin transparent polyethelene material whose edges are cut in a zig-zag fashion. The zig-zag edges allow more than one alphanumeric character to be installed in a straight line vertically, horizontally and at an angle.

Abstract: An educational and entertaining device stimulates learning, creativity, imagination, and artistic interpretation. The principal elements in the device are flexible magnetic character pieces and geometrically shaped metallic chips which, when magnetized, form solid replicas in the shape of the flexible magnetic character pieces. The invention is activated by placing a preformed, flexible magnetic alphabet letter, numeral, animal or other character piece on an image board located in a bottom half of the device. Alternatively, separate magnetic character pieces may also be placed on the image board to form a series of artistic impressions. Once the device is closed and secured, the user shakes the device, thus causing the geometrically shaped metallic chips to form an impressionistic picture. All of the alphabet letters, numerals, animals, and other artistic shapes may be created by repeating the process with different flexible magnetic character pieces.

Abstract: A toy including a three-dimensional base having a magnetic sheet on its rearward side for temporary attachment to a metallic surface. The frontal surface of the base defines plural recesses each for the reception of a correspondingly shaped magnetic piece. The pieces each have a magnetic component for retention on a metallic surface when removed from base recess. When in place in a base recess, the magnetic components of the base and piece retain the latter in place. The pieces and their recess walls may be color coded to teach color recognition. A recess wall surface is provided with an image which differs from the image on other recess wall surfaces.

Abstract: A puzzle comprises a plurality of puzzle elements held together along a common axis. Each of the puzzle elements includes first and second faces and a peripheral edge. A series of discrete symbols are formed along the peripheral edge of each element. Preferably, the puzzle elements are magnetic wheels held together by magnetic forces. The magnetic wheels have a series of protuberances on one face which are adapted to register with a series of cavities on an opposing face of an adjacent magnetic wheel. The magnetic wheels are rotated relative to each through a series of click-stops which correspond to discrete positions of the magnetic wheels. A solution is achieved when all of the symbols on each of the magnetic wheels are properly aligned.

Abstract: An educational aid, comprising a figure representing an animate object. A plurality of first enhancing means are provided which are adapted to attach magnetically to the figure. One surface of the first enhancing means bears representation of at least one teach object. A plurality of second enhancing means is provided, which are adapted to magnetically attach to the figure, wherein the second enhancing means relates to a feature of the teaching object.

Abstract: An activity display article is constructed to have multi-educational features especially useful for teaching basic skills to young children. The article comprises at least one activity sheet having visual objects printed thereon. A magnetic strip is mounted on a back side of the activity sheet for holding the paper sheet to a ferrous base surface. A set of manipulatives is used with the printed activity sheet. Magnetic means on the manipulatives permit a variety of educational uses, including word association and matching.

Abstract: A teaching and demonstration system is disclosed comprising a looseleaf notebook with a clear plastic pocket attached to the outside of its front cover. A metallic sheet is inserted into the pocket and a nonmetallic sheet is inserted between the metallic sheet and the inside surface of the pocket. The nonmetallic sheet has printed subject matter on it related to the teaching of music, spelling or reading. Magnetic elements are positioned on the outside surface of the pocket and are held there due to magnetic attraction to the metallic sheet. The magnetic elements are related to the printed subject matter. For example, if the printed subject matter represents a musical scale the magnetic elements represent musical notes. For the teaching of spelling, the subject matter consists of words with missing letters and the magnetic elements represent the missing letter.

Abstract: Progressively smaller pieces can be connected to the largest piece to aid in semantic mapping of an informative passage, for example. Legends can be applied to the pieces (and can be wiped off later). The pieces can be connected mechanically or magnetically. The mechanical connections can be different shapes to limit connection of a piece to the next larger piece. Similarly, the pieces can be magnetized to achieve the same end. The perimeter of each piece can be color coded to indicate the color of the proper piece to be connected to the perimeter.

