WO2022260111A1

WO2022260111A1 - Educational toy and program

Info

Publication number: WO2022260111A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/023208
Authority: WO
Inventors: 緋奈子小沢
Original assignee: 株式会社バンダイ
Priority date: 2021-06-10
Filing date: 2022-06-09
Publication date: 2022-12-15
Also published as: CN115253318B; CN118059510A; JP2022189194A; JP7030231B1; CN115253318A; JP2022189711A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a technology which can stimulate interest and therefore sufficiently motivate children to learn. [Solution] An educational toy 1 presents predetermined text (steps S302, S303); receives the input, by user handwriting, of characters so that the same correspond to the predetermined text (steps S304, S305); stores, as a performance corresponding to the predetermined text, performance data including at least one from among text, an image, and a voice; and outputs the performance corresponding to the prescribed text (steps S307, S308, S309).

Description

Educational toys and programs

The present invention relates to the technology of educational toys.

Regarding educational toys for children, there are techniques that have been devised so that children can enjoy practicing and learning to write letters. As an example of prior art, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-194986 (Patent Document 1) can be cited. In Patent Document 1, it is stated that as an educational toy, it is possible to learn not only how to write letters, but also how to read letters, and to practice writing letters in a game-like manner, and to provide an educational toy that does not get bored. Have been described.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-194986

In Patent Document 1, it is stated that the educational toy outputs character sounds according to character recognition of characters input to the handwritten character input unit. In a prior art example such as Patent Document 1, handwritten character input is limited to one character, and only the voice of that one character is output. Therefore, the examples of the prior art are not sufficiently interesting for children to practice and learn to write characters, and it is difficult to motivate children to learn sufficiently.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology that can enhance interest and arouse children's sufficient motivation to learn in relation to the technology of educational toys that enable children to practice and learn to write letters.

A representative embodiment of the present invention has the configuration shown below. The educational toy of the embodiment includes a presentation unit that presents a predetermined sentence, an input unit that allows the user to input characters by handwriting corresponding to the predetermined sentence, and an effect corresponding to the predetermined sentence, a storage unit that stores performance data including at least one of sentences, images, and sounds; an output unit that outputs the performance corresponding to the predetermined sentence; and a control unit, wherein the control unit comprises the presentation unit presents the predetermined sentence, detects an input to the input unit, reads out data of the effect corresponding to the predetermined sentence from the storage unit, and causes the output unit to output the effect. .

According to the representative embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to enhance interest and sufficiently motivate children to learn, regarding the technology of educational toys that enable children to practice and learn to write letters. Problems, configurations, effects, etc. other than those described above will be described in the embodiments for carrying out the invention.

1 shows the configuration of an educational toy according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; 1 shows a functional block configuration example of an intellectual training toy according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 shows a processing flow of the intellectual training toy of Embodiment 1. FIG. In Embodiment 1, a configuration example of data of sentences and effects will be shown. Screen examples 1 and 2 are shown in the first embodiment. Screen examples 3 and 4 are shown in the first embodiment. Screen examples 5 and 6 are shown in the first embodiment. Screen examples 7 and 8 are shown in the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, in principle, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations are omitted. In the drawings, the representation of each component may not represent the actual position, size, shape, range, etc., in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. For the purpose of explanation, when explaining the processing by the program, there are cases where the program, function, processing unit, etc. are mainly explained, but the main body as hardware for them is the processor or the controller composed of the processor etc. , devices, computers, systems, etc. A computer executes processing according to a program read out on a memory by a processor while appropriately using resources such as a memory and a communication interface. As a result, predetermined functions, processing units, and the like are realized. The processor is composed of, for example, a semiconductor device such as a CPU or GPU. A processor is composed of devices and circuits capable of performing predetermined operations. The processing can be implemented not only by software program processing but also by dedicated circuits. FPGA, ASIC, CPLD, etc. can be applied to the dedicated circuit. The program may be installed as data in the target computer in advance, or may be distributed to the target computer as data from the program source and installed. The program source may be a program distribution server on a communication network, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (for example, memory card), or the like. A program may consist of a plurality of modules. Various data and information are represented by structures such as tables and lists, but are not limited to this. Expressions such as identification information, identifiers, IDs, names, numbers, etc. are interchangeable.

<Embodiment 1>
An educational toy according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. The educational toy of Embodiment 1 has a function that allows a child, who is a user, to enjoy practicing and learning to write a simple sentence (composed of a plurality of characters). It outputs an effect according to the sentence input by handwriting. In Embodiment 1, the input of a sentence and the output of an effect are realized in the form of sending a letter (including a sentence) from a user to a fictional character and an effect including a reply from the character to the letter.

