Abstract: An interactive learning system and method are provided. The method includes projecting at least one multimedia on a display screen interface upon selection of the at least one multimedia by a user, receiving one or more images representative of the at least one movement of corresponding one or more interactive tools captured by an image capturing unit in real time, enabling an interaction with at least one multimedia being displayed on the display screen interface upon having at least one movement of the one or more interactive tools on pad, identifying a pattern formed by the one or more received images representative of the at least one movement of the one or more interactive tools, analysing the pattern identified via an image processing technique, enabling an interaction of the one or more interactive tools with the at least one multimedia being displayed on the display screen interface in real time.

Abstract: An operation state detecting apparatus includes the following. An electronic device includes an operation surface and can detect whether there is contact in a plurality of positions. A sheet material can be attached to and detached from the operation surface. The sheet material includes a projecting portion which deforms to change a contact state on the operation surface according to strength of external force. A processor of the electronic device detects whether there is contact in a plurality of positions in an individual detecting region on the operation surface on which a contact state changes by the projecting portion deforming in a state with the sheet material attached to the operation surface. The processor performs a specific process according to strength or speed of an operation applied to the projecting portion judged based on a detected result of whether contact is detected in the plurality of positions.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of detecting West Nile virus and oligonucleotide reagents derived from a West Nile virus consensus sequence that are useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: A learning system for testing aspects of how a child learns includes a toy-like electro-mechanical chassis having upstanding pegs. The child is encouraged to place donut shaped hand pieces onto the pegs. The hand pieces test the ability of the child to discriminate between different colors, and separately between different textures and different shapes and also tests the child's abilities in perception and creativity. The electro-mechanical chassis also is able to test the child's ability to discern and copy tones and rhythms. Information of the child's performance is automatically collected and compared with normalized results of a large tested group of subjects. Remediation focuses on activities related to the learning channels where the child is least astute and periodic retesting measures the ability of the child to improve in those channels to enable improvement of remediation approaches.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing aspects of how a child learns includes a toy-like base having upstanding pegs. The child is encouraged to place donut shaped hand pieces onto the pegs. The hand pieces test the ability of the child to discriminate between different colors, and separately between different textures and different shapes and also tests the child's abilities in perception and creativity. The base also is able to test the child's ability to discern and copy tones and rhythms. Information of the child's performance is automatically collected within the apparatus and then compared with a normative baseline. Remediation focuses on activities related to the learning channels where the child is least astute and periodic retesting measures the ability of the child to improve in those channels to enable improvement of remediation approaches.

Abstract: Educational display boards are in widespread use—from classrooms to boardrooms. A display board is a thin substantially planar material imprinted with graphics and text that often conveys a relationship between elements. The present invention is specifically a design for interactive educational display boards upon which users interact by touching one contact associated with a term corresponding to a question, and one or more terms corresponding to an answer selection. User bodily resistance is sensed by the circuit as user input; to which the interactive display board responds with a variety of audio tunes and tones in relation to these user choices.

Abstract: An audio storybook incorporates raised characters within the storybook which are electronically connected to sound synthesizer and reproduction apparatus associated with a book. The book provides the ability to utilize a progressively revealed pattern in a story, thus improving the ability of such storybooks to accommodate complex story lines and hold the reader's attention.

Abstract: An educational and entertainment device wherein a microcomputer is mounted in a housing to receive user generated data presented by moving a conducting stylus across perpendicular arrays of conductors on a work surface formed on the housing and presents information to the user via audio and visual devices. The conductors of each array are organized into first write groups formed of a plurality of interconnected conductors which can be placed in a selected electrical state by words written to the write groups and into read groups, read by the microcomputer, formed of a plurality of interconnected conductors interspersed with the conductors of the write groups. Additional, second write groups are interspersed with the first write groups and read groups. The arrays are alternatively mounted on the work surface or on a support member which can be detachably mounted on the work surface and connectors are provided for connecting the arrays on the support member to the microcomputer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional indicia bearing unit, including a voice synthesis chip, battery and amplifier/speaker (8) for synthesizing an audible sound for educational purposes such as an interactive method for learning to read. The audible sound produced is the name and/or associated sound of the indicia bearing unit. The indicia bearing unit may be a letter, number, or alternatively, short vowel, long vowel form of a letter to produce the audible sound of the phonetic pronunciation of the letter. A plurality of unique indicia bearing units organized in a selected sequence form a set retained in a book like holder. The chip, battery and amplifier/speaker may be self-contained within each indicia bearing unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for educational games comprising a plurality of printed cards/boards, and a novel low-cost touch pad with interface cable to the personal computer game-port. When an eductional game is played, the player responds to computer questions/words/graphic object by pressing the corresponding answer in the printed card/board which is placed on top of the touch pad. This selection in terms of touched coordinates of the touch pad is sensed by the computer through the computer input/game port. Both computer generated sound and animation graphic pictures in terms of video games or others are used for either positive or negative feedback to the player. A variation of the same apparatus can be used for playing various computerized board games with a plurality of moving game pieces, and game boards by one or more players.

