WO2007125370A1

WO2007125370A1 - Information system

Info

Publication number: WO2007125370A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/050223
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew James David Mason; Lisa Shaw Abbott; Alexander Grant Mackenzie
Original assignee: Enabled London Limited
Priority date: 2006-04-29
Filing date: 2007-04-30
Publication date: 2007-11-08
Also published as: GB0821244D0; GB2454098A; GB0608552D0

Abstract

A method of enabling a person of a particular intellectual level or skill set to understand electronically displayed data aimed at a different level or skill set, comprising providing a database including a plurality of words or phrases, each being associated with a definition, translation and/or multimedia content set at an understanding level of that person, comparing the original data with the database; associating words or phrases of the original data which correspond with ones of the database with links to the appropriate definition, translation and/or multimedia content, and marking said words or phrases in situ to visually indicate that the definitions are available, and presenting the marked page to the person, whereby by performing a particular action in the vicinity of that word or phrase as displayed, the person is presented with the definition/multimedia content.

Description

Information System

This invention relates to an information system. In particular, it relates to a system for presenting information to a user in a way that is intelligible to the user and in particular which expresses the information in a way appropriate to that particular user's skill or intellectual level.

A great deal of information of all sorts is now available over the Internet and the world wide web and accessible to anyone with suitable means for viewing the information on many different types of fixed or mobile devices. Many websites are available which present useful information to people but there is sometimes a problem that the textual content of a website may be framed at a higher level than the capabilities of the person who needs to use the information. It may, for example, contain words or phrases that are quite hard to understand. People with learning difficulties in particular may need to access information from websites but may find that the wording used on these websites is difficult to understand and this can prevent them from being able to use the information provided in the website or from enjoying entertainment provided on that website to its fullest extent.

There may also be a need to make information accessible to a wider group of users, such as residents in a country who do not have the website language as a first language, tourists, or so called 'silver surfers' (ie persons, normally of an older generation, who may not be as comfortable with using modern digital technology as others).

All the above may be termed as people with high communication needs.

Whilst some service providers provide alternative pages presenting the information at different levels of complexity or skill set, this is not always appropriate and increases both the complexity and bandwidth requirement of the website and also has the undesirable effect of requiring the user to indicate, whether by cookies or otherwise, that he requires a 'simplified' version of the website, and thus possibly stigmatising that user. Another presently used solution is for websites to use glossaries. However, these are frequently under used, largely because words are listed alphabetically and many people with learning difficulties have problems learning or recognising the alphabetical sequence, and therefore finding a specific word in a list may be quite difficult. It is also quite problematic to switch from one page of information to another and trying to retain the glossary definition of the word whilst transferring back to the original text.

The present invention arose in an attempt to provide improved access to websites for people with learning difficulties.

According to the present invention in a first aspect there is provided a system for adapting electronically viewable content to a particular viewer, comprising means for generating a portion of data including text; a database storing a plurality of words and, for each word on the database, an appropriate definition, translation or transliteration and/or other multimedia content; means for comparing the content with the database and, when a word or phrase from the database is found, modifying the display of that word or phrase to include a link to the definition and/or multimedia content, whereby performing an appropriate action on that word or phrase as displayed causes the definition and/or multimedia content to be displayed to the viewer.

The content is preferably in the form of a web page.

Preferably, when the content is scanned against the database, relevant words are marked with appropriate hyperlinks or other link such that the word remains in situ at the same position on the page but is marked with a hyperlink or other marker so that when a user performs an action such as, for example, clicking on the word, floating their mouse over it or some other action, then the separate data is revealed. The data may be revealed in one or more pop-up windows as text, image and/or multimedia (eg video or audio) data.

The database may be stored remotely from the electronic content. Preferably, a central database is accessed by two or more providers of electronic content.

The hyperlink is preferably indicated in a different manner to other hyperlinks on the site. For example, a standard hyperlink may be text in a different colour or text such that when a cursor or mouse pointer is moved over the hyperlink, the pointer changes to a different shape, eg a hand shape, whereas the hyperlink relating to the definition may be a simple underlining (perhaps dashed or dotted underlining) of the text or other means, eg this is an example of a defined word.

According to the present invention in a further aspect there is provided a web page including one or more words defined on a database, wherein each of said words is provided with an electronic link to a definition, translation and/or transliteration and/or multimedia content whereby a user can select the word in situ and thereby view a definition, translation and/or multimedia content relating to the word. Preferably, the definition, translation and/or multimedia content is viewed in the form of a pop-up window, preferably of smaller size than the original window.

Advantageously, the database is for use by people with learning disabilities and comprises a jargon free definition of the particular word and one or more items of multimedia content such as an image, a video and/or an audio clip explaining the word simply. The audio clip may simply read out the jargon- free definition, or may define the word in more detail or give examples of its use for example. Audio clips may also have a definition of the word in different dialects, different regional accents, and so on.

Alternatively, the content may be text-only, particularly, but not exclusively, when the parent website is text-only. This may be advantageous for applications on mobile phones or handheld devices.

Alternatively, the database may comprise translations into one or more specified languages, transliterations from one character set to another or other data. - A -

In a further aspect there is provided a method of enabling a person of a particular intellectual level or skill set to understand electronically displayed data aimed at a different level or skill set, comprising providing a database including a plurality of words or phrases, each being associated with a definition, translation and/or multimedia content set at an understanding level of that person, comparing the original data with the database; associating words or phrases of the original data which correspond with ones of the database with links to the appropriate definition, translation and/or multimedia content, and marking said words or phrases in situ to visually indicate that the definitions are available, and presenting the marked page to the person, whereby by performing a particular action in the vicinity of that word or phrase as displayed, the person is presented with the definition/multimedia content.

Embodiments of the invention are applicable to websites viewed on desktop and/or mobile devices of any type and also to data viewable by any other mobile devices such as mobile telephones, PDA's, data terminals, and so on. The invention may also be used on offline files, or on other types of files other than web pages, such as word processing documents, spreadsheet, .doc, .xls, .pdf, etc.

Preferably, the system or method further includes a licence file, which licence file provides licence data for enabling the database to be used.

The invention further provides a system for generating electronically viewed content appropriate for a person of a particular intellectual level or skill set, comprising means enabling a content provider to enter a text having a desired meaning or intended to convey a desired concept, means for comprising this to data stored in one or more databases and for determining a phraseology more appropriate for a reader of a particular intellectual level or skill set, and means for causing the more appropriate phraseology to be displayed to the ultimate reader. There is also provided a method of adapting data to an electronically viewable format addressed at readers of a particular skill set, comprising entering text/data intended to convey a concept or comparing the data with at least one database to determine a text which conveys the concept in a manner more appropriate to that reader, and enabling the more appropriate text to be ultimately displayed to the reader.

The invention further provides a method, apparatus or system including one or more of the features, or combinations of features, disclosed herein.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a web page;

Figure 2 shows a database structure;

Figure 3 shows a web page as displayed to a user; Figure 4 shows a step in using the web page;

Figure 5 shows a subsequent step in using the web page;

Figure 6 shows a jargon free text and accompanying picture;

Figures 7 (a) to 7(c) show screen shots from an explanatory video;

Figure 8 shows a window; Figure 9 shows a heading bar;

Figure 10 shows a web page and pop-up window;

Figure 11 shows a window;

Figures 12 to 15 show administration screens;

Figure 16 shows a screen display; and Figure 17 shows a screen display relating to a validation process.

The invention relates to ways for displaying information to users so that words which might be found difficult by a particular user or class of user are easily explained in a way which suits the individual's cognitive-processing needs. Alternatively, the invention may be applied to show translations of words in websites and other available media or in other ways. One embodiment is described below. A website provider is provided (preferably licensed) with a database as shown schematically in Figure 2. The database 1 comprises three fields 2, 3, 4. The first field comprises a list of words or phrases which are considered to be difficult to understand by a certain group of people. In one example, these are phrases which are chosen as being ones which are important to know by people with learning difficulties but which may be difficult for them to understand, or which may be industry-specific jargon. Figure 2 shows a schematic list of words/phrases, three of which are CONFERENCE, INDUCTION LOOP and BUOYANCY AID. The second field 3 of the database includes a string of text for each item in the first field which defines that entry in terms easy for the target audience to understand. Thus, a CONFERENCE may be defined as "A meeting about something important that people go to - so they can learn from each other.". An INDUCTION LOOP may be defined as "This is something which helps people with hearing disabilities to hear talking more clearly. It cuts out other noises in the background.". Similarly, a BUOYANCY AID may be suitably described.

The third field (and possibly further fields not shown) includes multimedia content relating to each word or phrase of the first field. This multimedia content may include, for example, a picture (eg j PEG, TIF, GIF, bmp or other formats) illustrating the word or phrase, a short video (eg in quick time, MPEG, flash, or other digital formats) giving an example of the phrase and how it is used, audio clips in WAV, MP3 or other audio formats or other data. More than one piece of multimedia content may be associated with each item.

The following table 1 shows some exemplary words or phrases, together with their related jargon free text and an idea of the multimedia content that may be associated with them.

Table 1

I Word/Phrase | Jargon Free Text Multimedia |

Figure 2 also shows a licence file 5 which will generally be required by a user (ie website provider) and which may hold, for example, passwords enabling use of the database and without which the database will not work.

The database may be provided by a separate service provider or by the ultimate website provider. It may be populated, for example, by presenting a simple web page asking individuals of a particular group to submit words that they would like to see added to it. The submitted words are then available for other users (or the same user) to add suggested definitions and any supporting images or other multimedia content and these can then be approved by a moderator before being formally applied to the database.

A simple search tool may be included which searches suggested words to check whether there is already a suitable definition available in the database for that word. If not, then the word is submitted for definitions to be added, and a 'word added' email is sent to the submitter confirming that their word is now in the database.

Once the database is established, then it may be licensed for use by third parties. Figure 1 shows schematically a web page 6. The web page includes, as is fairly common, a couple of images 7, 8 and some text 9. The text includes a number of words and phrases and two of these are highlighted in the drawing. These are the word "conference" and the phrase "induction loop". Thus, this particular web page may be about describing a meeting which is to be held to discuss a particular subject and which mentions that the venue includes an induction loop.

Once the 'raw' web page has been produced, using HTML, XML or similar scripting or authoring tools, the page is compared to the database 1 (provided the licensing tool 5 is included). The text of the database is scanned for each word or phrase of field 2 of the database. Each time a word which is in the database is found, this word is marked in some way on the page and a hyperlink or other link is made which associates that word at that position with the appropriate jargon free text and multimedia content relating to that particular word from the database. The word is then marked in an appropriate way to indicate the hyperlink. Most preferably, if a normal hyperlink is shown in a web page by one means, such as the ability of a cursor to change shape or by a different colour or type of text, then this particular type of hyperlink may be differently shown.

The actual 'hyperlinked' data (text/multimedia content) (ie the database) is preferably stored at the licensor's server, for downloading to an end user. Figure 3 shows an example where the text of the web page of Figure 1 has been scanned and the two entries CONFERENCE and INDUCTION LOOP have been found. These are marked with hyperlinks which, in this case, are in the form of dotted lines 9 underneath the respective words or phrases. The marking to indicate the hyperlink may be any other type. The hyperlink itself links this word to the jargon free text 3 and multimedia content 4 associated with that word and is arranged so that when a user performs an action in the vicinity of where that word or phrase appears, the definition and/or multimedia content appears. Most preferably, this appears in one or more "pop-up" windows appearing above or near the desired text and these may, of course, be relatively small windows which only minimally obscure other text on the web page or these may be full size windows as appropriate. The content may alternatively appear in a new window, depending on the site's design and access standard.

Figure 4 shows how in one example the hyperlink is such that when a user moves a cursor (by a mouse or other means) over one of the found words and clicks 10 on that word, he then brings up (Figure 5) a first pop-up window defining that word and also a second window showing a video clip explaining the word. In this case, the word CONFERENCE has been clicked and so the text window includes the words "a meeting about something..." and the video is a short video showing a number of people around a table talking with various thought bubbles arising from their heads at various times to illustrate the general concept of a conference taking place.

Instead of separate windows/pop-ups for text and multimedia, these may all be provided via a single window/pop-up. This is shown in Figure 8 and the window may include any one or more of the jargon-free text 20, a link to multimedia content 21 (checking on this might download appropriate visual/audio content or start a streaming process) and an audio (eg MP3) content button 22. Button 22 might cause an audio file to play that reads out the jargon-free text, so that the user can hear as well as read the text, or might have further definitions/examples of the content. The length of the video clip and its compression rate will be determined to some extent by the complexity of the word itself and the possible attention span and understanding level of the ultimate end user, and also of course by the bandwidth and storage capacity of the website provider and its servers. The audio and/or visual content may be streamed or downloadable, or both.

Advantageously, the content window or pop-up may be provided in a colour which is intended to contrast with the colour scheme of the website, or web page, for better visualisation.

A provider will be preferably supplied with:

• A script to pull the list of words held on the database 1 (along with the URL (or other address) required to access that word).

• A license file which holds the passwords to be used in the above script, without the license the script will not work.

• An exclusion file which lists all files/directories for which matches to words held in the database should not result in substitutions, since some pages or parts of a site may not require the definitions, etc to be displayed.

• A configuration file which specifies: o The top-level directory from which to start the scan. o Any special class that should be used in the link tag to allow the client to control the way the link is displayed, eg <A HREF="myURL"class="*/7ecώ/C/α**">

• A main script which performs the following logic:

Take a copy of the existing site from the top-level. Start at the top-level directory specified in the config file For each file/directory in the current directory:

If the file/directory is in the exclusions file then skip it. Search for words in the current document that are contained in the Word Bank.

For each match: Replace the: Word With:

• A backup script to restore the previous version of the website should things go astray.

The exclusion file is, of course, optional.

Figure 6 shows typical wording and a standard drawing illustrating an INDUCTION LOOP. Figures 7 (a), (b) and (c) show various screen shots from a short video clip explaining the concept of 'peak' and 'off peak' time. Figure 7(a) shows a clock 20 illustrating an off peak time, together with a representation of a doorway 21 and a person 22 about to go through the doorway. Figure 7(b) shows the clock 20 at a more advanced time but still off peak and shows two people traversing the doorway. Eventually, as the clock moves towards a nominal peak time of 12 o'clock, more and more people build up at the doorway, leading to the screen shot shown in Figure 7(c). Thus, this video clearly illustrates the concepts of peak or off peak time and similar video clip or images may be designed for many other words and for phrases.

The embodiment above essentially relates to the viewing of web pages on a desktop PC. The invention may equally be applied to the viewing of web pages or other data on other devices, such as mobile devices, for example mobile telephones, PDA's and so on, or any other devices which can receive electronic images. The invention may also be used on television images. Any of these may be connected to external networks or be stand alone devices since the invention is equally applicable to images to be displayed on a stand alone device. For a small screen mobile device, appropriate hyperlinks can still be provided for access by a touch screen or using a simple cursor and pointer type arrangement controlled by buttons, or alternatively the words of a web page which have appropriate definitions in the database may be highlighted in some manner and the user may be able to bring up a list of these words and then select the required one which he requires a definition or other details about.

In embodiments of the invention, in addition to, or instead of, definitions and/or multimedia content, the user may be also be provided with hyperlinks or other data where he can obtain further details about providers of the particular service or item which forms the text of field 2 of the database. Thus, if the relevant phrase is "induction loop", then clicking on the term need no just bring up a simplified definition and perhaps a video or image, it may also bring up details of manufacturers of induction loops or even, where the web page is of a theatre for example and describes how that theatre has an induction loop, specific details showing the user at that particular theatre how to use their induction loop, perhaps a seating plan illustrating the best seats to take advantage of the induction loop, or similar content.

A typical directory structure for the database in the form when it is being constructed is shown below. The database is termed 'WordBank' in this structure.

Word Bank Directory Structure

Directory/File Description words/index index j s List of words held on WB This file gets updated when the word is added to word bank

SWEBDIR/

Displays Alphabets clicking on which the word index php from that alphabet will be displayed contactUs php Details on how to contact the WB team index php Home page with details about the site Moderator/

Modify Words (words php) List of words in demand order, awaiting approval Upload Words (words php) Page to add a new definition to WB Modify Words (words php) Page to edit an existing WB definition words php Search page to allow users to find definitions words php Page for users to submit words to moderator Words/

Contains the dat files of the words that are submitted to word-Bank Word Bank Files

1.1.1 Index.js

Filename Words/index/index.js

Description List of words in the word bank site are mentioned in this file. Format wordData[<wordId>] = '<Word>';

1.1.2 <wordl> .dat

Filename $WORKDIR/Waiting/W_<wordl>.dat

Description Word awaiting approval by moderator. Information collected includes any suggested definition, URL to images, email addresses of people who requested word.

Format

<word>wor<i</word>: : :

<definition><ie//raY/o«</definition>: : :

<imageURLs>Mr/i ; url2;... </imageURLs> : : :

Some more specific embodiments and features of the invention will now be described. JavaScript may be used for integration. Site integration works by placing two JavaScript files and a ess file on a client's web server. Every page that requires integration is appended with the below code to reference definitions.

