WO2016092255A1

WO2016092255A1 - Educational aid apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2016092255A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/052767
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeannie Duncanson
Original assignee: Jeannie Duncanson
Priority date: 2014-12-08
Filing date: 2015-09-24
Publication date: 2016-06-16
Also published as: GB201421793D0

Abstract

The present invention concerns an educational aid apparatus comprising:- plurality of pieces (1), each piece having a cross-shaped profile formed of a central centre square (2) and four arm squares (2, 4, 5, 6), each arm square extending respectively from a side of the centre square. The centre square and arm squares of each piece are each afforded with a surface identification allowing them to be identified from the other squares on that piece, the pieces being positionable with respect to adjacent pieces such that the edges of the arm squares of one piece abut with the edges of the arm squares of another piece. The pieces (1) may be physical hand-held pieces.

Description

Educational Aid Apparatus

The present invention relates to an educational aid apparatus, and more particularly to an educational aid apparatus that can take the form of a game or toy for enhancing manual dexterity and spatial awareness and for developing strategic planning.

In this regard, there are many games and toys available that have an educational content and well as being amusing to play. More recently, such games and toys have become more prevalent in digital and electronic format, often requiring touch screen skills and/or specific finger/thumb control for operating a games console controller. The different physical interaction of such games and toys can detract from their benefits in building and enhancing the manual dexterity and 3-D visualization skills associated with handling more physical articles.

As such, the present invention seeks to provide an educational aid apparatus that teaches enhanced spatial awareness and dexterity skills and abilities.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an educational aid apparatus comprising:- a plurality of pieces, each piece having a cross-shaped profile formed of a centre square and four arm squares, each arm square extending respectively from a side of the centre square; wherein each of the centre square and arm squares is afforded with a surface identification allowing it to be identified from the other squares on that piece, the pieces being positionable with respect to adjacent pieces such that the edges of the arm squares of one piece abut with the edges of the arm squares of another piece. In this way, the present invention provides an educational aid apparatus that can be played as a game for enhancing spatial awareness and developing an awareness of matching the different pieces together, either by colour, design or texture. For example, the arm squares on one piece may have to match the arm squares or centre square of connecting pieces. This can for example be matching in colour/texture/images/surface.

Conveniently, the pieces are provided as physical hand-held pieces. As such the apparatus has a beneficial effect in improving the manual dexterity of the user.

Preferably, the centre and arm squares of each piece have the same dimensions. This allows a plurality of the pieces to linked together to form a grid.

The surface identification of the squares of each piece may manifest itself in surface markings, colours, images, photographs and/or surface profiles so that the squares can be identified from one another.

Conveniently, at least two squares of each piece each have a different surface identification. Preferably, four or more of the squares of each piece have a different surface identification.

Conveniently, the pieces link together to form a surface exhibiting new shapes or patterns defined by the surface identifications on the squares.

Preferably, one or more edges of the arm squares are provided with an adhesion promoting surface for promoting adhesion to an edge of another arm square. In this connection, the adhesion promoting surfaces may arranged in relation to the surface identification of the pieces, so as to promote the formation of a certain piece matrix. This can be of use in assisting a user to complete a task. The adhesion promoting surface may be a magnetic strip, which has the feature that it present an attraction or repelling force depending upon orientation to another magnetic strip. Such strips may be removable.

Preferably, the apparatus may be provided for use in an electronic form, such as an "APP" for a tablet, PC or mobile device. Whilst the pieces will then no longer be physical hand- held pieces as such, the apparatus may for example, be used together with "eye- gaze" systems, by those with severe disabilities.

The apparatus may be provided as computer readable data media, so that it can be readily installed onto a tablet, smart phone or computer.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-

Figure 1 shows a cross piece in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 show such a cross piece before and after being linked to existing cross pieces;

Figure 4 shows a grid of a plurality of cross pieces in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows a variant of the cross piece in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a cross piece 1 of the present invention. The cross piece has a central square 2 and four arms 3, 4, 5 and 6 extending at 90 degree intervals from the sides of the central square. The central square and each of the arm squares have the same dimensions, with each side "x" of each square being the same length. The central square and arm squares have a surface identification, namely they are coloured, marked or provided with a surface finish, profile or texture, enabling them to be identified from one another. For example, in Figure 1, the separate arms may be blue, yellow, green and red with the central square being black.

As such, the cross pieces can be linked together in a game to form new shapes as shown in Figures 2 and 3. If linked in a certain fashion, as shown in Figure 3, a central 4-square box, formed from the yellow arms (Y) of four pieces is formed. This can be the whole object of the game.

The cross pieces can therefore be linked together according to certain rules or strategy to add a game element to the educational aid.

For example, the cross pieces could form the basis of a game similar to dominoes or "boxes" where each player is provided with a number of the cross pieces, and players take it in turns to place a piece in a linked fashion. The objective may be for each player to form as many new 4-squares boxes (as shown in Figure 3) as they can, the individual squares within each 4-square box needing to have the same surface identification to qualify.

