Abstract:
A method of reading using a reading aid ( 12 ) including a handle part ( 14 ) which is adapted to be gripped manually at a location spaced from text to be read, and a cursor part ( 15 ) attached to the handle part ( 14 ) and extending transversely thereto, handle part ( 14 ) and the cursor part ( 15 ) being attached by a joint ( 18 ) which permits the handle part ( 14 ) to be moved relative to the cursor part ( 15 ) during reading, the cursor part ( 15 ) being positionable by manipulating the handle part ( 14 ) to indicate a part of a line of the text being read, the method including moving the cursor part ( 15 ) along the line and/or down the text during reading to indicate successive words or groups of words, whilst manipulating the handle part ( 14 ) relative to the cursor part ( 15 ) so that the handle part ( 14 ) is maintained out of the reader&#39;s line of sight whilst the cursor part ( 15 ) is maintained generally flat against the text.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a device which may be used for aiding poor readers to improve their reading ability, and to enable competent readers too, to improve their reading ability. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The amount of printed matter is ever increasing, as is the requirement to read text on a computer screen accurately and efficiently. There are two elements to efficient reading namely reading speed, and comprehension of what is being read. 
   When reading, a reader&#39;s eyes move relative to stationary text. The reader&#39;s eyes do not move smoothly along the text, but rather perform a series of jerky movements consisting of jumps and stops. It is during the stops that information is taken into the brain. During reading, words tend not to be read one word at a time, but as a group of words along a line. 
   In the case of a poor reader, the jumps and stops do not flow along the lines of text, but sometimes backtrack and back skip. A backtrack is when the eyes jump backwards to what has been read, and a back skip is when the eyes jump backwards more than just the last group of read words. The back skip can be along a line, over several lines, or even may be a paragraph of the text. 
   In the case of a good reader though, the eyes are trained to move with longer jumps and hence there are less stops, for there are shorter pauses for the stops, and less or no backtracking or back skipping. Such eye movements enable information to be more smoothly conveyed to the brain, such improved presentation enables improved comprehension of the text being read. 
   It is common practice for a reader to use a pointer whilst reading, the pointer pointing to individual words as they are read. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to a first aspect of the invention I provide a method of reading using a reading aid including a handle part which is adapted to be gripped manually at a location spaced from text to be read, and a cursor part attached to the handle part and extending transversely thereto, the handle part and the cursor part being attached by a joint which permits the handle part to be moved relative to the cursor part during reading, the cursor part being positionable by manipulating the handle part to indicate a part of a line of the text being read, the method including moving the cursor part along the line and/or down the text during reading to indicate successive words or groups of words, whilst manipulating the handle part relative to the cursor part so that the handle part is maintained out of the reader&#39;s line of sight whilst the cursor part is maintained generally flat against the text. 
   Thus by performing the method of the invention, a reader may be trained to read without backtracking and back skipping, and by moving the cursor part appropriately relative to the text, reading speed and comprehension may be improved. 
   Preferably the handle part is thin so that the handle part does not obscure the text being read. The handle part and the cursor part may be attached by a joint which permits the handle part to be moved universally relative to the cursor part during reading. Alternatively, the handle part and the cursor part may be attached by a joint that permits substantially universal movement of the handle part with respect to the cursor part, but restricts rotation of the handle about a longitudinal axis of the handle part. 
   The handle part may be attached approximately centrally along the length of the cursor part. Hence the reader&#39;s eyes are encouraged to concentrate on the centre of the text being read. 
   The method may be applied to the reading of any text, including the reading of text from computer screens. However the invention is particularly useful for reading columns in newspapers and magazines, in which case the cursor part may be of a length substantially equal to the width of the columns being read. Thus a reader may be encouraged to read a group of words consisting of the entire line of the column. 
   Alternatively, the cursor part may have a length of greater than two words of average length of text. 
