Abstract: A system for enhancing reading performance operates on a network-connected server with software executing from a non-transitory medium at the server providing an interactive interface for a user connected to the server via a browser link. There is a data repository coupled to the server. The interactive interface provides a word search exercise for the user for improving the user's reading performance, displays a passage comprising a first number of words and a search list with a second number of words that each appear at least once in the passage, the second number smaller than the first number, and when the user clicks on every word in the passage for a word that appears in the search list, that word is indicated in the list as found, until all the words in the search list have been indicated as found.

Abstract: A text document is parsed and re-ordered according to user-defined rules. The reordered text document is then presented to the user, thus requiring the user to read each section of the text document in a stand-alone manner.

Abstract: A word puzzle game includes a grid (20) of blank answer spaces displayed on a gaming surface. The grid (20) includes a reference mark (32) that visually assists a user of the word puzzle game. The reference mark (32) associates a first answer space to a symmetric location of a second answer space in the grid of blank answer spaces. One example method of determining a location of symmetrically located space includes determining a location of a first space in the grid of blank answer spaces, associating the location of the first space with space with the reference mark, and determining a location in the grid (20) of the symmetrically located spaces based upon the association of the location of the first space with the reference mark.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of advertising by conducting a competition using a literary work that is divided into a plurality of distinct parts and formed into playing pieces, each piece optionally having an associated advertisement, logo, or brand. A literary work, such as a short story, is divided into a plurality of distinct parts in such a way that the correct sequence of words in the literary work cannot be readily determined by looking at any distinct part. Each distinct part is recorded on a playing piece, such as a paper or cardboard element, and an advertisement (e.g., a corporate logo, brand, or slogan) can be recorded on the reverse side of the card. Additional “helper” playing pieces may contain information regarding the correct sequence for arranging the other cards to reassemble the literary work. The playing pieces are distributed to the public, and participants are encouraged to collect all the playing pieces pertaining to that literary work.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and kits for facilitating the solving and/or resolution of diagramless crossword puzzles. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for completing a diagramless crossword puzzle having a solution grid defining a rectilinear array of cells, is provided. The completion system includes a plurality of overlays each having a first and a second surface. Each overlay includes a grid formed on the first surface thereof. The grid of each overlay defines an array of cells. Accordingly, the overlays are selectively placable on a surface of the solution grid such that the array of cells of the overlay correspond with the rectilinear array of cells of the solution grid.

Abstract: An electronic educational toy designed to teach letters, words and numbers and stimulate the development of a child's mind using audio feedback, the educational toy including an enclosure enclosing a processor, a data storage medium and a speaker and having a substantially flat surface, at least a portion of which comprises a work platform on which a child manipulates and places an object.

Abstract: A “Double Cross™” crossword puzzle game is a method of playing a game that allows players to compete to complete a crossword puzzle. The game includes a game board which is configured as a grid of squares with a video screen in the center of the board which can be used to display written or visual clues to help solve the crossword puzzle. The players alternate controlling the selection of clues; when they answer a clue correctly they continue to control the selection, and when they answer incorrectly the clue selection passes to the next player. The game also allows players, having selected a clue, to “double cross” an opponent by challenging that opponent to answer the clue, exposing that opponent to the danger of losing some or all of his accumulated points. The game also includes a final phase where the leading player, or all of the players, must solve a word puzzle consisting of only two interlocking words.

Abstract: A system where a child or other individual arranges one or more computer-recognizable characters on a working platform to spell words or provide a mathematical result in response to computer generated questions or prompts, the system then indicating whether the words or mathematical result is correct.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to crossword puzzle type games, and more particularly to an improved crossword puzzle game and method of creating an improved crossword puzzle type game wherein additional indicia is provided on the crossword puzzle answer grid to assist the game player in determining the correct answer to the ordinary written clues provided. The additional clues provided on the answer grid preferably take the form of added indicia within one or more of the squares that form the answer grid. For example, the added indicia may be in the form of different color squares, squares including designs therein, and any other suitable indicia. A key is provided such that a player can determine the meaning of each type of added indicia. The indicia can give a player clues to assist the player in completing the puzzle. For example, one type of indicia may indicate that a vowel is to be placed in a square, while another type of indicia may indicate that a consonant is to be placed in a square.

Abstract: An electronic word building machine including a keyboard to input a user determined set of letters, a set of words in memory, a comparison program to compare the input set of letters with the set of words in memory to provide a set of matching words from the set of words in memory, the set of matching words including words which consist only of a subset of letters from the input set of letters, a ranking program to provide a predetermined score for each of the words in the set of matching words, and a display to display on the machine each of the words in the sequence of the value of the score together with the score value of the word being displayed.

Abstract: The present invention is a word game to be played by two or more persons, in which the object of the game is to assemble solutions to word transformation puzzles. The game of the present invention requires the use of a computer (or processor), a display, and a keyboard (or other input device). At the beginning of the game and at various times during the game, the processor must find a solution to a word transformation puzzle or determine that one does not exist. Efficient solution of puzzles by the processor is accomplished by creating two minimum-length search trees, each tree having a number of nodes that contain words generated via a predetermined relationship with respect to one another. The first tree is based on the first Doublet word (the source), while the second tree is based on the second Doublet word (the destination). An intersection of the two search trees is discovered by repeatedly comparing at least one word of the first search tree with at least one word of the second search tree.