Abstract: An audio-visual interactive puzzle includes a rigid puzzle form defining a predetermined number of form cutouts, an upper graphic disposed on the form upper surface, and a plurality of respective removable puzzle pieces, each having a peripheral configuration conforming to that of an associated form cutout and bearing a piece graphic. A flexible membrane bears on the underside thereof a plurality of conductors in predetermined relative disposition, and a plurality of respective lower graphics overlie the flexible membrane and underlie the form cutouts. A spacer includes respective spacer cutouts generally corresponding to and disposed to underlie the form cutouts, and a conductive ground plane underlies the spacer cutouts. An electronic sound generator generates respective predetermined associated sounds in response to the input signals applied thereto.

Abstract: A talking book including a power source, switches, voice chips and speaker, all of which are mounted within the book and act together to "read" the words written on pages of the book. The switches are pressure-sensitive types, and marked areas on the pages are pressed in order to activate the switches and the chips in order to produce words or other sounds.

Abstract: A self-teaching book for children having a number of questions and a plurality of electronic teaching units on which a plurality of answers corresponding to each question are carried for the user to choose from. Each electronic teaching unit has seven superimposed layers, the arrangement of which is an answer sheet, an upper conducting layer, an upper insulating layer, a source layer, a lower insulating layer, a lower conducting layer and a protective covering. A plurality of slots are respectively arranged within the upper and lower insulating layers to permit the contact between the source layer and one of the upper and lower conducting layers to activate an electronic device.

Abstract: Self-teaching apparatus is disclosed herein having a platform for supporting a card carrying printed indicia and a record disc. Information carried on the disc and the printed area is coordinated so as to be meaningful in practice. Record disc playback mechanism and an operating circuit is intercoupled with an electrical probe actuator so that the auditory instructions or information can be related to the printed indicia. In one form, a solid, pliable platform is employed with a membrane switch included in the circuit and, in another form, holes are placed through the platform for passing an electric tip on the probe for contact with a plate connected to the circuit. The card is provided with holes in the latter form and without holes in the former form.

Abstract: This invention provides students with immediate feedback as to the correctness of their responses by closing switches at two different depths. A holding frame aligns six sheets in layers, one above another. Holes that are punched through some of the six sheets of material are all aligned on the same grid pattern. The top sheet is an instructional sheet that has response areas punched in it at the site of correct and incorrect answers. The second sheet down contains no holes, is elastic and electroconductive, and hides the depth of the underlying holes from the student. The third sheet down is non-conductive and has the entire grid of holes punched in it. The fourth sheet down is electroconductive, and has holes punched in it only at correct answer areas. The fifth sheet down is non-conductive and has holes punched in it only at correct answer areas. The sixth sheet down is non-conductive, but contains electroconductive inserts at all correct answer areas.

Abstract: This invention uses preprinted instructional sheets that contain multiple questions, a plurality of answer choices, and response areas adjacent to answer areas. Underlying said instructional sheets are two sheets of electroresistive film, one sheet being positioned above the other; said sheets are usually not in contact with each other except at the times and the locations when downward pressure is exerted on a response area on an overlying instructional sheet. Along one vertical margin of one resistive sheet is a conductive strip. Along one horizontal margin of the second resistive sheet is a conductive strip. The different response areas on the instructional sheets are located in a grid pattern with X and Y coordinates paralleling the X and Y coordinates of the conductive strips on the resistive sheets.

Abstract: A small console containing a keypad such as an elastomeric array keypad and a microprocessor which is preprogrammed with a number of simple algorithms. The individual keys (switches) are preferably, although not necessarily, hidden to the user and are arranged in sets providing, for example, 8 data lines each having a plurality of keys associated therewith some lines of which, for a particular algorithm, are redundant, and other dedicated keys. The user directly programs the device at the keypad by inputting the solution to the particular question. The data inputting is provided secretively by using an overlay placed over the keypad on the console. The overlay provides some pictorial and text description of the game.

Abstract: This invention provides students with immediate feedback as to the correctness of their responses by closing electrical switches at two different depths. A holding frame aligns six different sheets in layers, one below the other. The top sheet is an instructional sheet that contains printed questions and answers, and response areas near each answer choice. The second and fifth sheets are elastic and electroconductive and are connected to an electric power source. The third and sixth sheets are nonconductive and contain a grid of through holes. The fourth sheet is elastic and nonconductive, but has strips of elastic and electroconductive material bonded to its upper surface. Other electroconductive strips, at a 90.degree. axis with the above strips, are bonded to the bottom surface, the holding frame. Each individual electroconductive strip is linked to a computer via a switch relay.