   It will be appreciated, however, that for readers of different ability, and/or for reading different text, ideal cursor part lengths may differ. Accordingly in a preferred embodiment, the reading aid may have separable handle and cursor parts, and may be made of a cursor part selected from a set of cursor parts of different configuration, by attaching the selected cursor part to the handle part. 
   In each case, the cursor part of the reading aid may be opaque in which case the cursor part is, during performance of the method, positioned beneath or above the word or groups of words to be indicated, or a portion of the cursor part may be transparent so that the method may include positioning the cursor part relative to the text such that at least a portion of the line of text to be indicated is visible to the reader through the transparent portion. In yet another arrangement, the cursor part may include a frame through which text may be read. 
   The method may include adjusting the length of the handle part to suit an individual reader and/or to enable the length of the handle part to be extended from a retracted stowed position for use. The method may include unfolding the cursor part from a stowed position in which the cursor part and handle part are substantially parallel, to a position for use where the cursor part extends at substantially right angles relative to the handle part. 
   The cursor part may be a unitary structure, or may include a pair of relatively foldable wings which may be folded so as to extend generally parallel to the handle part. 
   The cursor part may be configured to form an image that may be appealing to children. 
   According to a second aspect of the invention I provide a reading aid for use in the method of the first aspect of the invention. 
   The aid may include a writing implement such as a highlighter, integrally provided with the handle part. For example, a writing point may be provided at an end of the handle part remote from the cursor part, or the handle part may include a main stem and a branch including the writing implement. 
   According to a third aspect of the invention, I provide a reading aid including a cursor part and a handle part, the cursor part being attached to the handle part by a joint, the joint being configured to permit substantially universal movement of the handle part with respect to the cursor part, about a longitudinal axis of the handle part. 
   According to a fourth aspect of the invention, I provide a reading aid including a cursor part and a handle part, the cursor part being configured to form an image which may be attractive to children. 
   According to a fifth aspect of the invention I provide a computer when programmed to aid reading or to train a reader, there being means to display on a display screen of the computer concurrently with displaying on the display screen text to be read, a cursor, the computer being programmed to position the cursor to indicate a word or group of words of the line of the text being read and to move the cursor along the line during reading successively to indicate groups of words. 
   Preferably the computer is programmed so that the speed at which the cursor is moved along the line of text and/or the number of words indicated may be changed as a reader&#39;s ability improves. 
   The computer may be programmed to move the cursor relative to the text being read in a predetermined path over the text as a whole in such manner as to improve the speed of the reading. 
   Although the cursor may simply indicate the word or group of words, for example by underlining, or emboldening the group of words, the cursor may frame the word or group of words. 
   In one arrangement text which is framed may be enlarged compared within the remaining text. This is particularly useful when reading small font text e.g. in cells in spreadsheets. 
   The cursor may form an image which may be attractive to children. 
   According to a sixth aspect of the invention, we provide a method of operating a computer according to the fifth aspect of the invention including the steps of moving a cursor relative to text to be read on a display screen, successfully to indicate words or groups of words of a line of text to be read. 
   The method of the sixth aspect of the invention may include changing the size and/or shape and/or colour of the cursor to suit different reader&#39;s abilities and/or the nature of the text being read. 
   According to a seventh aspect of the invention we provide a method of assessing reading ability including the steps of displaying on a computer display screen concurrently with text to be read, a cursor, manually moving the cursor relative to the text to indicate lengths of the text sequentially being read, and analysing from the speed and sequence of cursor movements, reading ability. 
   The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a reading aid of the second aspect of the invention in use. 
       FIGS. 2 to 11  show various embodiments of reading aids for use in the method of the first aspect of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown a page  10  of text to be read, the text consisting of individual words arranged in lines down the page  10 . The page may be a page of text of a printed publication such as a newspaper, magazine or book, or text on a computer screen. 
