The present invention provides an educational toy simulator which comprises a base member and a set of peg pieces. The base member is formed of multiple layers, and one or more cut outs are formed in the base member for receiving the corresponding peg piece. The cut outs and the peg pieces are formed with a contoured, stepped or tapered structure to prevent the peg pieces from coming in contact with the image display member. A slot is formed in the base member to slidably receive an image display member for displaying a picture through the cut outs. A depth of the peg pieces is smaller than a depth of the corresponding cut outs. Since the image display member is slidably received in the slot, the displayed pictures may be changed from time to time thus providing capabilities for introducing more vocabulary to a learner in a playful way.

An augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system and methods therefore are provided for assisting in learning to read. The system stores book data capturing the sequence of a book and dictionary which is used by a display controller for displaying symbols on an AAC reading user interface. This enables set of symbols to be displayed for each word which include a symbols having a contextually appropriate meaning for the current word being read within a displayed group of symbols. A reader conveys their understanding of the word by selecting the correct symbol. Selecting a symbol triggers audio output of the word associated with the symbol.

A phonics learning system, comprising a letter identification board and letter manipulatives that may be placed on the letter identification board by a child, and a computing device connected to the letter identification board that identifies the letters placed on the board, generates a phonetic pronunciation for the combination of letters, and identifies any words or misspelled words.

A method of enriching text includes receiving a text file and parsing the received text file into logical phrases each having a phrase type. The logical phrases are processed based on their respective phrase types. A first processing step determines whether to process each logical phrase as a whole or in parts, and further identifies, splits or combines phrases according to pre-defined logic to determine a contextual meaning for each logical phrase. Additional processing steps determine a contextual part of speech for each word in the logical phrases and identify enrichment content pertaining to each of the words and the logical phrases. The words and logical phrases are associated and stored with the enrichment content respectively pertaining thereto such that the enrichment content is renderable on a user computing device when the word or logical phrase associated therewith is selected by a user on the user computing device.

Devices and methods for a writing instrument with spelling assistance are disclosed herein. The device assists the user with looking up, verifying, and correcting the spelling of words while writing. In an embodiment, the device is comprised of a housing element, a writing element, a computing element, and operating elements. The housing element provides the body of the device that holds the other elements together. In embodiments, the housing element is configured at the distal end with an opening for allowing the writing element to dispense on a surface the writing material. In other embodiments, the housing element is configured at the distal end with a writing point to apply pressure on another surface for receiving words written. The computing element is positioned within the housing element and is configured with computing items to store and run software to provide the looking up, verifying, and correcting the spelling of words functionality.

Provided are systems and methods for progressively providing content of an electronic book (e-book) to members of a book reading group. An example method includes: determining a group associated with content, wherein determining the group comprises determining a first user profile and a second user profile, determining a first stop-read position comprising a first position in the content, sending, to a first user device associated with the first user profile, an indication of the first stop-read position, determining that the first user device has displayed at least a threshold amount of a first portion of the content, determining a second stop-read position comprising a second position in the content, and sending, to the first user device, an indication of the second stop-read position.

Various embodiments of a pointer for focused reading of a word or character are disclosed. For example, the pointer may include a frame, a reading pane defined inside the frame, a marker formed on the frame for pointing to a particular location of the reading pane, and an elongated handle attached to the frame at a non-zero angle.

Provided herein are devices, systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for determining a visual acuity of a reader. The device includes a display adapted to present a first line of text to the reader and an input device adapted to receive signals corresponding to the first line of text. The device further includes a processor that is adapted to determine a reading score associated with the first line of text, generate an acuity parameter based on the reading score and the first readability vector, and determine the visual acuity of the reader based on the acuity parameter and a reference acuity parameter.

Method, modules and a system formed by connecting the modules for controlling payloads are disclosed. An activation signal is propagated in the system from a module to the modules connected to it. Upon receiving an activation signal, the module (after a pre-set or random delay) activates a payload associated with it, and transmits the activation signal (after another pre-set or random delay) to one or more modules connected to it. The system is initiated by a master module including a user activated switch producing the activation signal. The activation signal can be propagated in the system in one direction from the master to the last module, or carried bi-directionally allowing two way propagation, using a module which revert the direction of the activation signal propagation direction. A module may be individually powered by an internal power source such as a battery, or connected to external power source such as AC power. The system may use remote powering wherein few or all of the modules are powered from the same power source connected to the system in a single point. The power may be carried over dedicated wires or concurrently with the conductors carrying the activation signal. The payload may be a visual or an audible signaling device, and can be integrated within a module or external to it. The payload may be powered by a module or using a dedicated power source, and can involve randomness associated with its activation such as the delay, payload control or payload activation.

The systems and methods discussed in this invention are about a computer aided system which is used for automatically calibrating reading material by taking into account a plurality of attributes in order to develop a readability index of that reading material. This invention also uses a computer aided system, which automatically and continuously, calibrates and assesses a person's reading ability. This is done based on the reading material(s) that the person has read or is reading, along with that, the person's comprehension of the reading material and a plurality of other inputs including but not limited to genres, areas of interests that the system receives.