Abstract: This puzzle game system utilizes a movable base frame 12 which defines within its body a cut-out template 26 which defines a crossed word pattern. The cut-out template 26 defines at least two intersecting word files 28, with each word file 28 being oriented at an angle to each other word file with which it intersects. A plurality of movable elements 14 which are size and shape to be received within the word files 28 are provided. Each element 14 has a display surface 18 for at least one symbol 16. To play the game, one edge of one word file 28 within base frame 12 is oriented cross-wise in front of the player and a plurality of symbol bearing movable elements 14 are provided which are at least sufficient to solve the puzzle. As a next step, base frame 12 is turned to orient one edge of a different word file 28 cross-wise in front of the player, and the puzzle is again solved. This process is continued until the base frame 12 has been solved in each of its edge orientations.

Abstract: Word construction system (10) is provided to allow a user to form crossword puzzles or other indicia related games. System (10) includes strips of tape (16) which are divided into zoned elements (18, 18' and 18") having individual regions (20) on each where indicia (14) may be placed. The user then manipulates and relocates zoned elements (18, 18' and 18") using common indicia (14) to allow one zoned element to be an overlay for another zoned element. In this manner, there is provided a mechanism and method where a user may form a word game which is individualistic in nature and may have differing patterns for the same words or indicia (14) used.

Abstract: An improvement in a electronic crossword puzzle solving machine to provide alternate words for a word that is input on the keyboard. A first actuation of a function key labeled "Second-Guess" initiates a search in which all words in memory having the same number of letters as the input word but differing with respect to only one of those letters is displayed. A second actuation of the "Second-Guess" key results in a search and display of all words differing from the input word with respect to two of the letters. Each successive actuation of the "Second-Guess" key increases the number of letters by which the alternate words found differ from the input word.

Abstract: A word puzzle device in which an unknown word is solved by substituting, for each of the unknown letters, the letters of the alphabet, and combining these letters with the letters known to exist in the unknown word to determine the identity of the word. The word puzzle device includes a plurality of elongated strips each having two sets of equally spaced letters. One set of letters is oriented vertically and another of said sets is oriented horizontally. A housing retains said plurality of strips in parallel and for longitudinal movement and has a first opening for viewing said vertically oriented letters and a second opening for viewing said horizontally oriented letters on each of said plurality of strips. The strips are moved to display different letter combinations through said openings. By combining letters of the alphabet, for any known letter, with letters known to form part of the unknown word, the unknown word can be discovered.

Abstract: A word listing system adapted to be complied into an electronic or print dictionary or compendium wherein the words are arranged in columns. There is a vertical guide column which indexes words arranged horizontally in said columns by corresponding letters alphabetically arranged therein. Said words may extend horizontally on either side of said column, end or begin with the letter in said guide columns. Each word in said list is reproduced at least twice in said compendium.

Abstract: A game card includes a playing matrix with squares arranged in rows and columns. Starter words or starter letters may be pre-printed in the playing matrix. The player examines advertisements to derive words which are to be inserted in the playing matrix. Aligned with the rows of the playing matrix are spaces for the player to identify the sources of the advertisements or for the sources to be identified to the player. A word completion matrix aligned with the rows of the playing matrix is provided to receive the terminal portions of any words that are too long for the playing matrix. After the player has completed the playing matrix he examines it in an attempt to find the maximum number of row words in the rows of the playing matrix and the maximum number of column words in the columns of the playing matrix.

Abstract: An apparatus for constructing crossword puzzles includes a two-piece housing including a base portion and a cover portion, the base portion including a work area surface of metal or the like for receiving one of a plurality of grid members which defines a rectangular grid of squares extending in rows and columns thereon, the grid member being secured to the work area surface by a plurality of magnetic corner pieces, and a crossword puzzle being developed on the grid member using magnetic letters and blank spacer pieces which are normally stored in compartments defined by the base portion of the housing.

Abstract: A puzzle packet which includes a greeting card containing a "hidden message. " The message appears only on a see-through sheet which is detachably fastened to overlie a panel of the card in registry with a panel-imprinted crossword puzzle-type lattice. The lattice has filled and open squares, and spaced numbers each keyed to either an "across" or a "down" heading. A purchaser of the greeting card, having noted the message, detaches the message-imprinted sheet and encloses it in a small envelope attached to the card. Should the one to whom the purchaser then sends the packet be unable to solve the puzzle to learn the message, he may resort to the preprinted answer in the small envelope.

Abstract: A crossword puzzle system for creating crossword puzzles including the steps of (a) obtaining a crossword puzzle grid defining sections; (b) inserting "generator" words into the grid; (c) making "possibility" check from a provided "Table of Average Preference Values"; (d) assigning "C" (consonant) and "V" (vowel) locations based on highest frequency rate with the longest words done first and with "possibility" checks done as needed; (e) determining the relative priorities of the crossword puzzle grid sections; and (f) filling in the blanks with the use of provided "Paralog" lists starting with the most difficult.

Abstract: Biological agents such as secretory cells are encapsulated in a hydrophilic gel made of agarose or collagen-agarose and gelatin sponge-agarose combinations. In a preferred embodiment, semi-solid beads are formed from a suspension containing collagen, agarose and secretory cells such as pancreatic islets, the collagen is polymerized to form solid, agarose-collagen beads and the solid beads are coated with agarose. Coating is preferably by rolling the solid beads in about 5-10% agarose, contacting the rolled beads with mineral oil and washing oil from the beads. Beads containing secretory cells can be transplanted into a mammal to treat a condition caused by impaired secretory cell function.