A player may accumulate points according to the number of squares within such a 4- square box they complete. The arms of each piece may be further split as shown in Figure 5 to add a further level of complexity. Further, there could be different images on each arm, for example different types of birds, cooking utensils, or groups of any collection of items within a group such as stamps, animals etc.

The squares may have raised surface markings. For example, for the visually impaired the squares may have raised surface markings, such as braille markings in order to identify them. The squares of each piece need not all be different though.

It will be understood that the pieces can be formed of any suitable material, for example wood based materials, acrylic, metal, foam, fabrics, cardboard, paper over board, plastic suckers with foam and resin. The pieces may be further be provided a tactile or adhesion promoting surface, for example magnetic surfaces or hook and loop mechanisms (e.g. elcro) so that they can engage with each other and/or a suitable flat board or surface.

Certain or all edges 7 of the arms of a square may be provided with adhesion promoting surfaces arranged specifically in relation to the square's surface identification so that the arms more readily engage with particular arms of another square, which for example completes a desired pattern or part of a desired pattern when the pieces are put together. This can help to encourage and or assist a user in completing a task. Such adhesion promoting surfaces may take the form of magnets, where the fact that such surfaces may repel or attract one another can be used to enhance the apparatus. The adhesion promoting surfaces may be removable to change the difficulty level of the apparatus. For example, thin magnet strips may be removably adhered to the edges 7 of the arms. The plurality of pieces may moreover be provided in batches of different sizes, for example for people with different levels of dexterity or disability. Typically the pieces may each be made up of 5 squares having sides around 2 cm long. The pieces may be around 2 mm thick. It will be appreciated that dimensions are approximations and can vary depending upon the materials used, for example foam pieces may be thicker.

The pieces may though of course vary in thickness according to size, material and game type.

The pieces are preferably provided within a receptacle such as a pouch so that they can be withdrawn at random at the beginning of a game. The educational aid apparatus may comprise approximately 50-70 of such cross pieces. More preferably, the educational aid apparatus may comprise approximately 60-70 of such cross pieces.

It will be understood however that the educational aid apparatus may be embodied in the form of an "APP" for computers, tablet computers and/or smart phones.

In this respect, such an "APP" may for example teach about the matching of colours or themes pieces to complete a square. The aid apparatus may be used to learn about different themed groups, such as foods, animals, plants, mammals etc.

The pieces making up such an aid may be provided in different sizes, to help the aged, physically and/or visually impaired to learn and be involved. This applies equally to whether the aid is provided in the form of an electronic "APP" or a collection of actual physical pieces. The "APP" may be played by one or more payers, for example over linked devices, possibly over a local network or by the Internet. It may function as a multi-player game for entertainment.

Providing the educational aid apparatus in an electronic form allows it to be incorporated in an "eye gaze" system, providing those with severe disabilities the opportunity to learn and play with others using their eyes only. Such "eye gaze" systems, that track and translate eye movements, can for example, be used to manipulate the pieces of the education aid apparatus around a screen.

Claims

Claims:

1. An educational aid apparatus comprising: a plurality of pieces, each piece having a cross-shaped profile formed of a central centre square and four arm squares, each arm square extending respectively from a side of the centre square; wherein the centre square and arm squares of each piece are each afforded with a surface identification allowing them to be identified from the other squares on that piece, the pieces being positionable with respect to adjacent pieces such that the edges of the arm squares of one piece abut with the edges of the arm squares of another piece.

2. An educational aid apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the centre and arm squares of each piece have the same dimensions.

3. An educational aid apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface identification of the squares of each piece manifests itself in surface markings, colours and/or surface profiles so that the separate squares can be identified from one another.

4. An education aid apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least two squares of each piece each have a different surface identification.

5. An educational aid apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein four or more of the squares of each piece have a different surface identification.

6. An educational aid apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the pieces link together to form a surface exhibiting new shapes or patterns defined by the surface identifications on the squares.

7. An educational aid apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein approximately 50-70 pieces are provided.

8. An educational aid apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the pieces are provided within a receptacle.

9. An educational aid apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each piece is a physical hand-held piece.

10. An educational aid apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more edges of the arm squares are provided with an adhesion promoting surface for promoting adhesion to an edge of another arm square.

11. An educations aid apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the adhesion promoting surfaces are arranged in relation to the surface identification of the pieces, so as to promote the formation of a certain piece matrix.

12. An educational aid apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is provided for use in electronic form.

13. An educational aid apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is provided as an application "APP".

14. An educational aid apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the apparatus is provided as computer readable data media.

15. An educational aid apparatus according to claim 12 to 14, wherein the apparatus is used in associated with "eye gaze" apparatus.

16. An educational aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.