Education and demonstration inventions 05/06

20060110711 - System and method for performing programmatic language learning tests and evaluations: Speech data from the operation of a speech recognition application is recorded over the course of one or more language learning sessions. The operation of the speech recognition application during each language learning sessions corresponds to a user speaking, and the speech recognition application generating text data. The text data...

20060110712 - System and method for programmatically evaluating and aiding a person learning a new language: Speech data from the operation of a speech recognition application is recorded over the course of one or more language learning sessions. The operation of the speech recognition application during each language learning sessions corresponds to a user speaking, and the speech recognition application generating text data. The text data...

20060110713 - Initial teaching alphabet for teaching phonetics: Systems and methods of teaching phonics represent words using ordinary spelling, and adjacently positioned clarifying symbols that consist primarily or entirely of the letters of a standard alphabet are used to assist in sounding out the words. Single ones of the vowel letters are preferably used to represent corresponding short...

20060110714 - System and method for teaching spelling: A computerized system and method of teaching spelling interfaces with an application that captures a user's misspelled words and adds them to a word database. A teacher or instructor may also add words to the word database based on a user's curriculum, cross-curriculum or words of interest. The words in...

20060110715 - Verbal-visual framework method: A novel bipolar, multi-dimensional diagrammatic structure and related method for eliciting, organizing, analyzing, formulating, comparing, contrasting and communicating data pertaining to verbal-visual constructs within a research topic. Said invention serves as a quantitative means to structure literal, symbolic, familiar and preferred bipolar referential connections dealing with specific representational verbal and...

20060110716 - Ski training apparatus and method: An apparatus and method to facilitate training for skiing, skating, roller-blading and the like, where an experienced person may assist or direct a novice. The apparatus includes a stiff, curvilinear hoop or similar shape with a handle section and an adjacent padded frontal section. In one of several methods, one...

20060110717 - Apparatus for enhancing visualization of mechanical stress: Photoelastic elements are formed deliberately with stress concentrations so that, when evaluated with a polariscope, more pronounced isochromatic bands or fringes result when loads are applied to these elements or to assemblies of these elements. A toy for producing color patterns and having polarizing filters coupled to frame elements is...

20060110718 - System and method for automatically administering a test, analysing test results and formulating study strategies in response thereto: A mathematically driven system which can be used to diagnose a student's strengths and weaknesses and provide studying strategies based on these strengths and weaknesses. The invention bases studying suggestions not on raw test scores or on simple metrics such as “percent correct”, but on the student's potential to increase...

20060110719 - Educational tools and methods for demonstrating enhanced performance characteristics of a textile product to a person: The present invention relates to educational tools and methods for teaching individuals, and in particular consumers, about the enhanced performance characteristics of textile products. In accordance with the present invention, the enhanced performance characteristics are typically invisible to the naked eye, however the effects of these enhanced performance characteristics can...

20060105299 - Method and program for scenario provision in a simulation system: A simulation system (20) facilitates training for trainees (26) subject to multi-directional threats. A method for providing a scenario (211) for use in the simulation system (20) utilizes a scenario provision process (202) executable on a computing system (26). The process (202) calls for choosing a background image (234) for...

20060105300 - Free fall simulator: The invention concerns a free fall simulator, characterized in that it comprises: a lower compression chamber (22) proximate the lower periphery wherefrom emerge the outputs of a plurality of ventilators (24) arranged in centripetal configuration, and the tapered upper part of which is arranged a compression grid (30), a cylindroid...

20060105301 - Assistive communication device: An assistive communication device of the type on which a user can compose a message to be spoken by the device, using an input device to select items on a display to construct the message, can operate in a mode suitable for visually impaired and/or inexperienced users by aurally stepping...

20060105302 - Practice session utilizing an application: During a training course, a user may select a practice session and practice using the application that is the basis of the course. A practice link is provided to the user which, when selected, launches an instance of the application. A template may also be loaded by the application that...

20060105303 - System and method for teaching a writing process: A computer-based system and method, and a computer readable medium containing computer software, for teaching a writing process to a plurality of users. A writing process component provides to a user a plurality of writing type options and receives from the user a writing type selection. The writing process component...

20060105304 - Educational display mitt for magnetic playing pieces and method: 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;...