   To promote efficient reading, a reading aid  12  is used, the reading aid  12  including a handle part  14  which is long and thin and in this embodiment is of fixed length, and a cursor part  15  attached to the handle part  14  by means of a joint  18 . In this example, the handle part  14  is joined to the cursor part  15 , with the cursor part  15  extending generally normally relative to the handle part  14  and being positionable by manipulating the handle part  14  to indicate a part of a line of the text being read. Also in this example, the cursor part  15  extends for a length greater than two words of average length of the text, however, the length of the cursor part  15  may be greater or smaller than this. 
   The method of the invention is performed by a reader grasping the handle part  14  at a position spaced from the text  10 , and with the cursor part  15  positioned beneath or above a line of the text to indicate a word or group of words, as the reader reads, the cursor part  15  is moved along the line of text and down the text by manipulating the handle part  14  and the joint  18 , so that the reader&#39;s eyes are deterred from backtracking or back skipping, and are encouraged to move in regular jumps or continuously alone the line of text, in one direction. 
   In the remaining figures, different embodiments of reading aid  12  are illustrated, and similar parts to the reading aid  12  of  FIG. 1  are indicated by the same reference numerals. 
   In  FIG. 2 , the cursor pail  15  is attached to the handle part  14  by a joint  18  which permits of generally universal movement of the cursor part  15  relative to the handle pail  14  so that the handle part  14  may be maintained out of a reader&#39;s line of sight of the words indicated by the cursor part  15  during reading, particularly as the cursor part  15  is moved down the text. In  FIG. 3 , one example of a suitable universal joint  18  is shown, in which the cursor part  15  has secured thereto a ball formation  19 , and the handle part  14  has an internal longitudinal part  21  terminating in a cup  22 . The cup  22  and ball formation  19  may be brought into tight engagement by moving the internal part  21  longitudinally relative to an outer handle part  25 , in the direction of the arrow A. This may be achieved by a screw connection between the internal part  21  and the outer handle part  25 , or by interengaging ratchets or otherwise. 
   Thus by tightening the engagement of the ball formation  19  and the cup  22 , the position of the cursor part  15  may be releasably fixed to the handle part  14 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a similar but opposite arrangement in which the cup  22  is provided on the cursor part  15  and a ball formation  19  is provided at the end of an internal part  21  of the handle part  14 . 
     FIG. 5  shows an alternative arrangement in which an internal part  21  of the handle part  14  terminates in a plurality of jaws  26  which may be closed about a ball configuration part  19  of the cursor part  15 , e.g. by actuating by rotation or longitudinal movement, an actuator within the internal part  21  of the handle part  14 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a universal joint arrangement  18  in which the handle part  14  has an integral ball formation  19  and the cursor part  15  has a recess formation  30 , the ball  19  and recess  30  formations being snap interengageable. 
   In the embodiments so far described with reference particularly to  FIGS. 5 to 6 , because the cursor part  15  and handle part  14  are separable it will be appreciated that by providing a set of cursor parts  15  of different dimension (lengths) and configuration, a reading aid  12  suitable for a particular reader may be made up, or a reading aid  12  suitable for aiding reading of particular text, such as a column of a newspaper, in which case a cursor part  15  of a width corresponding to the width of the column may be selected. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates an arrangement in which the cursor part  15  is not separable from the handle part  14 , but the cursor part  15  includes a pair of wings  33  which may be folded from an outwardly extending condition for use, to the folded condition shown in which the wings  33  extend generally parallel to the handle part  14 . In this embodiment, at an end of the handle part  14  remote from the cursor part  15 , there is provided a writing point  34  of a writing implement such as a highlighter which is integrally provided within the handle part  14 . 
