Abstract: A method of detecting whether an individual is concealing information by utilizing physiological measurements. The individual is presented with a series of stimuli over a period of time, and the response of the individual is determined by measuring the pulse in the finger of the individual to determine cardiovascular changes during the period. The measurements showing changes in pulse rate and pulse amplitude are graphically represented and analyzed. The finger pulse waveform line length is measured, and the response of the individual analyzed by analyzing the line length to determine whether the individual is concealing information.

Abstract: System and methods of providing video-based training to a user's computing device over a network. In one embodiment, a video-based training system compliant with shareable content object reference model standards having the functionality to integrate with a plurality of learning management systems executing on multiple platforms. The system comprising a video training module comprising a plurality of simultaneous video content streams embedded with meta information to enable a user to search and identify content of interest. Also, the video training module provides a reference to a presenter's or instructor's background and/or contact information. Moreover, the video training module may be configured to display flash video content streams in a web browser. The video training modules may be configured to provide an electronic bookmark to store an electronic reference to a location within a video segment.

Abstract: A computerized learning system is provided. The computerized learning system may include a learning application program executable on a computing device. The learning application program may have a user interface configured to present a challenge to a user and receive a user response to the challenge. The user interface may feature a support system configured to present support to aid the user in responding to the challenge. To adjust the support provided to the skill level of the user, a scaffolding engine may be provided to determine a scaffolding level of the user for a skill, and the support system may be configured to adjust the support in response to the scaffolding level. In this manner, support for the user may be more appropriately tailored to the user's ability and change dynamically in accordance with the user's progress.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering a test, such a test to a candidate. The invention also concerns an apparatus and method of assessing the relative cognitive ability of a candidate. The invention also concerns a method of assessing the progress of a candidate in response to a learning program. The test, assessing or learning program comprise delivering a series of questions type to a candidate, the questions increasing in difficulty as the candidate successfully completes easier questions, the questions being delivered to the candidate in ranges. The questions may be “Swaps” type questions. The candidate may provide their confidence that their answer to any question is correct. A quantifier may be used to assess the candidates progress and/or cognitive skills.

Abstract: A system for guiding a user's physical examination of a patient and for generating a transcript.

Abstract: Methods and systems are shown which may enable users to create custom playback schemes for sensory works, including television shows, where a community of users may share thin time-based metadata edit control structures that are processed to enable playback devices to reproduce reference programming material according to the edits or cuts made any user.

Abstract: A learning support system has an information processing apparatus, a portable information terminal and a learning management server which are connected through a network. The information processing apparatus includes a second memory unit for storing first learning information which includes result of learning, and the portable information terminal includes a fourth memory unit for storing second learning information which includes result of learning at the portable information terminal, and the learning management server includes a fifth memory unit for storing the first learning information transferred from the information processing apparatus and the second learning information transferred from the portable information terminal. The information processing apparatus or the portable information terminal carries out continuous learning after learning information of other party is acquired through the fifth memory unit.

Abstract: An interactive training system capable of generating continuous feedback for physical therapy and training applications based on capturing and analyzing the movement of a user on an interactive surface. The training system captures sophisticated input such as the entire areas in contact with the interactive surface, center of gravity, pressure distribution, velocity, acceleration, direction, orientation etc. The training system also captures and/or calculates and/or estimates the position of a body part while in the air, not touching the interactive surface, and also while sensor input is unavailable. The training system can also provide alerts for predefined events such as a fall or the beginning of a fall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method 50 of evaluating commercial prospects for a product. The method comprises the step of presenting a plurality of questions to a user 52 of the method, with each question reflecting a different characteristic of the product being evaluated. The method then comprises the recording of an answer 56 given by the user to each question and the weighting of each recorded answer differently 60. The method also comprises providing an evaluation of the product to the user 64, with the evaluation being based on the plurality of differently weighted answers.

Abstract: A computer system configured to provide multi-day training to users. The computer system includes a program storage device. The program storage device includes a database that stores a number-of training-days value and sequence data. The program storage device also includes computer readable instructions, that when executed by the computer system. utilize the number-of-training-days value and the sequence data to control the sequence of training events.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating collaborative services with content. Collaboration services are provided to a user in the context of content such that the user may collaborate with other contacts or users within the context of the content. The collaborative services are accessed through a pane or window that initially displays a list of experts and peers as well as frequently asked questions links, availability data and configuration data. When a contact is selected, more details about the selected contact are provided to the user including a contact block that indicates how the user may collaborate with the selected contact. The contact block identifies modes of communication such as e-mail, instant messaging, video conferencing, threads, telephone, and the like. When a mode of communication is selected, the user may collaborate with the selected contact. The context of the content is often supplied to the selected contact to improve the collaboration.

Abstract: A system and method for generating and administering classroom exercises to a student. One or more root questions is generated, where each root question has a stem, a plurality of right answers, and a plurality of wrong answers. A multiple-choice question instance is created by combining the stem with a set of answer choices that are created from one of the right answers and one or more of the wrong answers. The questions are administered to a student. Preferably, the sets of questions based on the same root questions are administered one or more times to the student—e.g., a student may be required to work three sets of question instances based on the same set of root questions, or may be required to continue working new sets of question instances until all of the questions in one set are answered correctly.

Abstract: A Lock-In Training system. The Lock-In Training system can include an appropriately programmed Web site and a user computer. The Lock-In Training system can also include an appropriately programmed stand-alone computer. Some embodiments of the invention allow student users to efficiently learn materials by taking Lock-In Training courses. A Lock-In Training course may include one or more Lock-In Training sessions. These sessions may include one or more Lock-In Training parts. These parts can include a group of questions and answers. The answers can include one or more keywords. A student user can lock-in material by entering keywords in response to questions. The questions may be presented in Introductory rounds and/or Retention rounds on one or more training days.

Abstract: A Lock-In Training system. The Lock-In Training system can include an appropriately programmed Web site and a user computer. The Lock-In Training system can also include an appropriately programmed stand-alone computer. Some embodiments of the invention allow student users to efficiently learn materials by taking Lock-In Training courses. A Lock-In Training course may include one or more Lock-In Training sessions. These sessions may include one or more Lock-In Training parts. These parts can include a group of questions and answers. The answers can include one or more keywords. A student user can lock-in material by entering keywords in response to questions. The questions may be presented in Introductory rounds and/or Retention rounds on one or more training days.

Abstract: A question generation means is developed for intelligent tutors wherein a question menu having dynamic questions is capable of being displayed after each step of a problem. The generated question set contains both elementary and advanced questions and changes after each step is performed, thereby enhancing the potential that a student using the tutorial understands every aspect of a problem.

Abstract: An education support server generates test data representing a test using a test management database. At this time, the education support server derives a target score for a user who is to take the test represented by the generated test data in accordance with achievement data representing the user's past achievements stored in an achievement management database. The education support server 2 transmits target data including the target score together with the test data to a user terminal. When receiving the target data and the test data transmitted from the education support server, the user terminal displays the content of the test together with the target score the user should aim for, on a display section. When receiving answer data, the user terminal transmits the answer data to the education support server. And when receiving a marking result, the user terminal displays the marking result on the display section.

Abstract: Educational devices, educational systems, and methods of teaching and learning reading are provided. The devices, systems, and methods can include an indicium reader, such as an optical character recognition device, for reading indicium from objects. Such objects can be three-dimensional blocks and the indicium can be a letter, word, sentence, number, or some other type of readable character(s). The devices, systems, and methods can include a display for displaying the read indicium and an audio producing device for producing audio corresponding to the read indicium. The educational devices can be a self-contained, portable unit with the indicium reader, the display, and the audio producing device supported by a housing of the educational devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a solution to a given problem comprising the steps of receiving a request for a solution to a known problem, accessing a first set of data comprising a plurality of template solutions to problems, accessing a second set of data comprising a plurality of problem variable value sets, interfacing the first set of data and the second set of data for generating a solution to the problem, and transmitting the solution over a computer network.

Abstract: An educational maze navigated through responses to questions provided at points in the maze enhances factual assimilation and retention for the user. The user selects responses to travel through the maze and is not immediately informed whether the selected responses are correct. Various indications can be provided to inform the user about the correctness of responses or whether they are on a path towards the maze exit. The indications may be dead ends, loops, suggested reference materials or other information that tends to assist the user in assimilating facts or navigating the maze. The user may receive a reward for providing correct responses or successfully completing the maze. The problem-solving and cognitive judgment skills applied to navigate the maze tends to help users assimilate and retain the factual information represented by the queries and responses.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing and monitoring student academic achievement levels for purposes of identifying students at risk for not meeting minimum academic standards as measured using standardized tests, and for tracking or monitoring student academic performance levels. The system and method of the present invention comprises producing a pool of curriculum-independent General Outcome Measures (GOMs) of substantially equal difficulty for a particular grade level, and further comprises a system and method of assessing and monitoring students in that grade level using the pool of GOMs for the purpose of identifying those students at risk for not meeting minimum standardized test target scores and for tracking or monitoring student academic performance levels.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for evaluating the performance of an individual. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of encoding questions used in an examination in order to accurately identify and evaluate deficiencies in an individual's knowledge. In another aspect, an improved method of evaluating responses to the encoded questions is disclosed. Adaptive structuring of subsequent exam questions and/or topics is also provided. A computer program and associated apparatus for administering and evaluating performance is also described.

Abstract: An operation-enabling training and safety computer system and associated methods operable for selectively enabling and disabling a powered system including means for disabling the operation of the powered system, a display operable for presenting a user of the powered system with one or more questions related to training in the use of and safety associated with the powered system, one or more keys operable for transmitting one or more answers to the one or more questions from the user to the computer system, a processor operable for analyzing the one or more answers, and means for enabling the operation of the powered system if the one or more answers meet a set of predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A central service facility is connected via a network and a uniform service interactive platform to a multiplicity of remotely located medical diagnostic systems. The interactive platform includes a video/audio plug-in application which can be used to access a library of videos via a network. The video library is stored at the central service facility or on a local area network at the remote facility. The interactive platform of the medical diagnostic system comprises a web browser which enables the end-user to search and select a training video from the database, and a video/audio player for viewing the selected video directly from the operator's console. Depending on bandwidth availability, the video file can be downloaded to the remotely located medical diagnostic equipment prior to display or streamed in real-time.

Abstract: A question-answering system that is formed with an information processing apparatus for processing information in accordance with a program, and obtains an answer to an input search question sentence by searching a knowledge source, includes: a background information set; a first answer candidate extracting unit; a first background information generating unit; an accuracy determining unit; and a first background information adding unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of providing a question-and-answer screen. A storage part stores a plurality of questions related to an image or sound quality adjustment and a plurality of options corresponding to the plurality of questions, a screen generator generates a question-and-answer screen including the plurality of questions and the plurality of options, and a signal processor adjusts the image or sound quality based on the options which are selected through the question-and-answer screen in response to the plurality of questions. As a result, a user can easily adjust functions by using the question-and-answer screen.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a level of empathy between two people includes four sets of questions for each query posed, a first set being how a first participant feels about a topic, a second set being how the first participant thinks a second participant would answer the same question, a third set being how the second participant feels about the topic, and a fourth set being how the second participant thinks the first participant will answer the same question. A “weighted” numerical range of possible answer selections are provided for each question from each set. The first set is compared with the fourth set, the second set is compared with the third set to determine an empathy index for each query for each of the participants. The process is repeated for a plurality of questions that are averaged to also provide an overall empathy index and also various group indices.

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 planar surface, at least a portion of which comprises a contact-sensitive display screen for being contacted by a child.

Abstract: Computer software and portable memory for an electronic educational toy designed to stimulate the development of a child's mind using audio feedback, the educational toy including an enclosure enclosing a processor, data storage medium and a speaker and having a substantially planar surface, at least a portion of which comprises a contact-sensitive display screen for being contacted by the child.

Abstract: A multi-media method and system performs psychological assessment of an individual for suitability for particular jobs, whereby the individual is shown and provided with discrete visual and auditory stimuli on a multi-media computer screen, so that the individual's responses can be monitored in conjunction with physiological responses received by biofeedback sensors. The computer tallies the test subject's recorded responses. Virtual work environments are optionally displayed, to enable the tested individual to simulate a real work environment. Unlike other job evaluation systems, the system evaluates a job candidate's ability to maintain task focus under pressure. It directly measures performance under pressure, rather than only inferring potential performance based upon selective input from a job candidate.

Abstract: A computer based training tool and method that emulates human behavior using a computer-simulated person in a realistic scenario. It provides an interactive experience in detecting deception during interviews and acceptance of statements during interpersonal conversations. The simulated person provides verbal responses in combination with an animated video display reflecting the body language of the simulated person in response to questions asked and during and after responses to the questions. The questions and responses are pre-programmed and interrelated groups of questions and responses are maintained in dynamic tables which are constantly adjusted as a function of questions asked and responses generated. The system provides a critique and numerical score for each training session.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner.

Abstract: A method using a spatial-temporal software game for both teaching math concepts to a child and for scoring the child's proficiency in these math concepts. These scores are compared with the child's performance on a language-based test of the math concepts. If the child's score on the language-based test is lower than what is reflected by the child's game scores, instruction is given the child using stories and flashcards related to the spatial-temporal software games so that the child will relate vocabulary terms with the math concepts and characters in the temporal-spatial software game.

Abstract: Improving the frequency with which agents complete training in a call center or other constituent contact environment. Agents working in call centers are typically given periodic training to improve their skills. Training breaks are scheduled at various times throughout the day that can depend on the workload of the call center. However, often times the agents are unable to receive or complete their training during the scheduled training break due to unexpected work loads and other interruptions. The present invention enables monitoring and recording of whether training is received and completed during a training break. If the training was not completed, the training break is stored and rescheduled for a later time. The invention also facilitates completion of missed training breaks by providing spontaneous training breaks during periods of unexpectedly lower workload at the call center.

Abstract: A learner clicks “Understood” button when he or she could understand a learning material or clicks “Not Understood” button when he or she could not understand. When the “Not Understood” button is clicked, the learning server machine transmits an explanation choice information to display a Web page including a knowledge tree that shows a structure of the learning material. The Web page contains headings of explanations and choosing ratios as end-nodes of the knowledge tree. The explanation describes the learning material in detail. The choosing ratio is a ratio of each of the explanations chosen by learners who attended the same lecture using the same learning material.

Abstract: A Consolidated Online Assessment System (COLA System) that creates, manipulates, and distributes an objected-oriented paradigm that represents the scoring and related activities as a unified and integrated family of loosely coupled objects, most notably a “Case” representing a state-machine that replaces the constructed response from the test taker as the unit of work. The Scoring Model and associated Properties that encapsulate the business rules associated with what actions are appropriate or required for a unit of work and the Responses to the unit of work which represent the test-taker-contributed content (e.g., essays or other text-based responses, audio responses, digitized video responses, scanned images, diagrams, lessons plans, etc.) and ties that content to its creator are linked to a Distinct Scorable Unit (DSU) which represents a tree-based mechanism that connects and provides inheritability for the other primary system objects.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner.

Abstract: Systems and methods facilitating authoring and problem solving by joint contributors working separately but against a common goal. On-line asynchronous distributed authoring and problem solving system, method, and computer program for focusing attention toward particular authoring and problem solving topics using a threaded discussion group and reward matrix. System, method, computer program and computer program product for coordinating the activities of a plurality of people, where the plurality may be any number from two to thousands or more people. Mechanism for directing the attention and focus of large numbers of people who are solving problems using a tree-based problem space, where the tree based problem space may be a virtual problem space. Algorithms and procedures for evaluating nodes in the virtual problem space and assigning values via a pay-off matrix that serves to focus the attention of large numbers of problem solvers.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a training opportunity to understand and solve optimally. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized audio, video, graphics and animation used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiances in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner. Multiple users or students can utilize the simulated environment simultaniously and interactively from mupltiple viewpoints. A dynamic feedback system is utilized theat narrowly tailors feedback and focuses it based on the performance and characteristics of the student to assist the student in reaching a predefined goal.

Abstract: A scoring method and a scoring system perform scoring quickly and accurately, and summarize and sort the scores into statistic data readily. The scoring method includes the steps of collecting answer data concerning answers provided by a plurality of examinees in a test, collecting various attribute data of the examinees, determining which answer data corresponds to a correct answer, an incorrect answer, and no answer, and summarizing the various attribute data of the examinees by contents of the answer data.

Abstract: An assessment system includes interim tests administered at predetermined intervals. Each assessment is designed to test specific concepts, and includes multiple-choice test items, each having an item stem, a correct answer, and several distractors. Preferably at least two of the distractors are directed to disparate cognitive levels. Any distractors selected are automatically correlated for each student, in order to determine a presence of a possible problem in a particular concept. Then an individual focus can be applied to correcting any problems. Any distractors selected by any of the students are automatically correlated for the teacher, to determine the presence of a possible problem for a number of students, for applying focus to improving the understanding of some or all of a class for any problem identified by the correlation. A benchmark assessment is also administered that has a format substantially identical to that of an upcoming high-stakes test.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for evaluating educational effectiveness and establishing an index for comparison. The index is called the Classroom Productivity Index and is determined from four factors multiplied together. Two of the factors come from a Curriculum Calibration of student assignments process: (1) Alignment to Standards and (2) Breadth of Coverage. The two other factors come from a School Wide Instructional Practices Summary (classroom observations) process: (3) Time on Task, and (4) Instructional Effectiveness. The Index is used to quantifiably measure the educational institution's overall effectiveness and to identify areas for improvement in the school's instructional processes that will result in improved student learning and improved student achievement on state assessments. A repeat determination of the Classroom Productivity Index at a future time can measure a school's progress, or lack of progress, in improving its educational processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a virtual environment or a visual presentation to a user. A portion of interest is created and depending on a response of the user to the virtual environment or to the visual presentation, a feedback is preferably provided.

Abstract: A system for facilitating communications over a network among participants and a moderator includes a question module for asking questions, receiving responses, grouping participants, and providing responses to other participants in a group for further response.

Abstract: A computer program for execution on a computing device is provided to cross-train students in language development skills such as letter-word correspondence, word recognition, vocabulary, and sentence and paragraph comprehension. A set of programs provide an adaptive methodology for training a student in decoding (semantic, syntactic, phonological, and morphological relationships), knowledge of rhymes, synonyms, antonyms, and homophones, spelling, letter-word correspondences, sentence comprehension, grammatical comprehension, working memory, vocabulary, paragraph comprehension, and improved reading comprehension. In each program, students are presented with an animated scene that poses a question, and a set of answers. The set of answers contain a correct response, and a number of incorrect responses or foils. The student advances to more complex levels by satisfying predetermined correct thresholds. Through repetition and intensity, the student's language skills are developed.

Abstract: An input device of a multimedia board inputs lecturer-written information that a lecturer writes on a display page. An information processor sends the lecturer-written information input by the input device to a plurality of information terminals. A reader/writer of each of the plurality of information terminals reads out textbook information from a recording medium recording the textbook information representing contents of a textbook. A display device displays the read textbook information and the lecturer-written information supplied from the information processor, which are superimposed one on top of the other. The reader/writer records the textbook information and lecturer-written information, which are displayed by the display device, as a single file on the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of objectively testing the low contrast performance of an imaging system. Images of a uniform phantom and images of a low contrast detectability phantom are reconstructed. Thereafter, a group of pixels from an image of the uniform phantom are removed and replaced with a group of pixels from an image of the LCD phantom. A user or test observer is then prompted to identify which quadrant of the first phantom image contains a group of pixels from the LCD phantom. An accuracy of a user response is then determined and conveyed to the user. The present invention is applicable with a number of imaging modalities including computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, PET, ultrasound, and the like.

Abstract: An interactive, handheld apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a housing, a display screen on the housing, an electronic position location system, a stylus for selecting images on the display screen, a directional control pad on the housing and a memory device. The electronic position location system includes a processor that is capable of determining a location of a selected region of the display screen. The memory device includes computer code for an educational game and is operatively coupled to the processor.

Abstract: A system for delivering an educational program to a participant at a remote site and for monitoring participation therein. The system includes a server computer, a client computer and prompting means to monitor participation by the participant. The server computer has educational program software and interacts with the client computer in order to make an educational presentation to the participant. If the participant does not adequately respond, the prompting means terminate the educational program.

Abstract: A methodology in which a learner-constructed response is provided in answer to a question presented by the system, the response being evaluated by comparison with pre-defined expected responses and, based upon the evaluation, the system determining whether to proceed to another question or to offer remedial feedback. Such a learner-constructed response based evaluation methodology greatly reduces the potential for “guess-work” based correct responses and improves the training process through remedial feedback and advancement upon demonstration of knowledge.

Abstract: Providing methods and systems for a computer-aided group-learning environment, where a number of users can interact and work on a subject together. The system and method can monitor and analyze users' inputs. The analysis process can identify a user's performance on the subject, and can understand some of the user's traits, such as confidence level and learning attitude. The system can include an interaction controller, which sets a duration of time for the users to communicate in a dialogue environment. Working on the subject in a group and working alone can be intertwined. For example, the users first work on the materials generated individually, and then solve the problem together in a dialogue environment. During the dialogue session, the interaction controller can provide hints to the users. The system can also include a user registry, which restricts the users who can use the embodiment to work on the subject.