20060105305 - Early speech development system: Disclosed herein is a early speech development system. In a typical embodiment, the system comprises a visual output device 150 comprising a surface area 155 for exhibiting visual images; an auditory output device 140 designed for producing auditory sounds; a storage medium 130 onto which a presentation is stored and...

20060105307 - Method for enhancing memory and cognition in aging adults: A method on a computing device is provided for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to listen to two or more aurally processed syllables, presented serially, view the syllables graphically, and then designate the order in which the syllables were aurally presented....

20060105306 - System and method for assessing psychological traits: An operating style assessment reveals aspects of an individual's operating style. Operating style includes a plurality of dimensions, and each dimension has a plurality of categories corresponding to personality types. One dimension is thinking strategy. At least one of the categories is a drive. A scoring method includes comparing a...

20060105308 - Rosary keepsake urn: The Rosary Keepsake Urn holds cremains, hair, or fur of any person living or dead, pet or animal. A rosary is attached to the cross. This consists of any length of any type of beads, chains, cords, wires, string or other material, considered a rosary. People of the Catholic faith...

20060105309 - Apparatus for practicing ophthalmologic surgical techniques: An apparatus for teaching and practicing an ophthalmologic surgical technique of creating the continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis comprises a flexible and removable cellophane-type cover, which is wrapped substantially around a putty-like malleable body to mimic the human anterior lens capsule and lens anatomy....

20060105310 - Infant speech and language development chair: There are many baby safe chairs on the market today. However, what is new in the art to which my invention pertains is the video monitor attached anterior to the chair which exhibits and verbally labels realistic pictures of common objects. It is similar to flashcards but requires no parent...

20060105311 - Study aid: This invention provides a study or memorization aid, comprising a case including a storage compartment for storing a plurality of question and answer wheels, the storage compartment including a base, a cover, and a hinge connecting the cover to the base, a display compartment for displaying one or more question...

20060105313 - Method and apparatus for customizing lesson plans: Computer method and apparatus enable customization of lesson plans per student. The invention method and apparatus include a curriculum data store holding a plurality of curriculum records, a student record data store and a processor routine coupled to the student record data store and the curriculum data store. Each curriculum...

20060105314 - System and method for providing educational content over a network: A method of distributing educational content over a network is disclosed. Educational content is divided into topics and the topics are split into smaller educational units. Professionals reviewing the material for accreditation purposes choose particular units to study and are subject to minimum and maximum time parameters. The partitioning of...

20060105312 - Systems and methods for creating and providing educational materials: The present invention provides systems, methods and computer readable media for generating, providing and distributing educational materials. In an embodiment, an educational material may be customized to provide an enhanced learning experience using information relating to the individual being educated. The present invention also provides educational materials comprising a customized...

20060105315 - Method of student course and space scheduling: A method of building academic schedules that enables institutions of higher education to realize mission critical business and service objectives through innovative approaches such as student-specific Demand Analysis, Constraint Analysis and true Student Information System integration....

20060105316 - Method, apparatus and kit for demonstrating the use of absorbent products: An apparatus is provided for demonstrating an absorbent product. The apparatus includes a torso-shaped manikin on which an absorbent product can be donned. An inlet is positioned on the manikin to receive synthetic urine, a first outlet is positioned on the manikin to correspond to male anatomy, and a second...

20060099553 - Automatic teaching method for printed circuit board inspection system: The present invention relates to an automatic teaching method for a circuit board inspection system and comprises a data transform step of transforming mounter data into data file for teaching; a coordinate transform step of corresponding coordinates for data for teaching transformed through the data transform step transform step with...

20060099555 - Goal tracking device and method of tracking the completion of goals: A goal tracking device comprises an elongate member, an impediment member, and a plurality of marker members. The impediment member is connected to the elongate member and defines first and second segments of the portion of the elongate member. The impediment member is also biased from an unblocking position to...

20060099554 - Smoking behaviour analyser: The invention relates to smoking behaviour analyser that allows a puff by puff real time analysis of a person's smoking behaviour whilst smoking. The device comprises smoking article mounting means for holding a smoking article in fluid-flow communication with fluid flow pressure drop detection means and smoke density detection means...