<! — The Script, replaces word on the list with the correct links— >

</head> <BODY onload="populateLinks();">

../S AUNDERS/JavaScript ../S AUNDERS/JavaScript/index.j s

../SAUNDERS/JavaScript/popup.js ../SAUNDERS/css ../SAUNDERS/css/WordBankLinks.css

This will render the following modification on client side pages (ie the pages of the website owner):

<!— The Script, replaces word on the list with the correct links— >

<head>

The last line of code here <script>addθnθff()</script> provides on/off functionality, as will be described below, so that the user can choose whether to use the system functionality when viewing a document.

As is shown in Figure 9, a suitably branded bar of HTML or other code may be produced and made available for subscribers to include on their web pages. This can be done programmatically. The bar 30 includes a button 31 to turn on or off the functionality on that site. This may be implemented by using cookies for example. Other buttons may be provided on this bar such as a button 32 which can provide the end user with information about the service and possibly links to help pages.

Figure 10 shows an example of a web page 33 in which the word 'equality' is modified so that clicking it brings up a popup 34. This has a definition 35 of the word, an animation 36 and 'microphone' icon 37, clicking on which causes the word to be annunciated.

The site integrated popup window controlled by popup .js may be modified with a dedicated JavaScript coded close window link 38 as shown in Figure 11. Clicking on this closes the popup.

Website administrators may be able to select the definitions required for their site.

This may be done by creating an area on the central provider site 9, for example, as client admin. Client admin users will be granted access to several pages.

A word subscription control page is shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14 and from which the website provider can choose which words he subscribes to and which words are therefore defined in his website. Figure 12 shows words to which the client currently subscribes. This shows a list of words 40 next to each word of which are two radio buttons 41 and 42. If radio button 41 associated with each particular word is marked this means that that words is used and in Figure 12 all words in the list are used. If the relevant radio button 42 for each word is marked then this shows that that word is not used. Thus, Figure 12 shows all the words to which the clients currently subscribes and Figure 13 shows all the words to which the client currently unsubscribes. Filters may be used such that when the user click upon his client administration screen he only sees the particular used or unused words according to choice. Figure 14 shows a selection screen in which the user has chosen to use some of the definitions such as 'business incubator', 'consortium', etc and not to use other words such as 'adverse'. In this way, the website provider can choose exactly what words to provide definitions for on his website, tailored to his target audience and their particular intellectual or other needs.

Thus, the website administrator is able to view a page which has an index file created for their site and which will control which words on their site are marked with WordBank links.

Client admin users are also able to request new words (and their possible definitions) to be defined on the central provider's (WordBank) site. In general, newly defined words will only appear on the provider's site after moderation by service provider staff. It is noted that the displays of Figures 12 to 14 include a box 'suggest a word' 43.

Figure 14 is a subscribe/unsubscribe page enabling the website provider to subscribe or unsubscribe from a particular word definitions.

This figure also shows how a client may submit a 'non-linking' phrase by using button 50. For example, 'Disability Equality Duty' has a different context from linking 'disability', 'equality' and 'duty'. The client can choose to have links for the words separately or as a linked phrase.

Figure 15 shows a typical client administration page.

Each client admin user is able to customise the style of their popup word definition so that they can maintain their house style on their website. This is achieved by each client admin user being able to specify and upload a style sheet to the central provider site. The style sheet is linked into the definition pages when called from the client's site. This ensures the house style brand of the client' s site is maintained. The button 'generate a file definition' 51 on Figure 4 enables a client to generate their own index.js file to reference directions. This allows clients (eg website providers) to moderate/vary their definitions, save their preferences and generate their custom index.js file. Thus, the client may not need to continually exclude definitions each time they accept a database update.

In most embodiments, JavaScript is used to provide functionality. To cater for browsers who have JavaScript disabled or not installed, a meaningful no script message may be displayed when attempting to enable the system, clearly stating that the site requires JavaScript.

In modification, for people for using screen reader software, and in particular for partially or unsighted users <alt tags> may be populated on all links. The screen reader software then speaks the content of the alt tag. Figure 16 shows this where when the user hovers or clicks on the word equality the word equality is read out. The alt tag may be added to all popup words in the system and alt tag definition will be stored alongside the popup animation in the database.

In alternative versions, text only versions may be used and this may be particularly applicable for applications on mobile phones or in vehicles, for example.

Multiple languages may be used. These are may be provided with an entry setting preference or a 'translate' button either or on the popup itself or in the head display of Figure 9. This will then give the choice of two or more languages.