Abstract: This invention provides immediate feedback to students as to their correct and incorrect responses by the incorporation of: a computer; electronic visual and/or audio feedback means; and a holding frame that contains a printed instructional sheet that is located above two sets of electroconductive strips, where the first set is located at a 90.degree. axis with the second set, and overlies the second set in a different but parallel plane. The centers of the conductive strips form the vertical and horizontal coordinates of a grid pattern. The instructional sheets contain response areas that are located above some of the points of intersection of the coordinates in this grid. Each strip in the two sets of conductive strips is connected to the computer, and the computer is programmed to know which points of intersection are correct response areas and which are incorrect response areas. At least one set of conductive strips is flexible or elastic.

Abstract: An educational game comprising in combination: (a) a segmented disc having indicia in at least one of the segments; and (b) a spoke-like configuration pivotally secured to the disc adjacent the center thereof whereby selected segments of the disc can be aligned with the spoke-like configuration, the spoke-like configuration having a plurality of divided areas extending radially and outwardly thereof away from the disc, indicia in at least one of the areas corresponding to that on the segment and further common indicia on the segment and the area. The spoke like configuration and disc can be rotatably and removably mounted on opposite sides of an apertured container.

Abstract: An amusement game formed by a base having a well therein to receive a power source, such as a battery, and a platform on which a pre-printed circuit card of conductors is located with the card having an upwardly bent portion which extends over a corresponding portion on the base and which also carries a plurality of light emitting diodes. A cover overlies the printed circuit card with the cover having a cutout providing access to a plurality of pairs of terminals of the printed circuit each of which is designed to activate an LED with a activating card having conductive material thereon to cause a corresponding pair of terminals to be activated.

Abstract: An educational learning aid which obtains its procedural data via bar code or other indicia imprinted on the edge of detachable work book sheets. The aid holds the detachable sheet over a touch sensitive array of switches so that touching or marking of the sheet is sensed by the underlying switches in the aid. The correct content of the answers is communicated to the aid by a bar code or machine readable section either on a work sheet or on a second sheet. In this fashion the operator responds to printed material on the sheet and is verbally reinforced by the learning aid for correct answers. Preferably a running tally of the operator's correct responses is kept and he is informed at the end of the exercise of his score. This score is optionally printed upon the paper upon completion of the exercise.

Abstract: An electronic teaching apparatus which utilizes interchangeable flexible overlays with printed pictorial representations in conjunction with a programmable keyboard. An integrated circuit speech synthesizer is utilized to verbally ask an operator to select a particular pictorial representation or to verbally identify a pictorial representation selected by the operator. Upon the failure of the operator to correctly select a particular pictorial representation, the verbal request can be repeated in conjunction with a verbal description of some attribute of the desired pictorial presentation. Each of the interchangeable overlays is coded to allow control circuitry to select a proper sequence of words for a given overlay.

Abstract: An improved selection panel having a plurality of touch-actuated capacitive switches thereon. Each capacitive switch in the panel includes a transparent glass substrate having transparent conductive coatings on opposite sides thereof to form a capacitor. A display support is positioned behind and adjacent to the plurality of capacitive switches, and provides a separate display card support for each capacitive switch. A removable display card is positioned in each separate support in a manner such that each of the display cards may be changed periodically.

Abstract: An electronic multiple game device includes a body member having a main well and battery and circuit housing wells. A game board separably includes a bottom substrate having imprinted interdigitaling branched first and second contacts, an indexed paper program panel overlying the substrate and adapted to be conductively marked at selected areas to provide bridge conductors which, when pressed, complete a circuit between the contacts, a game representing paper panel overlying the program panel and an erasable pencil markable transparent flexible plastic panel overlying the game panel. A transistorized switch circuit which can be preassembled or assembled by the user includes the LED in its output and its input is connected between the contacts, the circuit including a punched PC board or peg board with the circuit component leads engaging proper peg board apertures and locked and interconnected by cup shaped brass plugs engaging the lead occupied apertures.

Abstract: An electronic game made from a single piece of material on which conductive ink is printed on a first section of the piece with a pattern of two sets of closely adjacent lines each with a connecting terminal for one terminal of a battery. On the first section, a light emitting diode is mounted which is connected in series with one set of lines and one of the battery connecting terminals. A hole is provided in the second section of the piece through which the light emitting diode can be viewed and an overlay with electrically conductive areas thereon is cut from the second section. The two sections of the piece are folded together with the battery connections from the first section extending through slots in the second section and a battery is connected to the battery connections with the light emitting diode being viewable through the opening.