20060099556 - Method and apparatus for monitoring sports motion: An apparatus and method of monitoring a sports motion are provided. The apparatus includes a sports motion monitoring apparatus which measures a physiological signal of a user performing a sports motion by being attached to the user, measures a sports motion signal according to a movement of the user or...

20060099557 - Device and method for generating a virtual anatomic environment: This invention relates to a method for generating a virtual anatomic environment for use in minimally invasive surgery simulation, comprising the steps of: incorporating a main virtual anatomic environment (1); selecting a local anatomic environment (2) from a predefined library (3) comprising a set of two or more simulated local...

20060099558 - Image processing apparatus and method: A plurality of position data are input, which indicate the position of an observation target defined in a three-dimensional space, on its three-dimensional image, which is viewed from a predetermined view point along a predetermined line-of-sight direction. A curved cross-section in the line-of-sight direction is calculated from the plurality of...

20060099559 - Analysis of pre-cordial thumps for treatment of a cardiac dysrhythmia: A device for analysing manual thumps, applied to simulate pre-cordial thumps for the treatment of a dysrhythmia of the heart of a patient, has an array of force-detecting, proportional sensors having a frequency response of at least 1 kHz, usually 10 kHz or more. A preferred form of sensor has...

20060099560 - Interface apparatus with cable-driven force feedback and four grounded actuators: A system for providing realistic sensation within a simulation system by providing tactile (haptic) feedback to a user. The system includes an engageable practice tool that the user engages and a mechanical simulation apparatus coupled to the practice tool. The mechanical simulation apparatus includes a ground member, a mechanical linkage...

20060099561 - Automated assessment development and associated methods: An automated system and method for creating a test form that conforms to predetermined content specifications (the blueprint) and has a desired statistical profile (target statistics). The algorithm divides the test-construction problem into two phases: a content-matching phase that is followed by a statistical-matching phase. In these phases, (1) a...

20060099563 - Computerized teaching, practice, and diagnosis system: A teaching system provides explanatory materials, examples, and problems on an interactive basis and adapts to the student. The system can generate random questions for presentation to the student as multi-step examples or practice problems. The student's answers during each step of a multi-step practice problem can be evaluated to...

20060099564 - Integrated external collaboration tools: The present embodiments provide a system and methods for allowing a user to interact with a learning management system. The user is able register, cancel or follow up with classes offered within the learning management system. For each user action there is a corresponding method that allows for links to...

20060099562 - Learning system and method: System, method and computer program product providing a learning tool, whereby a user can learn any subject in a selective way, whereby the learning tool is implemented in a computer program, which tool is typically available by means of a communication network such as the Internet....

20060099565 - Artificial fireplace: An artificial fireplace for simulating flaming logs has a housing containing a solid state light source, a rotating flame simulation assembly, a viewing screen, and a simulated fuel source. The solid state light source preferably comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs) affixed to a printed circuit board. The light produced by...

20060099566 - Designer's choice chalkboard: Designer's Choice Chalkboard can be custom decorated to individual taste or décor. This invention consists of a durable smooth surface board, which can be of varying sizes. Multiple openings, which can be of different shapes and sizes, are cut around the outside edges of the board to form a decorative...

20060093994 - Modular material design system and method: Modular surface treatment materials such as carpet tiles, ceramic floor and wall panels and tiles, ceiling tiles, vinyl flooring squares, wall covering materials, and the like, are provided in a matrix of a plurality of different colors and a sequential array of tonal variations within each color. A system and...

20060093995 - Activity device: A multiple-sided activity device for toy blocks is disclosed. The activity device has a first side including a first activity adapted to interact with at least one of the plurality of toy blocks. The activity device also has a second side distinct from the first side, the second side including...

20060093996 - Method and apparatus for teaching and learning reading: A method and apparatus for teaching and learning reading are disclosed. The apparatus is a group of universally connectable blocks and may include a primer having intelligible reading units composed of reading indicia. Each block has at least three faces, and each face of a given block the same reading...

20060093997 - Aural rehabilitation system and a method of using the same: A system and method for aural rehabilitation is disclosed. A system and method for neurological rehabilitation or training is disclosed. The system can be controlled automatically by a remote device or manually by a physician's device. The system can store data in, and retrieve data from a database for analysis,...

20060093998 - Method and apparatus for communication between humans and devices: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis...