초록 ▼

A system for audio-or video-enhancement of books or other reading material includes a substantially transparent guide sheet, a pointing device, and a broadcast device. The guide sheet is configured to be placed over or under and aligned with a selected page. The user touches the pointing device on t

A system for audio-or video-enhancement of books or other reading material includes a substantially transparent guide sheet, a pointing device, and a broadcast device. The guide sheet is configured to be placed over or under and aligned with a selected page. The user touches the pointing device on the guide sheet or the page, and the broadcast device determines the position of contact, and provides audio and/or video output corresponding to contents of the book at the contacted location. The system may include an active guide sheet and passive pointing device, or an active pointing device and passive guide sheet, or both an active pointing device and an active guide sheet.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for enhancement of books, comprising: a) a guide sheet, configured to be aligned with and placed on top of, underneath, and between selected pages of pre-existing media and configured to interact with a pointing device to jointly identify the relative position of the

What is claimed is: 1. A system for enhancement of books, comprising: a) a guide sheet, configured to be aligned with and placed on top of, underneath, and between selected pages of pre-existing media and configured to interact with a pointing device to jointly identify the relative position of the pointing device with respect to the guide sheet; and b) a broadcast device, configured to receive the relative position of the pointing device with respect to the guide sheet, and to provide output corresponding to contents of the page at the identified location. 2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pointing device is selected from the group consisting of a stylus that is functionally interconnected with the broadcast device, and the reader's finger. 3. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the pointing device is a stylus comprising an optical scanner configured to scan page coordinate symbols on the guidesheet. 4. A system in accordance with claim 3, further comprising optical character recognition software associated with the broadcast device, whereby content on the page may be electronically detected. 5. A system in accordance with claim 4, further comprising: a) a positional detection system associated with the guide sheet, configured to detect the relative position of the stylus; and b) wherein the broadcast device is configured to compare known content from the detected position of the stylus with the content detected by the optical character recognition software, so as to increase the accuracy of determination of the position of the stylus. 6. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the stylus further comprises operational controls for the broadcast device. 7. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the guide sheet includes a positional detection system for detecting the relative position of the pointing device. 8. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the positional detection system is selected from the group consisting of conductive contact sensors, capacitive contact sensors, magnetic sensors, and an optically detectable position pattern. 9. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the output is selected from the group consisting of a spoken representation of a word on the page, a spoken translation of a word on the page, a spoken definition of a word on the page, a sound associated with an image on the page, a still image, and a video image. 10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the sound associated with an image on the page of the book is selected from the group consisting of music and sound effects. 11. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the broadcast device further comprises means for interfacing with removable media that is programmed with the contents of the page. 12. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the broadcast device comprises a system that is programmed with the content of a plurality of books, and wherein the reader may select one of the plurality of books. 13. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the guide sheet is substantially transparent, and is configured to be placed over the selected page. 14. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the guide sheet has sufficient sensitivity to interact with the pointing device when placed under multiple pages of the book. 15. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an adjustable frame configured to conform to a size and shape of a book, the guide sheet being hingedly connected to the adjustable frame. 16. A system for audio-enhanced reading, comprising: a) a guide sheet, configured to be placed on top of, underneath, and between selected pages of pre-existing media and configured to interact with a pointing device to jointly identify the relative position of the pointing device with respect to the guide sheet; and b) an audio broadcast device, configured to receive a relative position of the pointing device with respect to the guide sheet, and to provide audio output corresponding to contents of the page at the identified location. 17. An interactive reading system, comprising: a) a guide sheet configured to be placed on top of, underneath, and between pages of pre-existing media, and to allow coordinate locating of images on the page; and b) an output device configured to be interactive with the guide sheet and to provide output from a database associated with the reading material related to a selected image on the page, based upon (i) the identity of the reading material, (ii) the selected page, and (iii) a selected coordinate location on the page. 18. An interactive reading system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the output is selected from the group consisting of audio output and video output. 19. A method for reading, comprising the steps of: a) placing a guide sheet on top of, underneath, and between pages of pre-existing media; b) contacting a selected location relative to the page; c) detecting the location of said contact via the guide sheet; and d) broadcasting, through an output device, output corresponding to content of the page at the selected location from a database of information associated with the reading material. 20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the guide sheet is substantially transparent and is placed over the page, and the step of contacting the selected location relative to the page comprises contacting a position on the guide sheet. 21. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the step of contacting the selected location relative to the page comprises contacting the selected location in a specified manner so as to provide input to the output device. 22. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the step of contacting the guide sheet in a specified manner includes a step selected from the group consisting of (i) tapping the guide sheet twice to indicate page advance, and (ii) tapping the guide sheet three times to request the definition of a word. 23. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the step of contacting a position on the guide sheet comprises contacting the guide sheet with a handheld stylus. 24. A method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising the step of electronically identifying the reading material so as to select the correct database. 25. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the guide sheet is placed under the page, and the step of contacting the selected location relative to the page comprises physically contacting a position on the page. 26. A system for enhancement of books, comprising: a) a guide sheet, having a positional detection system, configured to be aligned with and placed on top of, underneath, and between selected pages of pre-existing media; b) a pointing device, configured to interact with the positional detection system of the guide sheet, so as to allow the positional detection system to detect a coordinate position of interaction of the pointing device with the guide sheet; and c) a broadcast device, configured to identify the coordinate position, and to provide output corresponding to contents of the page at the identified location. 27. A system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the positional detection system is selected from the group consisting of conductive contact sensors, capacitive contact sensors, magnetic sensors, and an optically detectable position pattern. 28. A system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the guide sheet is substantially transparent, and is configured to be placed over the selected page.