   In  FIG. 8 , an alternative arrangement for including a writing implement is illustrated. In this arrangement, the handle part  14  has a main stem  35  which is grasped by a reader during reading, and a branch  36  which includes a writing implement  37  such as a highlighter with a writing point  34 . In the embodiment illustrated, the branch is pivotal relative to the main stem  35  about a pivot B so that the writing implement  37  may be folded alongside the main stem  35 , or into a recess of the stem  35  when not in use, or pivoted outwardly for use. In another arrangement the writing implement  37  may be provided in the main stem  35  and the cursor part  15  on the branch  36 . Such latter arrangement enables a user to exercise more control over the use of the writing implement  37  than where the writing implement  37  is provided on the branch  36 . In each case, instead of being pivoted, the branch  36  and main stem  35  may be relatively fixed. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the cursor part  15  is connected to the handle part  14  by means of a joint  18  which would be universal, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , were it not for the provision of a restraining part  38 , which restricts rotation of the handle part  14  about a longitudinal axis A of the handle part  14 . By virtue of the restraining part  38 , the user may more easily maintain the cursor parallel to lines of text when moving the reading aid  12  over a page. 
   The restraining part  38  is wire bent into a generally semi-circular configuration, which extends through an aperture  39  provided in the handle part  14 . The restraining part  38  is pivotally connected to the cursor part  15 , at a first  40  and second  41  end, by two attachment means  42 ,  43 . 
   In order to engage with the attachment means  42 ,  43 , the ends  40 ,  41  of the restraining part  38  may be bent radially outwardly of the semi-circle formed by remainder of the restraining means  38 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , or may be bent radially inwardly of the semi-circle, as shown in  FIG. 10 . The universal joint  18  is located generally centrally between the two attachment means  42 ,  43 , and generally at the centre of the semi-circle formed by the restraining part  38 . 
   The attachment means  42 ,  43  are oriented with respect to the cursor part  15  such that the restraining part  38  may pivot about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cursor part is. The clearance between the handle part  15  and the restraining part  38  provided by the aperture  39  allows movement of the restraining part  38  within the aperture  39 , and therefore allows pivoting of the handle part  14  about the universal joint  18  with respect to the restraining part  38 . Thus, the restraining part  38  acts only to restrict rotation of the handle part  14  relative to the cursor part  15  about its longitudinal axis A. 
   In  FIG. 11 , an alternative configuration of cursor part  15  is illustrated. In this embodiment the reading aid  12  is intended for use by a child, and the cursor part  15  is configured to resemble a paw print of a bear. The cursor part  15  may be configured to form any other image that may be popular with children, for examples, an animal, a cartoon character, or a football player. Such a cursor part configured to form a popular image may be used in any of the above embodiments of the invention. 
   If desired, a method of assisting reading may be performed on a computer by concurrently displaying with text on a display screen, a cursor to indicate a group of words in a line of text to be read. In such an arrangement, the cursor displayed may have a length greater than two words of average length of the text, but could also be shorter than this. The computer may be arranged to move the cursor relative to the text, or the cursor may be moved under the control of a reader. If desired, the speed of movement of the cursor relative to the text may be voice controlled, where the reader is reading out loud, or controlled using a pointing device such as a mouse. 
   The computer when in control, may move the cursor at an optimum speed for the reader&#39;s ability, and the speed may be changed as the reader&#39;s ability improves. 
   Thus the computer may be arranged to assess the reader&#39;s ability by the reader controlling the cursor movement during an assessment, either using a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball or the like, or by voice actuated control, and the computer being programmed to analyse the cursor speed and movement to determine the reader&#39;s ability. 
   The computer may be programmed to train the reader&#39;s eye movements, by increasing the speed of cursor movement as the reader&#39;s ability improves, and/or by moving the cursor over the whole text in a predetermined pattern designed to improve reading speed. 
   The size and configuration of the cursor may be changeable. In one arrangement, the cursor may simply underline the group of words being read at any instant. In a preferred arrangement, the cursor frames the word or group of words. If desired the text of the framed word or group of words may be highlighted by emboldening, enlarging or otherwise. 
   If desired, in highlighting a word or group of words, otherwise hidden text may be revealed. 
   These latter features are particularly helpful for use in reading text in cells of a spreadsheet. 
   The cursor may form an image which may appeal to children. 
   The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.