Patent Application
20210132708
The present invention refers to a system or electronic device and the method of processing information for the presentation, exchange and processing of information in order to promote interaction in teaching-learning processes.
There are different products and methods known in the prior art for teaching aid with the use of sound, video and interconnection of stations for students with the main equipment of the teacher, among them we find:
The application with reference number CN201226190 entitled “TEACHING APPARATUS WITH OPTICAL PEN”, the aforementioned application refers to a teaching device with an optical pen, comprising a control table, an optical pen and at least one flat teaching object. The control table comprises a platform, a built-in speaker and an audio control circuit that is connected to the platform; the optical pen can be connected to the control table separately and has a speaker; and when the optical pen connects to the control table, the audio control circuit can control the built-in speaker and loudspeaker for different sounds. A teaching object with a plurality of detection marks in different positions is provided; when the teaching object is placed flat on the control table platform and its detection marks are triggered, the platform can send a sensing signal to the audio control circuit to drive that audio circuit to generate a sound signal corresponding to the detection marks and send the sound signal to the speaker and loudspeaker.
Despite being a product related to the object of our invention, the device disclosed in the aforementioned application presents substantial differences, among them, we find that the surface with which the interactive optical pen must have specific marks, does not use any surface. Interactions only generate sound effects, do not represent x-y coordinates that depending on the software can translate into geometric strokes or various commands that can cause sounds, videos, movements, selections etc., as varied as functions in a PC. It also does not have additional capabilities such as playing graphic content through a video output, nor can it connect with other devices, share content via WIFI, does not have sensors inside the machine that allow to grade tests, create an augmented reality. The system disclosed in the cited patent serves only the purpose of didactic interaction with printed educational material while the device of the present application is the one of access and interaction with digital content.
In that same respect, we find the invention patent application with reference number WO2015088173 and entitled “SMART DEVICE HAVING A TEACHING MATERIAL REPRODUCTION APP INSTALLED THEREIN, WHICH REPRODUCES INFORMATION OF BOOK-TYPE TEACHING MATERIAL USING CODE RECOGNITION PEN CAP ABLE OF PERFORMING BLUETOOTH COMMUNICATION” which discloses an intelligent device that has installed a reproduction application for teaching material, which reproduces information from a book-type teaching material, using a code recognition pen capable of performing Bluetooth communication and, using that code recognition pen capable of performing Bluetooth communications, where the teaching material playback application receives information from a particular learning area within the book-type teaching material when the code recognition pen capable of making Bluetooth communication contacts in the relevant learning area, provides the received information to the smart device that has the teaching material playback application installed, using Bluetooth communication, plays an image and a voice through the smart device that provides a widescreen.
As in the previous case, although here a product related to our invention is disclosed, in the aforementioned application the surface with which the optical pen interacts must have specific marks (or for example text), while in our invention the pen can use any surface, although for example it is blank or is a projection screen. In addition, in the aforementioned application the optical pen has sensors and a bluetooth communication module, in the present invention the subject is simpler, therefore, economical and the sensors are in the machine not in the pen. In addition, the device of the cited patent does not have an image sensor for grading tests or creating augmented reality and the purpose of the invention is to interact with a printed material and reproduce or complement it on the screens of the smart device(s) to which it connects. While the device disclosed by the invention is used to access, share and interact with digital content.
Finally, we find the application referenced with the number WO2015088173 and entitled “SMART DEVICE HAVING A TEACHING MATERIAL REPRODUCTION APP INSTALLED THEREIN, WHICH REPRODUCES INFORMATION OF BOOK-TYPE TEACHING MATERIAL USING CODE RECOGNITION PEN CAPABLE OF PERFORMING BLUETOOTH COMMUNICATION” which refers to a teaching system that has an optical pen and a machine (Smart device), said pen is separated from the machine and interacts with a flat surface and sends signals to the machine. It is a device that generates content graphically or with sound. The device shown is portable and the machine has a processor and an application (software) with various modes of use, and it further has wireless communication capability with other devices. As in all previous cases, it has substantial differences, such as in the aforementioned patent the surface with which the interactive optical pen must have specific marks (or for example text), our pen can use any surface, even if for example it is blank or is a projection screen. The optical pen in the same application has sensors and a bluetooth communication module, in the present invention is simpler, therefore, economical and the sensors are in the machine not in the pen. The mentioned patent does not describe having an image sensor for grading tests or creating augmented reality. As inferred, the purpose of the invention in the referenced patent is to interact with a printed material and reproduce or supplement it on the screens of the smart device(s) to which it connects. The device to be claimed here is for accessing, sharing and interacting with digital content.
For all of the above, there is a need for a device to help teaching with the elements and features already mentioned that can connect to a projector, TV or screen for interaction through an optical pen; use resources without the internet: function as a wireless access point; sharing the internet with other devices; create multiple-selection tests with a single response; and provide augmented reality as a support mechanism and synchronize the device information with a web platform.
The problem stated in the present application consists in the need to provide wireless access to educational content and interactive didactic mechanisms in scenarios with low technological infrastructure or in areas away from communication networks. A portable assistive device is required to be able to be taken from an area with an Internet connection to another area without access to the network. In addition, said assistant is required to be economically accessible and to integrate various functions into a single device to facilitate the teaching-learning process, such as the creation and grading of multi-choice tests with a single response; call to list, presentation and interaction tools through an optical pen; and function as a wireless access point for information exchange with other devices.
To solve this problem, the instant application proposes a multifunctional opto-electronic device consisting of an integrated computer for information processing, a non-volatile memory card, a wireless routing system for local area networks, an image capture sensor, a sound sensor, and an infrared radiation source sensor capable of tracking the movement of an external signaling accessory (optical pen). In the proposed configuration, all sensor elements are provided inside a moving substructure that allows you to adjust its inclination relative to a fixed substructure.
The computer-implemented method in conjunction with the hardware provides a method of synchronizing content in which the user logs in to a place with Internet access, selects from a list of available resources those that the user wants to download and index locally to be used later when there is no Internet access. During use the device is connected to a video display or projector using a cable or wireless video transmission system and the device is positioned in front of the image, adjusting the tilt so that the infrared sensor can capture the position of the optical pen when it slides over the area of the projected image, so that the pen emits an infrared light that is converted into two-dimensional position information and transmitted to the integrated computer for interpretation and generating mouse events.
Within the aforementioned method when the user logs in selects a study group and evaluation area and deploys a grading module from which the image capture sensor is used to digitize the selected response information in a printed format that is shown to the device so that the evaluation grade corresponding to the marked responses is calculated using an image processing algorithm.
The invention proposed here will be defined and explained in more detail below.
To complement the accompanying description and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of practical implementation of the same, a group of figures is accompanied as an integral part of the description, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:
The hardware components of our system are generally processors, memory, video output, usb ports, wireless router or network port, memory, power source, wifi antenna, circuit board cooling system.
The electronic system for touch interaction with screens or projectors has a router device and an antenna that allows the simultaneous connection between 2 or more machines or computers, to the information stored in the memory of the main equipment. The device has a custom configuration of a router module that allows wireless interconnection of a set of electronic devices (IP machines) using subnetworks, that is, that can send or route data packets from one network to another, the connection capacity depends on the preconfigured hardware specifications.
In addition, the system has an optical pen consisting of a peripheral whose function is equivalent to that of a “Mouse” or computer mouse. The pen emits infrared light at the tip when making contact with a rigid surface, in order to achieve interaction with the system and supply the signal input using the IR sensor of the device, so that the processing is performed that allows to convert the detected signal into a position equivalent to cartesian coordinates in the plane, allowing in conjunction with the processing, to convert any projection surface into a touch interface.
Next, the device will be described in detail. In view of
The moving part of the opto-electronic device has an internal pivoting axis (8) that allows to adjust the inclination of the moving part relative to the fixed part in at least a degree of freedom to improve the viewing angle of the sensors. The moving part can preferably be implemented in the form of a semisphere to be safely stored inside the fixed part (1) for transport purposes.
The exploded view of
The connection between the main board (15) and the integrated computer (14) is made for example by a rigid multi-contact connection (20) that in addition to allowing the transfer of data and control signals between the circuits, also shares the power supply and serves as mechanical support to the assembly.
The integrated computer used (14) is of the type characterized by being manufactured on a single printed circuit board of a credit card size and consists of an integrated circuit that contains in the same encapsulation a processor of one or multiple cores, processor has one or more processors, specifically the device has 2 processors each of 4 cores, the first four operate at a clock frequency of 2.0 GHz and the other four operate at a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz, a graphics processing unit, and dynamic random access memory. Additionally, the computer has integrated circuits for port management and connectors for video signal output (4) and serial communication ports (7) and a non-volatile memory card.
The infrared radiation source sensor (9) consists of a CMOS image sensor, an external infrared filter (10), and a microchip that processes the image sensor signals and calculates the two-dimensional position coordinates of detected infrared radiation sources and transmits those coordinates to the integrated computer via a serial communication port.
All internal components are protected by a plastic housing (22) composed of several parts that are assembled together by means of flexible fittings minimizing the use of screws or additional fasteners.
The accessory (3) is a pencil-like pointer that has at the end an infrared light source, for example, a light-emitting diode, whose emission peak is between 700 nm and 10000 nm, which can be activated by a mechanical switch on contact with a surface or manually by pressing a button. This optical pen serves as a point source of infrared light that when interacting with the sensor (9) acts as a mouse to interact with the computer. It has a beveled tip with a low friction material, resistant to direct impacts on its tip, anatomical design, with a hole for a clamping element, a body in high-impact ABS, pointer in white acetal and rechargeable. This pen consists of rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries, plastic pointer, a circuit, positive and negative terminal, a spring (6), female “Jack” for battery recharging, fasteners, and a base housing.
Finally, on top of the device, a mechanical turning system brake could be provided, additionally, towards the inside of the fixed and moving parts (1, 2) the element is assembled by means of inserts and have an internal support structure.
Computer-Implemented Method for Applying in Conjunction with a Hardware Device for Touch Interaction with Screens or Projectors, and Information Processing for Teaching-Learning Processes
The computer-implemented method for applying in conjunction with a hardware device for touch interaction with screens or projectors, and information processing for teaching-learning processes comprising the following features and stages:
The stages are selectively carried out, individually, combined and in any order.
Stage a. Touch projection. Connect to a projector, TV or display, for interaction via an optical pen of the electronic device for interaction and touch screen conversion.
Stage b. Keyboard and mouse recognition. Converting an external device as a wireless mouse or keyboard to the device eliminating the need for a physical keyboard or mouse
Stage c. Modular update
Stage d. Use resources without the internet: download and access a repository of educational content and store them for later access without having to be connected to the internet:
Stage e. Data synchronization.
Stage f. The electronic device for touch interaction, functions as a wireless access point that allows to connect other devices to access and use the resources or contents that are downloaded;
Stage g. Create multiple-selection tests with single response;
Stage h. Register class attendance by reading a code that is shown to the camera of the electronic device for touch interaction:
Stage i. Randomly inviting students to participate in class activities, a random number is generated.
Stage j. Award badges to students based on their work from knowledge, skills, values and attitudes;
Stage k. Review, grade, and submit reports that can be read by the device's camera, and automatically show the percentage achieved in the test, as well as generating a group report with each student's total grades, badges, and class absences:
Stage l. Generate by the electronic device for touch interaction an augmented reality as a support mechanism that allows the teacher to teach or reinforce knowledge exploratorily through the visualization of 3D objects;
Stage m. A module of synchronization of device information with a web platform, so that students and tutors can visualize in a log the results of their tests and badges received.
As could be evidenced in the description of the invention, the device or system of the present invention has a very important functionality and is the infinite work area, which consists of a functionality of the software that allows the canvas or work area to have no limits on its dimensions, which allows the teacher and students to append the space they require on the screen and in this way save in a single file all the information that they generate in the pedagogical process.
The electronic system for touch interaction with screens or projectors of our application comprises several modules, among them we have: a module that, connected to a projector, TV or screen, allows interaction through an optical pen; a module that allows you to download and access a repository of educational content and store them for later access without having to be connected to the internet; a module for the device to function as a wireless access point that allows other devices to be connected to access and use downloaded resources or content; a module to share the internet with other devices; a module for creating multi-choice tests with a single response; a module for registering ciase attendance by reading a code that is showed to the device's camera; a module that allows students to randomly be invited to participate in class activities; a module to award badges to students based on their work from knowledge, skills, values and attitudes; a module with a rating format and reports that can be read by the device camera, and automatically shows the percentage achieved in the test, in addition generates a group report with the total notes, badges and class absences of each student; an augmented reality module as a support mechanism that allows the teacher to teach or reinforce knowledge exploratorily through the visualization of 3D objects; and a module to synchronize the device information with a web platform, so that students and tutors can visualize on a blog the results of their tests and badges received.
In summary, what is achieved with the electronic device for touch interaction with screens or projectors and its software is:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC2018/0008735 | Aug 2018 | CO | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CO2018/000023 | 10/24/2018 | WO | 00 |
