The present disclosure relates to the field of data processing, in particular, to apparatuses, methods and storage media associated with selectively providing access to interactive features of devices.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Many computing device environments provide a wealth of activities and interactive features for their users. Users may play music or other media, browse websites and other internet information repositories, obtain weather and traffic information, shop for content and other items, communicate with other users via text, voice, or video, etc. However, these interactive features may not always be apparent or understandable to a user. In particular, users who are not used to a particular device or a particular operating system or ecosystem, may have a very difficult time discovering and utilizing the interactive features that are available to them on various devices. Additionally, users that are uncomfortable with their devices may be more likely to accidentally install malicious software, further degrading the experience of using the device. These difficulties can lead to inefficient usage of the device, where features are ignored or deliberately avoided for fear of the user doing something wrong. In some circumstances, users may be made uncomfortable by the various interactive features of their devices, and may actively avoid use of the device entirely which is a sub-optimal scenario.
Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like structural elements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the Figures of the accompanying drawings.
a and 2b illustrate an example arrangement for a computing device configured to selectively provide access to interactive features in accordance with various embodiments.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “in embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.
As used herein, the term “logic” and “module” may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. As described herein, the term “logic” and “module” may refer to, be part of, or include a System on a Chip, as described below.
In various embodiments, a computing device may be configured to perform one or more techniques described herein to selectively provide access to interactive features to a user. In various embodiments, the interactive features may be provided by one or more application modules, as described herein. In various embodiments, the computing device may be configured to determine a level of interactive facility for the user with the computing device. Based on this determined level, the computing device may be configured to selectively provide access to one or more interactive features of the computing device.
In various embodiments, the computing device may be configured to determine new levels of interactive facility as the user uses the computing device. In various embodiments, the computing device may be configured to determine an initial level of interactive facility through an evaluation of the user, such as through a questionnaire. In various embodiments, the computing device may be configured to determine the level of interactive facility based on various interactions the user has with the computing device. These interactions may include, but are not limited to, taps, drags, holds, entered text, voice commands, etc. In various embodiments, the computing device may be configured to identify requests for interactive features (including both explicit and implicit requests) and/or levels of frustration or comfort with a current set of interactive features and may use these determinations to determine levels of interactive facility with the computing device. In various embodiments, the computing device may be configured to determine levels of interactive facility based on a profile for the user. The profile may be associated with one or more groups or demographic details of the user. The profile may also include other devices that the user owns currently, has owned in the past, or may otherwise have access to.
In various embodiments, the computing device may be configured to selectively provide access to interactive features by selectively hiding or making available interactive features to the user. In some embodiments, the computing device may be configured to announce when features are made available such as through visual or auditory announcements. In some embodiments, the computing device may be configured to allow a user to hide one or more interactive features that have previously been made available.
Referring now to
In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may include various types of mobile or non-mobile computing devices, including, but not limited to, mobile phones, tablet computers, media players, laptop computers, desktop computers, wearable devices, etc. In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may provide access to one or more interactive features, such as interactive features of displayed applications 101-104. In various embodiments, these interactive features may be provided on a display of the computing device 100, such as the example touchscreen 110. In various embodiments, these interactive features may be provided through activities of one or more application modules, as described below with reference to
In various embodiments, interactive features of the computing device may include various modes of interaction between a user and the device, including, but not limited to, web browsing, search features, game features, reference features, content playback, content recording, facilities to install applications or other software, access to device settings, etc. In the example of
As discussed above, in various embodiments, the computing device 100 may be configured to selectively provide access to various interactive features. Thus, in various embodiments, the computing device 100 may be configured to only provide access to a subset of those features that may be available to the device. In the example of
In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may be configured to provide access to interactive features based on interactions between a user and the computing device 100. In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may base provision of access to interactive features on touch-based or gestural interactions, such as taps, holds, drags, pinches, etc. These may be performed, in various embodiments, on touch-sensitive potions of the computing device 100, such as the illustrated touchscreen 110, or on other touch- or pressure-activated elements, such as button 130. In various embodiments the computing 100 may also base provision of access to interactive features on information that has been entered or otherwise provided to the computing device 100. For example, the computing device 100 may base such provision on text entered into the device, such as in search fields, reference applications, help screens, etc. In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may base provision of access to interactive features on other forms of input, such as, but not limited to, voice input, detection of motion or gestures made using the computing device 100, detection of motion or gestures made by hands or other objects in the vicinity of the computing device 100, etc. In various embodiments, the computing device may also be configured to base provision of access to interactive features on a manner in which an interaction is performed, such as a speed in which an interaction is performed (e.g. fast, slow, tentative, etc.), or a number of repetitions performed (such as if a user repeatedly taps a user interface element out of frustration) and/or progress of the user in learning and using a feature.