Abstract: A communication aid that is useful to individuals who have lost the ability to communicate with other individuals by talking and/or writing. The communication aid includes a generally flat plate or panel which carries thereon a plurality of short message portions, such as words or phrases in human readable form. A plurality of manually placeable tokens are provided. Each token carries a sequence indicator, such as a number or letter, thereon. The handicapped individual selectively places a number of these tokens on the plate in a sequence, so as to communicate a message logically readable by individuals who observe the plate. This complete message is composed by reading the short message portions in the sequential order of the numbers or letters that are carried by the tokens, to thereby form the long message.

Abstract: A psychograph, of a type employing a movable indicator to designate indicia on a principal part of the device such as a board, can be constructed so that the indicator will cause a switch to close each time it points to or otherwise designates an indicia. A circuit is used to provide an output in the form of a signal capable of being stored or used by a computer, an electronic typewriter or the like when a switch is closed for a pedetermined time interval. Normally the board or similar part of the device will carry a plurality of indicia and a separate switch will be associated with each so that signals corresponding to all of the indicia can be obtained.

Abstract: An activity book is constructed to have multi educational features especially useful for teaching reading readiness skills to young children. The book comprises a set of bound pages. A plurality of pages have visual objects thereon with magnetic means mounted within the outline of the visual object. A pocket is also found on the page with a set of manipulatives contained therewithin. Magnetic means on the manipulatives and on the pocket permit a variety of educational uses involving word association and matching.

Abstract: A word game for children comprising the combination of a plurality of magnetizable alphabet letters for throwing on a supporting surface to form a pile thereof, a permanent magnet stiff wand having a handle for pulling a desired one or more of the letters from the pile, each letter having a body cut-out into the shape of one of the letters of the alphabet so that, while disposed in the pile, it can be recognized by the sighting of a part thereof, the body of each letter being magnetizable throughout the confines thereof so that, when any part thereof is touched by the wand, the letter can be pulled from the pile, and a plurality of cards for the players to draw respective control cards therefrom, each control card having intelligence printed thereon which requires each player to spell a word with the letters on the card he pulls from the pile, the wand and the pile of magnetizable letters challenging a player's dexterity in being able to sight a desired letter or letters in the pile and to manipulate the wand

Abstract: A kit of components for advertising purposes comprises a coated steel panel, a filling device having a plurality of coated steel sheets, and a plurality of flexible magnetic characters made from rubber or similar synthetic material having incorporated therein magnetic material such as barium ferrite such that the characters are both flexible and magnetic and may be applied either to the display panel or the filing device in a flat condition. When applied to the filing device the characters may be stored and transported without damage.

Abstract: An educational learning aid for teaching children the letters of the alphabet, numbers and other symbols in their proper sequence. The educational learning aid includes a plastic face cover having openings conforming to the shape of the letters, numbers and the like. A metallic backing plate, on which indicia may be applied to create better visualization of the openings in the face cover, is coupled beneath the cover plates. A plurality of separate pieces in the form of letters or numbers conforming to the array of the openings in the plastic cover are provided to permit insertion by a child. The letters include a magnetic element to effect attachment of an individual piece to the metallic backing plate when placed in its proper position.

Abstract: A novel educational toy is provided which comprises, in combination, an elongated support rod and a plurality of separated magnetic members slideably received on the rod. Each member has a pair of opposed faces, the faces having an opposite polarity to each other, and the members are arranged on the rod so members of separate groups are magnetically attracted to one another, while each group repels adjacent groups, so that groups are effectively spaced along the rod. Each magnetic member bears identifying indicia, the members of each group also collectively providing separate distinct group indicia. The member indicia may be symbols, numbers, letters, or the like. Alternatively, they may be configurations for the members which resemble solid objects.A handle may be provided for moving the entire toy. The members can be easily aligned with each other by means of for example, matching detents on adjoining faces, and/or tabs to facilitate handling thereof.