Patent Application
20090155749
The present invention is directed to a system utilizing an electronic globe wirelessly connected to a DVD game or teaching instrument.
It is axiomatic that the last several years the world in which we live has seemingly grown smaller. At the turn of the 20th century, knowledge of the world outside of your community, state or country was quite limited and often unnecessary. Children and other individuals were taught geography using rudimentary globes as well as maps provided in atlases which were in many instances outdated. Since travel between North America and Europe, Asia and Australia was quite limited, many individuals thought it unnecessary to learn geography, world history as well as foreign languages since interaction with foreign cultures was almost nonexistent.
However, the dawning of the 21st century has changed many individual's outlook on the world in which we live. Communications as well as travel between the United States and foreign countries resulting in an interaction between ourselves and foreign cultures mandate that we have an understanding of not only the geography of these countries but also an understanding of the cultures that they represent which would lead to a better understanding between people.
As previously indicated, geography was initially taught by the study of maps and a three dimensional globe. However, the development of various teaching implements and devices such as the computer and CD ROMS or DVDs, has changed the manner in which teaching is accomplished. The use of these new technologies would not only allow children and other individuals the access to various facts, the manner in which they are displayed as well as the interaction between students and these educational tools would also allow the student's interest in geography to be maintained.
The prior art patent literature is replete with references showing various manners of representing a globe. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,555, issued to Storm describes a globe associated with a programmable/re-programmable display. The globe contains an interior cube having a plurality of flat panel displays which, with the assistance of optical lens segments, would project each screen onto the interior surface of a sphere. An external programming device would be used in conjunction with a microprocessor to change the output of the flat panel display. It is noted that the display can include various features, such as the movement of tectonic plates, weather patterns or glacial movements. Although there is no doubt that this type of globe can be used as a teaching device, there is no suggestion of the use of a separate interactive display screen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,677 illustrates an educational globe tool provided with a plurality of bores included on a rigid blank translucent sphere. Various geographical features such as translucent country pieces would be inserted into one of the bores. Additionally, a switch is associated with each of the bores. Therefore, utilizing the electrical control illustrated in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,809, issued to Husseiny et al describes a system and method for displaying geographical information using a combination of a globe, a monitor, a keyboard and a microprocessor to display information relating to a particular portion of the globe which may be illuminated. Although this patent does include an interaction between various features on the globe and a monitor, it would be relatively difficult for children to use.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,773,262 and 6,860,739, both issued to Blum describe a globe in communication with a display. Based upon the position of the globe, the display would illustrate detailed information relating to that particular position on the globe. However, the main thrust of these patents is to provide maps associated with that particular position and not used as an educational teaching device.
Consequently, there still remains a need for an improved educational tool to teach geography as well as information relating to a particular geographical location, such as a foreign language, the history of the geographical location among other fields of study, yet keeping the interest of the students.
The deficiencies of the prior art are addressed by the present invention which includes a globe in communication with a CD ROM or DVD allowing various features to be projected upon a monitor as well as including the appropriate verbal output related to the images projected on the monitor. The globe would be provided with a device for communicating information to the DVD or similar device, preferably utilizing a wireless connection between the globe and the DVD or similar device. A steering wheel or joystick is associated with the globe. In one embodiment, the movement of the wheel or joystick would control the movement of a particular icon on the monitor, such as a helicopter, hot air balloon, plane or similar vehicle for traversing a geographical portion of the world.
A second embodiment would utilize a steering wheel or joystick to move the aforementioned object or objects over the surface of the globe. In both embodiments, once a portion of the world globe is chosen for educational purposes, various photographs or video scenes would be projected onto the monitor. Verbal information would also be provided teaching the individual student about various features of that particular portion of the globe, such as the actual geography of the portion of the globe illustrated on the monitor as well as information relating to the language spoken in that portion of the globe as well as the climate as well as other types of information including various trivia and facts relating to that portion of the globe illustrated on the monitor.
The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the various features thereof, as well as the invention itself, will be more fully understood from the following description, when read together with the accompanying drawings in which:
In operation, various portions of the globe stored on the cartridge 24 would be projected upon the monitor 20. The joystick or wheel 16 would control the operation of an icon 27, such as an airplane, helicopter, hot air balloon or other device capable of traversing the globe. The joystick or wheel 16 would be provided with a device for wirelessly transmitting its movement to the DVD allowing the traversing icon 27 to move over the globe. The control buttons on the console would allow an individual to choose the particular icon 27 which is projected onto the monitor 20. For example, if the individual chose a helicopter as the icon 27, the helicopter's propeller would spin when moving across the scene depicted on the monitor 20. Similarly, if the icon 27 is a propeller plane, its propeller would also spin. The individual controlling the movement of the joystick or wheel 16, using one or more control buttons associated with the steering device would choose a destination on which to land the traversing icon 27. At this point, a wireless signal would be transmitted from the DVD 32 to one of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other illumination devices 40, thereby illuminating that portion of the globe on which the traversing icon has landed. At this point additional information would be projected onto the monitor screen 20. Various buttons on the console 18 would be used to answer various questions posed by the information on the monitor or provided by accompanying audio material. Additionally, the control buttons could be used to move to various locations on the cartridge 24.
Operating in one mode, players would be mesmerized as they control the movement of icon 27 as they see a bird's-eye view of the world on the monitor 20, a perspective of the globe which is not readily available to the average person.
Alternatively, as shown in
As shown in
The present invention would allow interaction with the individuals controlling the present system and teach them how to observe various situations and solve problems as they explore the world. Along the way, the individuals would learn basic foreign language words and phrases as well as other facts and trivia.
A second embodiment of this invention is shown with respect to
In this second embodiment, the player would move the plane or helicopter 62 along the track 60 through the use of the joystick or wheel 16. Once the individual moves the plane or helicopter to a specific location along the track 60, one of the control buttons such as the send button 48 would be engaged. The sensing and steering mechanism within the globe 12 would locate the specific spot the plane or helicopter stops and would wirelessly transmit this information from the globe 12 to the DVD player 32. Alternatively, a switch provided on the surface of the globe in proximity with that particular spot the device 62 stops would be engaged. Based upon this location, the monitor 20 would provide the appropriate still photo or video clip, which could be in three dimensional. If indeed a three dimensional scene is projected, the individual would utilize a pair of 3-D glasses to view the scene. Similar to the embodiment illustrated with respect to
Alternatively, instead of a plurality of tracks 60 used to move the plane or helicopter over the surface of the globe 12, the plane or helicopter could be magnetized and would be steered over the globe via the joystick or wheel 16 using magnetics. Additionally, similar to the embodiment shown in
The steering mechanism, in this embodiment, would separately control the movement of the icon 27 on the monitor 20 or the movement of the device 62 over the globe. Additionally, steering mechanism could also simultaneously control the movement of the icon 27 as well as the device 62.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. Therefore, all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