In various embodiments, as described herein, the computing device 100 may be configured to provide new or modified access to interactive features. In various embodiments, access to integrative features may be provided by making new applications available to a user. In other embodiments, access to interactive features may be provided modifying access to an application such that additional functionality that was previously unavailable is now made available to users. Thus, in the illustrated example, at Time 2, the computing device 100 has, based on user interactions, made application 105, which was previously unavailable, available to the user. Similarly, the computing device has, at Time 2, added access to a previously unavailable interactive feature of application 104.
In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may be configured to provide an indication to the user that access to interactive features is provided. In some embodiments, the computing device may be configured to modify an icon or other graphical element of an application (or other software service) such that the user is aware of the provided access. For example, in the illustrated example of
Referring now to
In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may also include a microphone 210, through which the computing device 100 may receive sound- or voice-based interaction from a user. In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may include one or more camera(s) 220, though which the computing device 100 may record image or video data. In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may be configured to receive image and/or video data recorded by the one or more camera(s) 220 to receive gestural interactions from a user. In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may also be configured to receive image and/or video data recorded by the one or more camera(s) 220 to detect facial feature information to use when determining a user's level of comfort with usage of the computing device 100. Additionally in various embodiments, the computing device may include one or more speaker(s) 230, through which the computing device 100 may play sound. In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may be configured to utilize the one or more speaker(s) 230 to provide audio cues to a user, such as when providing access to one or more interactive features. In various embodiments, the hardware elements described above to provide for receiving user interaction may be implemented according to techniques known by those of ordinary skill.
As illustrated in the example of
In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may include on or more application modules 250 (e.g., application modules 251-253) which may be configured to provide interactive features of the computing device 100. Thus, in the examples of
In addition to application modules 250, in various embodiments, the computing device 100 may include one or more modules which operate to support provision of access to interactive features as described herein. For example, the computing device 100 may include a facility determination module 260 (“FD 260”), which may be configured to determine a level of interactive facility of a user with the computing device. In various embodiments, the term interactive facility may include various metrics for the user's abilities to utilize interactive features of the device, including, but not limited to: a user's level of comfort with utilizing the device, an error rate for use of the device, a number or relative amount of available interactive features of the computing device that are used by the user, a number or relative amount of interactive features explicitly requested for use by the user, etc. In various embodiments, the FD 260 may determine a level of interactive facility based, in whole or in part, on a user's individual interactions with the device. In various embodiments, the FD 260 may be configured to utilize a profile for the user, such as based on demographic or experiential data, to determine the user's level of interactive facility with the computing device. In various embodiments, such a profile may be based on other users that have similar demographics or experience to the user. In various embodiments, the FD 260 may be configured to follow a path associated with a profile, which may describe an ordering of interactive features that may be accessed by the user as the user gains experience. In various embodiments, the FD 260 may be configured to download a profile from a central profile repository (not illustrated). In such embodiments, the computing device 100 may be able to be used by multiple user such that different users may have different experiences according to their profiles. In various embodiments, the computing device may thus be configured to transition between usage by a first user to usage by a second user by providing interactive features according to the profile of the second user, without providing access to interactive features accessible according to the profile of the first user. Additionally, in various embodiments, these transitions may be performed without uninstalling interactive features accessible according to the profile of the first user.
In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may also include a user evaluation module 280 (“UE 280”), which may be configured to evaluate the user to determine an initial level of interactive facility. In various embodiments the UE 280 may be configured to provide a questionnaire for completion by a user to determine the initial level of interactive facility of the user. In various embodiments, the UE 280 may also be configured to request that the user interact with the computing device 100 in order to gauge an initial interactive skill level of the user. In various embodiments, the UE 280 may determine a profile for the user based on the questionnaire and skill level determination; it is this profile that may be used by the FD 260 during later interaction by the user.
In various embodiments, the computing device 100 may include an access provision module 270 (“AP 270”), which may be configured to selectively provide access to the user to interactive features based on the determined level of interactive facility. In various embodiments, the AP 270 may be configured to provide access to existing, installed applications (or interactive features thereof). In various embodiments, the AP 270 may be configured to install or unlock application modules 250 or interactive features of applications that were not previously installed or available on the computing device 100. In various embodiments, the AP 270 may be configured to provide visual or audio indicators, such as those described above, to indicate new interactive features for which access was not previously provided to the user.
If the user is an existing user of the computing device 100 or of a similarly-configured computing device 100, then at operation 315, the computing device 100 may load a profile for the user in order to facilitate provision of access to interactive features. In various embodiments, the profile may be downloaded from a central profile repository, as discussed above.
In various embodiments as well, if the user is not an existing user but does not wish to utilize the provision of interactive features described herein, the computing device may present a pre-determined set of interactive features to the user, including, but not limited to, all available interactive features, only basic phone or device features, or some other predetermined subset of features.
Next, at operation 320, the computing device 100, and in particular the FD 260, may determine a level of interactive facility of the user with the computing device 100. In various embodiments, this determination may be based, on one or more user interactions with the computing device 100 by the user. In various embodiments, the determination may be based on a profile associated with the user. Particular embodiments of operation 320 are described below with reference to process 500 of
Next, at operation 420, the UE 280 may present a questionnaire to the user to identify experiential and/or demographic information. In various embodiments, such experiential information may include, but is not limited to, the user's length of time owning or using the computing device 100 or other devices, a number of other devices used in the past by the user, the user's self-perceived level of comfort or skill with one or more activities, etc. In various embodiments, the demographic information may include, but is not limited to, geographical location of the user, occupation of the user, age, race, sex, gender, income level, etc. In various embodiments at operation 420, the UE 280 may also ask the user to identify one or more interests that the user has.
Next, at operation 430, the UE 280 may select a profile to associate with the user based on the responses provided at operation 420. In various embodiments, the profile may be selected based on particular demographics the user shares with other users of similar computing devices. Thus, for example, someone in their 20s living in an urban area who seem to frequent a set of urbanized locations and is interested in fashion may be associated with a profile for similarly situated individuals, while a 60-year-old person living in a rural area and interested in “kitchen gardens” may be associated with a profile for a different set of individuals. Next at operation 440, the UE 280 may select an initial set of accessible interactive features based on this associated profile. In various embodiments, the initial set of accessible interactive features may be based on an assumed level of interactive facility for the user, based on the profile. In various embodiments the initial set of accessible interactive features may also be based on the user's interests, such that features that are of particular use to someone with the user's interests are made available. Finally, at operation 450, the UE 280 may modify the access based on the user's knowledge or skill as determined at operation 410. Thus, if the user faces a particularly difficult time using the computing device, certain features may not be made available immediately despite the user's associated profile. Conversely, if the user is particular adept at using the computing device, or has substantial experience, additional interactive features may be made available. The process may then end.
If, however, there is no explicit request, then at decision operation 525, the FD 260 may determine if any of the user interactions indicate an implicit request for access to an interactive feature. For example, if the user is performing a search for how to access sports scores on a browser (or help function) of the computing device, the FD 260 may determine that the user wishes to have access to sports information, but may not know to do so explicitly. In another embodiment, if the user performs a series of actions that may be performed by an interactive feature that is not currently available, the FD 260 may determine that the user wishes to have access to such an interactive feature. If so, then at operation 520, the FD 260 may modify a determined level of interactive facility to accommodate the implicit request. The process may then end.
If, however, no implicit request is indicated, then at operation 530, the FD 260 may determine a comfort level of the user with the computing device 100. In various embodiments the FD 260 may determine a comfort level based on various interactions observed, such as undo commands, repetition of interactions, pauses, searches in help files or help utilities, etc. In various embodiments, the FD 260 may determine a comfort level by analyzing audio received from the microphone 210 to measure frustration or discontent of the user using the computing device 100. In various embodiments, the FD 260 may determine a comfort level by analyzing video or image data received from the one or more camera(s) 220 to measure negative emotions and frustration exhibited on the faces of users using the computing device 100. In various embodiments, the FD 260 may also determine a comfort level by analyzing contacts by the user to other individuals, such as when the user contacts friends or other technology savvy individuals to request help with using the computing device 100.
