Navigation systems and associated methods for providing navigation services are provided. Information associated with a desired route for a vehicle, such as a route between a current location and a desired destination, may be determined. Additionally, contextual information associated with the vehicle may be identified. Based upon the desired route and the contextual information, a direction may be generated for presentation to one or more users, and the generated direction may be output for presentation.

A matching game for a young child to play with a supervising adult. The game comprises a game board having a plurality of differently-sized and shaped recesses, each recess including a realistic or cartoon-like mother farm animal depiction and part of a sound switch pairing specific for the mother farm animal depiction with a plurality of differently sized and shaped baby farm animal game pieces, each having part of a sound switch pairing adapted for matching with the sound switch pairing for the mother farm animal depiction so that, when properly matched and joined together, will cause a sound indicative for the mother farm animal to be emitted. The game further includes means for storing the plurality of farm animal sounds from the game board and powering the sound playing means.

An interactive electronic toy and a method for providing a challenge to a user using the toy. The toy includes a housing and a plurality of buttons, each button associated with at least one illuminator and with at least one pressure sensor. The method includes receiving a selection of a specific challenge, said specific challenge being selected from a challenge repository associated with the interactive electronic toy, and providing to the user instructions for completing said specific challenge. The method further includes receiving a challenge response from the user, in which the user responds to said specific challenge by at least one of moving the housing of the interactive electronic toy and depressing at least one of the plurality of buttons, providing feedback to the user, based on said received challenge response.

An apparatus includes a movement mechanism, a sensor, a microphone, a speaker, a processor and a memory. The processor selects a target region, controls the movement mechanism to cause the apparatus to move to the target region, and causes a speaker to output a first sound. When counting a predetermined number, the processor causes the sensor to trace a movement locus of a user. In a case where the processor has determined that an acquired sound contains a predetermined speech, the processor controls the movement mechanism to cause the apparatus to move through a predetermined space. When the processor has determined that the apparatus is not to intentionally lose in a game of hide-and-seek, the processor controls the movement mechanism to cause the apparatus to move to a target blind spot within the predetermined space, and causes the speaker to output a second sound.

Navigation systems and associated methods for providing navigation services are provided. Information associated with a desired route for a vehicle, such as a route between a current location and a desired destination, may be determined. Additionally, contextual information associated with the vehicle may be identified. Based upon the desired route and the contextual information, a direction may be generated for presentation to one or more users, and the generated direction may be output for presentation.

Navigation systems and associated methods for providing navigation services are provided. Information associated with a desired route for a vehicle, such as a route between a current location and a desired destination, may be determined. Additionally, contextual information associated with the vehicle may be identified. Based upon the desired route and the contextual information, a direction may be generated for presentation to one or more users, and the generated direction may be output for presentation.

Navigation systems and associated methods for providing navigation services are provided. Information associated with a desired route for a vehicle, such as a route between a current location and a desired destination, may be determined. Additionally, contextual information associated with the vehicle may be identified. Based upon the desired route and the contextual information, a direction may be generated for presentation to one or more users, and the generated direction may be output for presentation.

An identification apparatus includes: a sensor face in which a plurality of sensor electrodes and a ground portion are provided on one and the same plane; wherein: a conductive portion or conductive portions formed in an identification object are configured so that when the identification object is placed on the sensor face, the conductive portion or the conductive portions can electrically connect a corresponding one or corresponding ones of the sensor electrodes with the ground portion; and a change of electrostatic capacitance occurring when the corresponding sensor electrode or electrodes are electrically connected with the ground portion is detected so that an ID of the identification object can be identified. Thus, it is possible to provide an identification apparatus which can be manufactured inexpensively without using expensive devices such as RFIDs and which is improved in terms of the degree of freedom for design.

An illumination stacker game is described having audiovisual signals for placing rings of different colors onto a central core. Upon placement, sensors determine which ring has been placed and provide audiovisual feedback as to whether the ring placed is the one which was requested in the game sequence. Different levels of difficulties and different audiovisual modes of communication are involved including multiple languages.

Interactive entertainment devices including a toy magic wand with integrated electronics for, among other things, detecting wand motion and responding accordingly, such as illuminating one or more LEDs, displaying images on one or more LCD displays, playing sound effects or character speech, emitting infrared (IR) signals via one or more IR emitters, or some combination thereof. An exemplary device may include a fairy house or wizard tower playset with integrated electronics for receiving one or more received IR signals and responding or reacting accordingly. For example, depending on the nature of the received IR signals, the electronics may illuminate one or more LEDs, display images on one or more LCD displays, play sound effects or character speech, emit IR signals via one or more IR emitters, or some combination thereof.