The system may work across platforms.

The system may be accessible over web, internets, intranets, mobile phones and other handheld devices and potentially also via television. It can also work on offline documents such as .doc, pdf, xls files, etc in much the same way as with a browser plug-in. In such cases the central database can be referenced periodically for new definitions to upload and store locally or remotely.

In modifications, the site may be accessible by browsers. That is, instead of being website dependant, the end user's browser is provided with a plug in or other program which is arranged, each time the user downloads a web page, to look automatically for words in the definitions database and to automatically link these to required definitions.

In a similar manner, the system may be accessible on offline documents or to non- web based documents such as .doc, .pdf, .xls, or other types of file. This may be done by also having plug ins which look for appropriate words and then downloads the definitions/ animations, etc locally.

Sever-side scripting may be used to integrate the system with, eg mobile (wap, html, etc) pages or other types of content.

The system itself may be one which does not add any code to the link text itself.

Note that existing hyperlinks are not normally overwritten. The system just creates new hyperlinks.

Multiple definitions/content are possible for the same word/phrase so that clients can choose the definition/content most appropriate for their own environment or target audience.

User ID such as signing avators/logins/etc may be used as a user access preference to determine whether the functionality is turned on or off for a particular end user of the system according to any of the above description. Alternatively, user ID may be used to determine a user's preference for the manner in which the definition/content are displayed. Thus one user may prefer just text in which case a single script can be used to show just text and not multimedia content. Definitions may be embedded in a page text, so that when a definition link is checked the definition appears at a specific location on the initiating page.

Various versions such as html and JavaScript may be provided.

Figure 17 is a screen display page relating to an easy read validating tool. This is essentially a service (on or offline) enabling subscribers to use the database of definitions and multimedia content when developing content for their own pages. In general terms, it is an interface in which text 60 is pasted or typed into. The system then reads this text and includes means for suggesting an 'easy read' alternative text 61. Thus, the user may initially enter the words 'our team of consultants sing from the same song sheet when we say ....'. The easy read text refers to a database, perhaps in conjunction with some artificial intelligence, to identify that 'sing from the same song sheet' means 'work together' and so generates text in the box 61 that says 'our team of consultants work together'. The client who is developing the content for his pages can then choose to accept the suggested wording by pressing the accept change button 63. In some versions, after the user enters his text 60 in the box 64, he is then required to press a button 65 which then causes the system to look up the entered phrase, either in the definition/multimedia database, or in a further database which includes a number of synonyms and other meanings for a plurality of phrases and, upon the user pressing the validate button 64, if a suitable synonym is provided it displays this in the box 61. The user can then choose to accept this change 63 or not to accept it, as he wishes.

In other versions, an auto text feature might be enabled in which the user is not required to press a validate button but in which synonyms and easy read versions of typed text are automatically entered into box 61 by the system as text is entered into box 60.

The validation process can work in a two-stage process. Firstly, it scans a database for definitions of words in the entered text and adds hyperlink based on the definition/multimedia database. Thus, in this case, the word 'consultant' is found in the database and so a hyperlink is added to the word consultant 65 and this is shown by the underlining. A second database comprising synonyms and suggested easy read terms for a number of phrases is then scanned and this is the database that suggests the easy read term 'work together' instead of the entered text 'sing from the same song sheet'. Thus, the result in box 61 includes both the easy read text from the second database and also the now hyperlinked word 'consultants'.

The feature of Figure 17 therefore provides a convenient way for users to add words into their website or other on or offline content, which are automatically scanned and placed into easy read format with hyperlinks to enable pop-ups of definitions and/or multimedia content relating to difficult words.

Claims

1. A system for adapting electronically viewable content to a particular viewer, comprising means for generating a portion of data including text; a database storing a plurality of words and, for each word on the database, an appropriate definition, translation or transliteration and/or other multimedia content; means for comparing the content with the database and, when a word or phrase from the database is found, modifying the display of that word or phrase to include a link to the definition and/or multimedia content, whereby performing an appropriate action on that word or phrase as displayed causes the definition and/or multimedia content to be displayed to the viewer.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the definition and/or multimedia content is appropriate for people with learning difficulties.

3. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the content is in the form of a web page.

4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein when the content is scanned against the database, relevant words are marked with appropriate hyperlinks or other link such that the word remains in situ at the same position on the page but is marked with a hyperlink or other marker so that when a user performs a specified action, then the separate data is revealed.

5. A system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the action is a mouse 'click'.

6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for revealing the data in one or more pop-up windows.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the relevant words or phrases are indicated as a hyperlink, but the hyperlink is visually distinguishable from other hyperlinks on that page.

8. A system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, including a licence file giving authority for use of the system.

9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for audibly sounding the definition, the translation or transliteration.

10. A system as claimed in any preceding claims, including means for the end user to enable or disable the functionality at will.

11. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for choosing the language of the links.

12. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the database is stored remotely from the electronic content.

13. A system as claimed in Claim 12, wherein a central database is accessed by two or more providers of said electronic content.

14. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a central database or definitions and multimedia content is provided and the supplier of the electronically viewable content chooses which definitions and/or multimedia content to use in relation to his content.

15. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronically viewed content is offline content.

16. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the content is a word processing, database or spreadsheet file or other offline content and the definitions and/or multimedia content are accessed locally.

17. A system as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the definitions and/or multimedia content are at least partially obtained from a remote database which is accessible periodically or when required.

18. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for the content provider to generate a custom database or file of definitions and/or multimedia content, which may be at least partially derived from a centrally provided database.

19. A system as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the file is a .js file.

20. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for selectably using definition or multimedia content of individually chosen words or phrases, or linked words or phrases, wherein the linked words or phrases have a different meaning or applicable multimedia content to the words or phrases individually.

21. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, including means enabling a content provider to enter a text having a desired meaning or intended to convey a desired concept, means for comparing this to data stored in one or more databases and for determining a phraseology more appropriate for a reader of a particular skill set, and means for causing the more appropriate phraseology to be displayed to the ultimate reader.

22. A system as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the alternative text is automatically suggested as the original text is entered.

23. A system as claimed in Claim 21 or 22, wherein the database is a different one to that which stores definition and/or multimedia content.

24. A web page including one or more words defined on a database, wherein each of said words is provided with an electronic link to a definition, translation and/or transliteration and/or multimedia content whereby a user can select the word in situ and thereby view a definition, translation and/or multimedia content relating to the word.

25. A web page as claimed in Claim 24, wherein the definition, translation and/or multimedia content is viewed in the form of a pop-up window.

26. A web page as claimed in Claim 24 or 25, adapted to be viewable on any type of device.

27. A web page as claimed in any of Claims 24 to 26, associated with a licence file giving authority to use the page.

28. A method of enabling a person of a particular intellectual level or skill set to understand electronically displayed data aimed at a different level or skill set, comprising providing a database including a plurality of words or phrases, each being associated with a definition, translation and/or multimedia content set at an understanding level of that person, comparing the original data with the database; associating words or phrases of the original data which correspond with ones of the database with links to the appropriate definition, translation and/or multimedia content, and marking said words or phrases in situ to visually indicate that the definitions are available, and presenting the marked page to the person, whereby by performing a particular action in the vicinity of that word or phrase as displayed, the person is presented with the definition/multimedia content.

29. A system for generating electronically viewed content appropriate for a person of a particular intellectual level or skill set, comprising means enabling a content provider to enter a text having a desired meaning or intended to convey a desired concept, means for comprising this to data stored in one or more databases and for determining a phraseology more appropriate for a reader of a particular intellectual level or skill set, and means for causing the more appropriate phraseology to be displayed to the ultimate reader.

30. A system as claimed in Claim 29, wherein the alternative text is automatically suggested as the original text is entered.

31. A system as claimed in Claim 29 or 30, wherein the database is a different one to that which stores definition and/or multimedia content.

32. A method of adapting data to an electronically viewable format addressed at readers of a particular skill set, comprising entering text/data intended to convey a concept or comparing the data with at least one database to determine a text which conveys the concept in a manner more appropriate to that reader, and enabling the more appropriate text to be ultimately displayed to the reader.

33. A system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 24, including means for using the identity of the end user, and therefore his preference, to determine the manner in which the definitions and/or content are displayed.

34. A system as claimed in Claim 33, wherein the user's identity determines whether the definition/content is displayed or not.

35. A system as claimed in Claim 34, wherein the identity determines whether multimedia content is displayed.

36. A system as claimed in any of Claims 33 to 35, wherein the user's identity is determined by a login or avatar.

37. A system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 24 or 33 to 36, wherein the definitions and/or multimedia contents are arranged to appear at specific locations on the initiating page.