If the comfort level is high, then at operation 550, the FD 260 may move to a higher level of interactive facility. In various embodiments, this higher level may be associated with a pre-determined path that is itself associated with the profile. Conversely, if the comfort level is low, then at operation 560 the FD 260 may move to a lower level of interactive facility. In various embodiments, this lower level may be associated with a pre-determined path that is itself associated with the profile. In either event, in some embodiments, the FD 260 may additionally modify profiles for similarly-situated persons to the user based on the successes or difficulties the user is experiencing. Thus, as users continuously utilize computing devices 100 and interactive features are provided at different points, profiles for other similar users may be modified, as well as paths to providing access for these users. Additionally, in either event, at operation 560, the FD may record a snapshot of a level of interactive facility. In various embodiments, such a snapshot may allow for later reversion by a user, such as at operations 515 and 520. The process may then end.
Next, at operation 630, the AP 270 may indicate the change in access to the user. In various embodiments, as describe above, such indication may include, but is not limited to, visual elements, text announcements, sound announcements, etc. In some embodiments, the computing device 100 may, at operation 630, also show help screens or tutorials to the user. In various embodiments, the AP 470 may display short video clips, screenshots, text, or other educational tools to help educate the user (and potentially improve their comfort level). In various embodiments, these educational techniques may be utilized when a user moves to a lower level of facility (such as when a user does not appear to understand how to use an interactive feature) or to a higher level of facility (such as when a user is provided access to a new interactive feature but may not know how to use it). In various embodiments, the PA 270 may be configured to determine when the user is in a distractable state (such as looking at and using the device, but not actively engaged in an intensive activity) and to present these educational tools when the user is in this state.
Next, at operation 635, the AP 270 may determine whether all interactive features for the computing device 100 are accessible after the modification. If not, the process may end. If so, then at operation 640, the AP 270 may announce that all interactive features are now accessible, and that further selective access to interactive features will be ceased due to the now-complete access. The process may then end.
Referring now to
Each of these elements may perform its conventional functions known in the art. In particular, system memory 704 and mass storage devices 706 may be employed to store a working copy and a permanent copy of the programming instructions implementing one or more of the modules or activities shown in
The permanent copy of the programming instructions may be placed into permanent storage devices 706 in the factory, or in the field, through, for example, a distribution medium (not shown), such as a compact disc (CD), or through communication interface 710 (from a distribution server (not shown)). That is, one or more distribution media having an implementation of the agent program may be employed to distribute the agent and program various computing devices. In embodiments, the programming instructions may be stored in one or more computer readable non-transitory storage media. In other embodiments, the programming instructions may be encoded in transitory storage media, such as signals.
The number, capability and/or capacity of these elements 710-712 may vary. Their constitutions are otherwise known, and accordingly will not be further described.
Referring back to
Computer-readable media (including at least one computer-readable media), methods, apparatuses, systems and devices for performing the above-described techniques are illustrative examples of embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, other devices in the above-described interactions may be configured to perform various disclosed techniques. Particular examples of embodiments, described herein include, but are not limited to, the following:
Example 1 includes an apparatus with variable feature interactivity. The apparatus includes one or more computing processors and one or more application modules to be operated by the one or more computing processors to provide one or more interactive features to users of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a facility determination module, to be operated by the one or more computing processors to determine a level of interactive facility associated with a user of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes an access provision module to selectively provide access to the user to one or more interactive features of the one or more application modules based on the determined level of interactive facility.
Example 2 includes the apparatus of example 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a user evaluation module to be operated by the one or more computing processors to evaluate the user to determine an initial level of interactive facility and the access provision module is, subsequent to operation of the initial facility determination module, to selectively provide access to the user the one or more interactive features based on the determined initial level of interactive facility.
Example 3 includes the apparatus of example 2, wherein the user evaluation module is further to be operated to evaluate the user through one or more requests for demographic or sociological information from the user.
Example 4 includes the apparatus of example 2, wherein the user evaluation module is further to evaluate the user through one or more requests of the user's comfort or experience level with interactive features of the one or more application modules.
Example 5 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein the facility determination module is to determine a level of interactive facility based on a request to access a feature by the user.
Example 6 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein the facility determination module is to determine a level of interactive facility based on one or more search terms entered by the user.
Example 7 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein the facility determination module is to determine a level of interactive facility includes that the facility determination module is to determine that the user has successfully used the apparatus at a first level of interactive facility over a period of time and to determine a second level of interactive facility, more advanced than the first level of interactive facility for use of the apparatus by the user.
Example 8 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein the facility determination module is to determine a level of interactive facility includes that the facility determination module is to select a level of interactive facility from a predetermined ordering of levels.
Example 9 includes the apparatus of example 8, wherein the facility determination module is to be operated to select the ordering based on demographic, sociologic, or interest information about the user and/or learning behavior of the user.
Example 10 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein the facility determination module is to determine a level of interactive facility based on a profile of the user.
Example 11 includes the apparatus of example 10, wherein the facility determination module is to utilize different profiles for different users of the apparatus.
Example 12 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein the access provision module is to selectively provide access to the user to one or more interactive features includes that the access provision module is to hide visible access to one or more interactive features of the one or more application modules.
Example 13 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein the access provision module is to selectively provide access to the user to one or more interactive features includes that the interaction moderation module is to determine an interactive feature for which the user has not previously been given access and to indicate the interactive feature to the user prior to granting access.
Example 14 includes one or more computer-readable media containing instructions written thereon that, in response to execution on a computing device, facilitate variable feature interactivity on the computing device. The instructions are to cause the computing device to determine level of interactive facility associated with a user of the computing device and selectively provide access to the user to one or more interactive features of one or more application modules operated on the computing device, the selectively providing being based on the determined level of interactive facility.
Example 15 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example 14, wherein the instructions are further to cause the computing device to evaluate the user to determine an initial level of interactive facility and selectively provide access to the user the one or more interactive features includes selectively provide access based on the determined initial level of interactive facility.
Example 16 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example 15, wherein evaluate the user includes perform one or more requests for demographic or sociological information from the user.
Example 17 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example 15, wherein evaluate the user includes evaluate the user through one or more requests of the user's comfort or experience level with interactive features of the one or more application modules.
Example 18 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of the above computer-readable media examples, wherein determine a level of interactive facility includes receive a request to access a feature by the user.
Example 19 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of the above computer-readable media examples, wherein determine a level of interactive facility includes analyze one or more search terms entered by the user.
Example 20 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of the above computer-readable media examples, wherein determine a level of interactive facility includes determine that the user has successfully used the computing device at a first level of interactive facility over a period of time and determine a second level of interactive facility, more advanced than the first level of interactive facility for use of the computing device by the user.
Example 21 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of the above computer-readable media examples, wherein determine a level of interactive facility includes select a level of interactive facility from a predetermined ordering of levels.
Example 22 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example 21, wherein select the ordering includes select the ordering based on demographic, sociologic, or interest information about the user and/or learning behavior of the user.
Example 23 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of the above computer-readable media examples, wherein determine a level of interactive facility includes determine a level of interactive facility based on a profile of the user.
Example 24 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example 23, wherein determine a level of interactive facility based on a profile of the user includes utilize different profiles for different users of the computing device.
Example 25 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of the above computer-readable media examples, wherein selectively provide access to the user includes hide visible access to one or more interactive features of the one or more application modules.
Example 26 includes tone or more computer-readable media of any of the above computer-readable media examples, wherein selectively provide access to the user includes determine an interactive feature for which the user has not previously been given access and indicate the interactive feature to the user prior to granting access.
Example 27 includes a method for facilitating variable feature interactivity in a computing device. The method includes determining, by a facility determination module operated on the computing device, a level of interactive facility associated with a user of the computing device and selectively providing, by an access provision module operated on the computing device, access to the user to one or more interactive features of one or more application modules operated on the computing device, the selectively providing being based on the determined level of interactive facility.