[Educational toys]
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an educational toy 1 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. This educational toy 1 is a pad-type (in other words, generally flat plate-shaped) electronic device. The intellectual education toy 1 has a pad-type housing 2 and an attached touch pen 3 . The touch pen 3 can be attached/detached to/from the housing 2 . A computer is built in the housing 2 . The screen of the display panel 4 is arranged on the main surface of the housing 2 . The display panel 4 is a liquid crystal touch panel module in this example, and serves as display means and input means. The screen of the display panel 4 receives an input operation by the user with the touch pen 3 (or fingers). The screen of the display panel 4 accepts input from the touch pen 3, especially when inputting handwritten characters, which will be described later. Input using the touch pen 3 is also referred to as handwriting input.

The display panel 4 has a mechanism such as a touch sensor that detects touch input, and can detect the position coordinates of the position where the tip of the touch pen 3 approaches or contacts within the screen. In Embodiment 1, it is recommended that the input on the screen of the display panel 4 is based on input using the dedicated touch pen 3, but it is not limited to this, and it is also possible to input directly with fingers.

Various buttons 5 are provided on the housing 2. Buttons 5 include a power button, a volume button, a home button, and the like. The housing 2 is also provided with a speaker 6 capable of outputting sound.

A menu screen is displayed on the screen of the display panel 4 in FIG. A plurality of icons 7 are displayed in the menu screen. Icons 7 represent items of selectable functions (corresponding applications) such as "programming learning", "arithmetic", and "English". One of the plurality of icons 7 is an icon for selecting an application for practice/study of writing a sentence in the form of a letter, which is a feature of the first embodiment. For the sake of explanation, this application is also referred to as a "letter application." The name of this letter application is, for example, "Let's send a letter to XX" or "Let's write a sentence to XX" ("XX" is the name of the character). Note that the menu may have a hierarchical structure, for example, a configuration in which a "letter application" icon or the like is in the lower hierarchy when the "national language" icon is selected.

All user operations during the operation of the "letter application" described later are basically realized by touch input operations on the screen of the display panel 4. It is not necessary to equip the housing 2 with a dedicated hardware button for user operation during this operation. As a modification, the housing 2 may be provided with dedicated hardware buttons for operating applications. For example, a completion button, which will be described later, may be provided as a hardware button outside the screen instead of a software button (in other words, image) within the screen.

[Computer system]
FIG. 2 shows an example of functional block configuration as a computer system in the intellectual training toy 1. As shown in FIG. The educational toy 1 includes a processor 101, a memory 102, a display device 103 (including the display panel 4), a speaker 104, an operation input unit 105 (buttons, etc.), an interface device 106, a battery 107, etc., which are connected via a bus or the like. connected to each other.

The processor 101 is composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and constitutes a controller that controls the entire educational toy 1 and each part. The processor 101 realizes each part by processing based on the program 51 . The intellectual training toy 1 has a control section 11, a presentation section 12, an input section 13, a storage section 14, an output section 15, a determination section 16, and an operation input section 17 as respective sections.

The memory 102 is composed of a non-volatile storage device or the like, and stores various data and information handled by the processor 101 and the like. The memory 102 stores, for example, a program 51, setting information 52, effect data 53, display data 54, and the like. The program 51 is a group of programs corresponding to the program of Embodiment 1 (that is, the program for realizing the letter application), the OS, middleware, and various other application programs. The setting information 52 is setting information by the program 51 and user setting information. The user setting information is setting information when the user can make variable settings for the letter application.

The effect data 53 is data of sentences and effects that are defined and set in advance and used in the functions of the letter application based on the program of the first embodiment. The performance data includes image and audio data. A configuration example of the effect data 53 will be described later (FIG. 4). The display data 54 is data to be displayed on the screen in the function of the letter application, and includes character image information detected by handwriting input.

The display device 103 is a device including the display panel 4 of FIG. 1 and a display drive circuit, etc., and is a liquid crystal touch panel display device with a built-in touch sensor. A speaker 104 is an audio output device corresponding to the speaker 6 in FIG. The operation input unit 105 is a part including the button 5 of FIG. 1 and the like, and is a device for inputting basic operations by the user. The interface device 106 is, although not essential, a device such as an input/output interface or communication interface to which a mouse, keyboard, microphone, memory card, and other sensors and devices can be connected. A battery 107 supplies power to each unit.

The control unit 11 controls from the presentation unit 12 to the output unit 15. The control unit 11 presents a predetermined sentence by the presentation unit 12, detects an input to the input unit 13, reads the data of the effect corresponding to the predetermined sentence from the storage unit 14, and causes the output unit 15 to output the effect. . When outputting at least part of the effect, the control unit 11 displays character image information (a letter including a sentence described later) detected by the input unit 13 .

The presentation unit 12 presents a predetermined sentence or the like on the screen of the display panel 4 . The input unit 13 is a part where the user inputs handwritten characters by touching the touch pen 3 in correspondence with a predetermined sentence. The input unit 13 displays a handwritten text for tracing that corresponds to a predetermined sentence. The input unit 13 detects the character image information of characters input by the user and displays the character image information superimposed on the handwritten text for tracing.

The storage unit 14 stores, as effect data 53, effect data including at least one of a sentence, an image, and a sound as an effect corresponding to a predetermined sentence. The storage unit 14 stores the effect data 53 in the memory 102 . The output unit 15 outputs an effect corresponding to a given sentence. The effect output includes image display on the screen of the display panel 4 and audio output from the speaker 6 .

In Embodiment 1, the presentation unit 12 presents a plurality of sentences as options as predetermined sentences. The input unit 13 inputs characters corresponding to sentences selected by the user from a plurality of sentences. The storage unit 14 stores data of effects corresponding to each sentence of a plurality of sentences. The control unit 11 reads the data of the effect corresponding to the sentence selected by the user from the storage unit 14 and causes the output unit 15 to output the effect. Further, the storage unit 14 stores data of a plurality of effects as effects corresponding to predetermined sentences. The control unit 11 reads out data of effects selected from a plurality of effects from the storage unit 14 and causes the output unit 15 to output the effects according to a predetermined sentence.

When outputting at least a part of the effect, the control unit 11 hides or gradually erases the handwritten text for tracing on the input unit 13, while character image information (described later) detected by the input unit 13 is displayed. letters with sentences) to appear or gradually appear.

The determination unit 16 is a part that determines that the user has completed the input to the input unit 13 (input of a handwritten sentence). The determination unit 16 includes, for example, an operation input unit 17 (completion button described later) for inputting an operation indicating that the user has completed the input to the input unit 13 . In the first embodiment, the determination unit 16 determines that the input has been completed, triggered by the operation input of the operation input unit 17 (completion button). The control unit 11 controls to output an effect, triggered by the determination by the determination unit 16 (in other words, the completion of the input). The operation input unit 17 (completion button) enters a state in which the operation input is validated and accepted on condition that the input to the input unit 13 is detected.

The determination by the determination unit 16 is possible without being limited to using the operation input unit 17 (complete button). In a modified example, the determination by the determination unit 16 may be based on a time condition such as elapse of a predetermined time. The control unit 11 causes an effect to be output when a predetermined time elapses regarding the input to the input unit 13 . The details of time measurement and determination may be a certain period of time from the start of the screen, a certain period of time from the detection of an input, or a continuation of a no-input state for a certain period of time.

Although the operation input unit 17 (completion button) is configured as a software button (in other words, an image) within the screen of the display panel 4 in Embodiment 1, it is possible without being limited to this. In a modification, a dedicated hardware button having the same function as the completion button may be provided outside the screen of the display panel 4 in the housing 2 of the educational toy 1 .

In the intellectual training toy 1 of Embodiment 1, the control unit 11 does not perform character recognition processing on the character image information of the characters input to the input unit 13, and determines how the character image information of the characters input to the input unit 13 is. Even with such contents, if there is at least part of the character image information, an effect is output.

In the first embodiment, the predetermined sentence is a letter from the user to the character or a sentence of conversation. The rendition includes at least one of a letter or text of dialogue, a character image, and a character voice in response from the character to the user. Particularly in Embodiment 1, the predetermined sentence is the sentence of a letter, and the presentation includes an image of a letter paper, an effect image, and a sound effect. Character image information detected by the input unit 13 (that is, a handwritten input sentence) is displayed on the image of the letter paper.

[Processing flow]
FIG. 3 shows the main processing flow of the intellectual training toy 1 of Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 has steps S301 to S309. The processor 101 (especially the control unit 11) of FIG. 2 of the intellectual education toy 1 performs such processing while reading and writing data in the memory 102. FIG.

At step S300, the processor 101 displays a menu screen as shown in FIG. The processor 101 accepts selection of an icon 7 (corresponding application) by a user's touch operation using the touch pen 3 on the menu screen. Processor 101 performs the subsequent processing when the letter application is selected.

In step S301, the processor 101 displays an opening screen (screen G1 in FIG. 5 described later) on the screen of the display panel 4. This opening screen is a guide screen for explaining the contents of the letter application to the user.

In step S302, the processor 101 causes the screen of the display panel 4 to transition from the opening screen to the question selection screen (screen G2 in FIG. 5 described later) on the screen of the display panel 4 at a predetermined opportunity. This question selection screen is a screen that presents the user with a plurality of predetermined sentences that are candidates for writing a letter.

In step S303, the processor 101 accepts selection of one sentence from a plurality of sentences by the user's touch operation with the touch pen 3 on the question selection screen.

At step S304, the processor 101 displays a handwriting input screen (screen G3 in FIG. 6 described later) on the screen of the display panel 4 in response to the selection of the one sentence. The processor 101 displays the handwritten text corresponding to the selected sentence in a light color in a predetermined area of the handwriting input screen. Before this handwriting input, the processor 101 disables a completion button, which will be described later.

In step S305, the processor 101 accepts handwriting input by the user's touch operation of the pen 3 in a predetermined area of the handwriting input screen. The display device 103 detects touch position coordinates and the like corresponding to the handwritten input in the area, and the processor 101 acquires sentence image data (character image information) corresponding to the handwritten input. Based on the acquired data, the processor 101 draws an image (points, lines, etc.) of the text corresponding to the handwritten input on the handwritten text in the region. Processor 101 activates the completion button when there is a handwritten input. In other words, the processor 101 enables the determination unit to determine that the input has been completed in response to handwritten input.

At step S306, the processor 101 detects and recognizes, in other words, determines whether or not the sentence input by the user in the area of the handwriting input screen is completed. In Embodiment 1, the processor 101 considers that the sentence has been completed when the completion button in the handwriting input screen is pressed by a touch operation (screen G5 in FIG. 7, which will be described later).

At step S307, the processor 101 displays the letter including the completed sentence on the sentence completion rendering screen (screen G6 in FIG. 7 described later) in response to the completion of the sentence.

At step S308, the processor 101 causes the screen of the display panel 4 to transition from the sentence completion effect screen to the letter transmission screen (screen G7 in FIG. 8 described later) on the screen of the display panel 4 at a predetermined opportunity. This letter transmission screen is a screen showing how a letter is transmitted from the user to the character.

In step S309, the processor 101 causes the screen of the display panel 4 to transition from the letter transmission screen to a character reply screen (screen G8 in FIG. 8 described later) on the screen of the display panel 4 at a predetermined opportunity. This reply screen is a screen showing how the character receives a letter from the user and replies to the text of the letter. The processor 101 outputs an effect determined according to the text of the letter on this screen. The presentation includes a reply sentence, and the image and voice of the character.

At step S310, the processor 101 causes the screen of the display panel 4 to transition from the reply screen to a common success screen (not shown) at a predetermined trigger. This ends the flow.

[Sentence and performance data]
FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of data of sentences and effects that are defined and set in advance. Such data is stored in advance as the effect data 53 in the memory 102 of FIG. The data example of FIG. 4 is an example of data corresponding to the part "Let's write a letter (sentence) to character A" in the letter application. As shown in the figure, this data has a plurality of candidate sentences to be selected sentences of the letter as predetermined sentences 401 in the left column. For example, there are five sentences such as sentence A1 to sentence A5. In this example, sentence A1 is "good morning", sentence A2 is "good night", sentence A3 is "how are you?", sentence A4 is "do your best", and sentence A5 is "good job". In the first embodiment, the predetermined sentence is a relatively short sentence consisting of several characters, but it can be longer and more complicated depending on the target age of the child.

The central column in this data has data of character A's reply sentence 402 associated with a predetermined sentence 401 . In this example, two reply sentences are associated with each sentence 401 and set. For example, for sentence A1, sentence B11 is prepared as "Good morning! I hope you have a good time today!" and sentence B12 is prepared as "Good morning! For sentence A2, sentence B21 "Yes, good night! Let's do our best tomorrow!" For sentence A3, sentence B31 "I'm fine! How are you?" and sentence B32 "I'm very fine!" are prepared. Similarly, sentences B41 and B42 are prepared for sentence A4. A sentence B51 and a sentence B52 are prepared for the sentence A5.

The correspondence between the predetermined sentence 401 and the reply sentence 402 is not limited to the above example, and one sentence 401 may be associated with one or more reply sentences 402 . A different number of reply sentences 402 may be prepared for each predetermined sentence 401 .

Also, as shown in the right column of this data, the character A's reply sentence 402 is set in association with character A's image and voice 402 data. For example, an image g11 and a voice s11 are prepared for sentence B11. An image g12 and a voice s12 are prepared for the sentence B12. The image g11 is an image representing a greeting like the sentence B11, and the voice s11 is the voice for uttering the sentence B11. Similarly, the image and voice of character A are prepared for each reply sentence 402 such as sentence B21, sentence B22, sentence B31, sentence B32, sentence B41, sentence B42, sentence B51, and sentence B52.

For example, when the user selects sentence A3 "How are you?" This production, which will be described later, includes production of completion of the letter including the handwritten input sentence corresponding to the selected sentence, production of the transmission of the letter, and output of the reply sentence, image and voice by the character A who received the letter. including. As the reply sentence 402 by the character A, one is selected from a plurality of reply sentence candidates of the effect data in FIG. As an example, for the sentence A3 "How are you?", sentence B31 "Yes, how are you?" is selected as one randomly selected from sentences B31 and B32. Along with the selected reply, the image and sound 403 associated therewith are also selected.

[Screen display]
5 to 8 show examples of various display screens and transitions in the letter application. Hereinafter, the screen transition will be described in order.

[Screen (1)]
In FIG. 5, screen G1 shows an example of the opening screen (in other words, guide screen) of the letter application. First, on the screen G1, for example, a character X that guides the letter application appears as an image in the background, and guides the user to the contents of the letter application (that is, practice writing sentences) with sentences, images, and voices. On the screen G1, for example, as the lines 501 of character X, "Let's write a letter to character A (Mr. 〇〇)!" 2nd page) is displayed, and the corresponding voice is output. At the same time, the screen G1 also displays an example of a predetermined sentence ("Good morning", etc.) described later on the background. Moreover, when the dialogue 501 spans a plurality of pages, transition between pages is performed by, for example, a touch operation. The background of various screens may be a predetermined wallpaper, or an image of a fictional scene or the like.

After the guide line 501 ends, the screen G1 transitions to the next screen G2 at a predetermined trigger. This trigger may be a touch operation on the screen G1, or may be the elapse of a predetermined period of time. Note that transitions between various screens are accompanied by predetermined screen effects (in other words, visual effects) or effects. For example, when transitioning from the first screen to the second screen, the first screen moves out of the display panel 4 screen while the second screen moves into the display panel 4 screen. A screen effect (fade-out/fade-in of the screen) may be used. Alternatively, a screen effect may be used in which the first screen gradually fades and disappears while the second screen appears gradually darker.

[Screen (2)]
A lower screen G2 in FIG. 5 shows an example of a question selection screen (in other words, a sentence presentation screen). On the screen G2, a plurality of predetermined sentences 502 that are candidates for the user to write in the letter are presented (in other words, displayed) as options. Also, on the screen G2, a sentence such as "Choose the word you want to write" is displayed as a guide, and the corresponding voice is output. In the screen G2, other images such as the guide character X, other characters, and scenes may be displayed.

On this screen G2, the user selects one sentence from a plurality of sentences 502 by touching the touch pen 3. Screen G1 transitions to the next screen (FIG. 6) when one sentence is selected. A selected sentence is also described as a selected sentence. An example of a selection sentence is "Are you fine?".

[Screen (3)]
In FIG. 6, a screen G3 shows a model display state as an example of a handwriting input screen. On this screen G3, in a region 601 (in other words, a writing area), handwritten text 602 for tracing is displayed according to the sentence selected on the previous screen G2. In this example, in an area 601, a handwritten text 602 for tracing is displayed in light gray with a character frame and a plurality of characters "How are you?". Also, on this screen G3, as a guide, a sentence such as "Trace it according to the manual" is displayed, and the corresponding voice is output.

The screen G3 also has a button 603 such as a pen tool. In this example, the buttons 603 include a pen tool button, an eraser button, and a "skip all" button. Initially, the Pen Tool button is automatically selected as the active state. In the pen tool valid state, the user can draw a point or line within a predetermined area 601 by a touch operation (that is, handwriting input) with the touch pen 3 . When the eraser tool is activated by a selection operation, the user can erase drawn points and lines in a predetermined area 611 by a touch operation with the touch pen 3 . When the "skip all" button is selected and operated, all the points and lines in the predetermined area 611 can be erased to return to a blank page.

On this screen G3, the user can handwrite the selection sentence "How are you?", which is a simple sentence, by handwriting with the touch pen 3 along the handwritten text 602. The user writes each character by touching the handwriting text 602 for tracing with the touch pen 3 in the region 601 of the screen G3. Since it is not detected whether or not the handwritten input characters are misaligned with respect to the characters of the handwritten text 602, even if the handwritten input characters are misaligned with respect to the characters of the handwritten text 602, it is permissible. In the example of screen G3, it is still before handwriting input, and no point or line is drawn in area 601 .

Also, in this screen G3, a completion button 604 is displayed, for example, at the bottom. The processor of the intellectual training toy 1 puts the completion button 604 in an invalid state (a state in which it cannot be touched) in a state before handwriting input such as this screen G3. Display in semi-transparent state or light color.

[Screen (4)]
A screen G4 on the lower side of FIG. 6 shows an example of a state in which the user starts handwriting input of a sentence in the area 601 of the screen G3 and is in the middle of handwriting input. The processor of the intellectual training toy 1 detects a touch input to the area 601 based on the functions of the display device 103 including the display panel 4, and based on the detection information, points and lines corresponding to the touch input position coordinates are displayed on the area 601. (corresponding character 605). Characters 605 are examples of points and lines drawn by handwriting input. In this example, the lines and dots of the character 605 are thick black. In the state of this example, the characters up to "How are you?" in the sentence "How are you doing?" are drawn. It should be noted that the color, thickness, etc. of the characters 605 may be variably set.

When a point or line begins to be drawn in the area 601, that is, when at least a portion of the point or line is drawn, the processor enables the completion button 604 (a state in which it can be pressed by touch). 604 is displayed in a non-translucent normal state or in a dark color.

[Screen (5)]
In FIG. 7, the screen G5 shows an example of the screen when a sentence is completed by handwriting input in the area 601 of the screen G4. In the example of the state of the screen G5, in the area 601, a handwritten sentence 606 "How are you?" is drawn. A case is shown in which the user presses the completion button 604 with the touch pen 3 . The processor detects pressing of the completion button 604 by the functions of the display device 103 including the display panel 4 .

When the processor detects and recognizes that the completion button 604 has been pressed, it regards this as the completion of the sentence, and acquires the data (corresponding character image information) of the sentence 606 drawn in the area 601 at that time. Here, when the completion button 604 is pressed, it is not necessary that all the characters of the selected sentence have actually been drawn by handwriting input, and the sentence may be incomplete. The processor determines that the sentence is complete even if the sentence is incomplete, that is, if at least some lines or dots are drawn in the area 601 and the completion button 604 is pressed. When a child uses the system, it is assumed that only incomplete handwritten characters can be input. Therefore, when the child, who is the user, is satisfied with the timing, the completion button 604 is pressed to complete the handwritten input. By making it possible to proceed to the subsequent performance, it is possible to suppress the decline in the child's motivation to learn, and to provoke the child's motivation to repeat the practice and learning of writing characters many times. As a modification, the completion condition may be that a predetermined amount or more of characters are written in the area 601 . When the completion button 604 is pressed, the processor transitions to the next screen G6.

As a modified example of the above, if a time condition is used instead of the completion button 604 to determine sentence completion (in other words, the end of input), it can be realized as follows, for example. For example, the processor 101 regards the sentence as completed when a certain period of time has passed since the start of the handwriting input screen G3. Alternatively, the processor 101 regards the sentence as completed when a certain period of time has passed since the input detection (in other words, touch detection) in the area 601 . Alternatively, the processor 101 regards the sentence as completed when the state of no input by touching the area 601 continues for a certain period of time.

[Screen (6)]
The lower screen G6 in FIG. 7 is a sentence completion effect screen, in other words, a letter completion effect screen. In this screen G6, the processor displays the image of the letter paper (in other words, the paper) in the area 701 that occupies most of the screen G6, superimposes it on the letter paper image, and acquires it when completing the previous screen G5. A sentence image 702 corresponding to the sentence 606 is displayed. At this time, the processor does not display elements such as the handwriting text 602 (frame lines and characters) of the previous screen G5. The processor, as a screen effect or performance when displaying this screen G6, may, for example, leave the display of the sentence 606 on the previous screen G5 as it is, while other displayed objects such as the text 602 gradually disappear. display control. At that time, as part of the sentence completion effect, the processor gradually displays the letter paper image in the area 701, displays a predetermined effect image (for example, twinkling star effect), and produces sound such as a corresponding sound effect. Control to output. From the user's point of view, the background appears to have changed to a letter (letter paper). Note that the type of letter paper image of the letter and the type of effect may be randomly determined from a plurality of candidates, or may be variably set.

The processor continues to display such a sentence completion effect screen G2 for a predetermined time or more. The user can enjoy viewing the completed letter on the screen G6. The processor terminates the screen G6 at a predetermined opportunity and transitions to the next screen (FIG. 8). This trigger is, for example, a touch operation on the screen G6 after a predetermined minimum display time has passed, or a further predetermined time has elapsed.

[Screen (7)]
In FIG. 8, screen G7 shows an example of a screen for sending a letter. The screen G7 is a screen that expresses, as part of the presentation, how the user sends the letter 801 including the sentence 702 created on the previous screen G6 to a predetermined character (assumed to be A). A part of the screen G7 displays the letter 801 created up to the previous screen (that is, the letter image including letter paper and sentences). At that time, the processor may, for example, perform display control so that the letter 801 gradually emerges from the background. Also, in another area of the screen G7, for example, an image 802 of a predetermined character Y and a line 803 are displayed, and the corresponding voice is output. Character Y is, for example, a character who delivers or receives letters. These represent that the letter 801 from the user has arrived at the character A. For example, as the dialogue of character Y, a sentence such as "Mr.

The processor terminates the screen G7 at a predetermined trigger and transitions to the next screen G8. This trigger is a touch operation in the screen G7 or the lapse of a further predetermined time after the predetermined minimum display time has elapsed. Further, when the screen G7 is changed to the screen G8, the processor controls the display of, for example, an element leaving the screen and an element newly appearing in the screen. For example, the area of the image 802 and the dialogue 803 of the character Y on the screen G7 is display-controlled so as to move from a fixed position within the screen to outside the screen. At the same time, display control is performed so that the image and words of character A on the next screen G8 are moved from outside the screen to fixed positions within the screen.

[Screen (8)]
The screen G8 on the lower side of FIG. 8 is a screen of a reply effect by the character A (in other words, receiving a letter). On this screen G8, the character A receives a letter 801 from the user and the character A replies to the text of the letter 801 from the user. On the screen G8, the previous letter 801 is similarly displayed, an image 804 of the character A and a reply 805 (speech) are displayed in a predetermined area, and a voice corresponding to the reply 805 is output. By displaying the letter 801 handwritten by the user on the same screen as the image 804 and the text of the reply 805 (speech), the user can feel that the character A has replied to the letter 801 he created. It is possible to make them have a strong desire to learn.

The reply 805 sentence is a reply sentence selected and determined according to the letter 801 sentence. As details of the decision of the reply 805 sentence, one is randomly selected from a plurality of candidate reply sentences, for example, based on predetermined data (effect data 53 in FIG. 4). A plurality of patterns of reply sentences are prepared in advance according to the sentence selected by the user. In this example, the text of the reply 805 selected in response to the text "How are you?" of the letter 801 is displayed as "Yes, how are you?"

The processor terminates the screen G8 at a predetermined trigger and transitions to the next screen, the common success screen. This trigger is a touch operation within the screen after display for a predetermined minimum time. Although not shown, the common success screen is a screen showing the end of the letter application, and is a screen with contents common to each application. After the common success screen, return to the menu screen.

[Effects, etc.]
As described above, according to the educational toy 1 of Embodiment 1, in the form of sending a letter from the child, who is the user, to the character, the child traces the given sentence presented and selected by handwriting. After inputting a sentence as writing, in response to detection/recognition of completion of the sentence (for example, pressing of a completion button), an effect such as a character's reply is output as an effect corresponding to the selected sentence. As a result, when a child practices and learns to write characters, the interest becomes higher, and the child's desire to learn can be further aroused. In particular, in the example of the effects and screens described above, as in screens G7 and G8 of FIG. 8, a letter 801 including a sentence written by the user is output together with a reply from character A, an image, and the like. As a result, the child, who is the user, can obtain a reaction including a reply from the character A based on the sentence selected and written by him/herself, which increases interest. In addition, the child, who is the user, may be able to obtain an effect including a different reply depending on the sentence he/she selects and writes, which increases interest.

[Modification]
The following are also possible as modifications to the first embodiment. In Embodiment 1, the format is a letter, but the format is not limited to this. It is also applicable to exchanges including sentences in the form of conversation between the user and the character. For example, in the form of conversation, in response to the input of a first selection sentence by the user, a first response sentence is returned from the character, in response to which the user inputs a second selection sentence, and in response , a second response may be returned from the character.

In addition, as a modification, it is also possible to exchange texts such as letters or conversations between fictional characters. For example, when character A writes and sends a letter to character B, the user writes and inputs the text of character A's letter instead.

In the first embodiment, regarding the presentation unit 12 and the input unit 13, the handwritten text 602 is displayed in the handwritten input area 601 of the screen G3 in FIG. 6, and the handwritten input text 605 is superimposed thereon. The present invention is not limited to this, and the display of the handwritten text corresponding to the selected sentence and the display of the handwritten input may be provided in separate areas in parallel within the screen.

Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Educational toy, 2... Housing, 3... Pen (touch pen), 4... Display panel, 5... Button, 6... Speaker, 7... Icon, 11... Control part, 12... Presentation part, 13... Input part, 14 Memory unit 15 Output unit 16 Determination unit 17 Operation input unit 101 Processor 102 Memory.

Claims

a presentation unit that presents a predetermined sentence;
an input unit for a user to input characters by handwriting corresponding to the predetermined sentence;
a storage unit that stores performance data including at least one of a sentence, an image, and a sound as a performance corresponding to the predetermined sentence;
an output unit that outputs the effect corresponding to the predetermined sentence;
a control unit;
with
The control unit
presenting the predetermined sentence by the presenting unit;
detecting an input to the input unit;
reading data of the effect corresponding to the predetermined sentence from the storage unit and causing the output unit to output the effect;
Educational toys.
The educational toy according to claim 1,
The input unit displays a sentence for tracing that corresponds to the predetermined sentence,
An educational toy, wherein the input unit displays the character image information superimposed on the tracing sentence while detecting the character image information of the input character.
The educational toy according to claim 1,
An educational toy, wherein the control unit displays character image information detected by the input unit when outputting at least part of the effect.
The educational toy according to claim 1,
a determination unit for determining that the user has completed input to the input unit;
The intellectual training toy, wherein the control section outputs the presentation in response to the determination by the determination section.
In the educational toy according to claim 4,
The determination unit includes an operation input unit for inputting an operation indicating that the user has completed input to the input unit,
The intellectual education toy, wherein the determination unit determines that the input is completed, triggered by the input of the operation of the operation input unit.
In the educational toy according to claim 5,
The educational toy, wherein the operation input unit enters a state of accepting the input of the operation as valid on condition that the input to the input unit is detected.
The educational toy according to claim 1,
The control unit does not perform character recognition processing on the character image information of the characters input to the input unit, and does not perform character recognition processing on the character image information of the characters input to the input unit. An educational toy for outputting the presentation when there is character image information of the part.
The educational toy according to claim 1,
The presentation unit presents a plurality of sentences as options as the predetermined sentence,
The input unit inputs characters corresponding to a sentence selected from the plurality of sentences by the user,
The storage unit stores performance data corresponding to each of the plurality of sentences,
An educational toy, wherein the control unit reads data of an effect corresponding to the sentence selected by the user from the storage unit and causes the output unit to output the effect.
The educational toy according to claim 1,
The storage unit stores data of a plurality of effects as the effects corresponding to the predetermined sentence,
An educational toy, wherein the control unit reads data of an effect selected from the plurality of effects from the storage unit and causes the output unit to output the effect according to the predetermined sentence.
In the educational toy according to claim 2,
When outputting at least part of the effect, the control unit displays or gradually displays the character image information detected by the input unit while hiding or gradually erasing the text for tracing. Educational toys that let you.
The educational toy according to claim 1,
The predetermined sentence is a letter or conversation sentence from the user to the character,
An educational toy, wherein the presentation includes at least one of a letter or a sentence of conversation, a character image, and a character voice in a response from the character to the user.
The educational toy according to claim 1,
The predetermined sentence is a sentence of a letter,
The production includes an image of the letter paper, an effect image, and a sound effect,
An educational toy in which character image information detected by the input unit is displayed on the image of the letter paper.
A program for causing an educational toy to execute information processing,
The educational toy is
a presentation unit that presents a predetermined sentence;
an input unit for a user to input characters by handwriting corresponding to the predetermined sentence;
a storage unit that stores performance data including at least one of a sentence, an image, and a sound as a performance corresponding to the predetermined sentence;
an output unit that outputs the effect corresponding to the predetermined sentence;
a control unit;
with
The presentation unit presents the predetermined sentence to the control unit, detects an input to the input unit, reads the performance data corresponding to the predetermined sentence from the storage unit, and outputs the data to the output unit. to output the performance,
program.