Example 28 includes the method of example 27, wherein the method further includes evaluating, by a user evaluation module operated on the computing device, the user to determine an initial level of interactive facility and selectively providing access to the user the one or more interactive features includes selectively providing access based on the determined initial level of interactive facility.
Example 29 includes the method of example 28, wherein evaluating the user includes performing one or more requests for demographic or sociological information from the user.
Example 30 includes the method of example 28, wherein evaluating the user includes evaluating the user through one or more requests of the user's comfort or experience level with interactive features of the one or more application modules.
Example 31 includes the method of any of the above method examples, wherein determining a level of interactive facility includes receiving a request to access a feature by the user.
Example 32 includes the method of any of the above method examples, wherein determining a level of interactive facility includes analyzing one or more search terms entered by the user.
Example 33 includes the method of any of the above method examples, wherein determining a level of interactive facility includes determining that the user has successfully used the computing device at a first level of interactive facility over a period of time and determining a second level of interactive facility, more advanced than the first level of interactive facility for use of the computing device by the user.
Example 34 includes the method of any of the above method examples, wherein determining a level of interactive facility includes selecting a level of interactive facility from a predetermined ordering of levels.
Example 35 includes the method of example 34, wherein selecting the ordering includes selecting the ordering based on demographic, sociologic, or interest information about the user and/or learning behavior of the user.
Example 36 includes the method of any of the above method examples, wherein determining a level of interactive facility includes determining a level of interactive facility based on a profile of the user.
Example 37 includes the method of example 36, wherein determining a level of interactive facility based on a profile of the user includes utilizing different profiles for different users of the computing device.
Example 38 includes the method of any of the above method examples, wherein selectively providing access to the user includes hiding visible access to one or more interactive features of the one or more application modules.
Example 39 includes the method of any of the above method examples, wherein selectively providing access to the user includes determining an interactive feature for which the user has not previously been given access and indicating the interactive feature to the user prior to granting access.
Example 40 includes an apparatus with variable feature interactivity. The apparatus includes means for determining a level of interactive facility associated with a user of the apparatus and means for selectively providing access to the user to one or more interactive features of one or more application modules operated on the apparatus, the selectively providing being based on the determined level of interactive facility.
Example 41 includes the apparatus of example 40, wherein the apparatus further includes means for evaluating the user to determine an initial level of interactive facility and means for selectively providing access to the user the one or more interactive features includes means for selectively providing access based on the determined initial level of interactive facility.
Example 42 includes the apparatus of example 41, wherein means for evaluating the user includes means for performing one or more requests for demographic or sociological information from the user.
Example 43 includes the apparatus of example 41, wherein means for evaluating the user includes means for evaluating the user through one or more requests of the user's comfort or experience level with interactive features of the one or more application modules.
Example 44 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein means for determining a level of interactive facility includes means for receiving a request to access a feature by the user.
Example 45 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein means for determining a level of interactive facility includes means for analyzing one or more search terms entered by the user.
Example 46 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein means for determining a level of interactive facility includes means for determining that the user has successfully used the apparatus at a first level of interactive facility over a period of time and means for determining a second level of interactive facility, more advanced than the first level of interactive facility for use of the apparatus by the user.
Example 47 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein means for determining a level of interactive facility includes means for selecting a level of interactive facility from a predetermined ordering of levels.
Example 48 includes the apparatus of example 47, wherein means for selecting the ordering includes means for selecting the ordering based on demographic, sociologic, or interest information about the user and/or learning behavior of the user.
Example 49 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein means for determining a level of interactive facility includes means for determining a level of interactive facility based on a profile of the user.
Example 50 includes the apparatus of example 49, wherein means for determining a level of interactive facility based on a profile of the user includes means for utilizing different profiles for different users of the apparatus.
Example 51 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein means for selectively providing access to the user includes means for hiding visible access to one or more interactive features of the one or more application modules.
Example 52 includes the apparatus of any of the above apparatus examples, wherein means for selectively providing access to the user includes means for determining an interactive feature for which the user has not previously been given access and means for indicating the interactive feature to the user prior to granting access.
Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description, a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments described herein be limited only by the claims.
Where the disclosure recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such disclosure includes one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Further, ordinal indicators (e.g., first, second or third) for identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate or imply a required or limited number of such elements, nor do they indicate a particular position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated.