Identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests through gaming data analytics

Personal characteristic may be identified by receiving, at a server, game data indicative of a plurality of games, determining a first comparative game performance associated with a first game of the plurality of games, deriving a personal character from the first comparative game performance, and providing an indication of the personal characteristic. Each game of the plurality of games is designed to assess at least one personal characteristic. The personal characteristics may comprise abilities, skills, and/or interests. The first comparative game performance is determined, for example, based on the game data and comparative game information that is indicative of a comparison between game performance associated with the first game and respective game performance associated with at least one other game of the plurality of games.

BACKGROUND

Grades, standardized test scores, years of extracurricular activities, and dinner conversations at home help guide many children and their families in the transition to adulthood. These most basic guideposts, however, often are unreliable or missing altogether for parents of autistic children or those with special needs. The absence of these critical tools often lead to less than ideal postsecondary educational/vocational pursuits, under- or unemployment, and housing and transportation challenges later in life.

SUMMARY

Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests by analyzing how people make decisions and reacts while playing games. For example, a server receives game data indicative of a plurality of games that are designed to assess at least one personal characteristic. The at least one personal characteristic may include at least one of human abilities, cognitive skills, or career interests. Upon receiving the game data, the server may determine a first comparative game performance associated with a first game of the plurality of games. The first comparative game performance is determined, for example, based on the game data and comparative game information. The comparative game information is indicative of a comparison between game performance associated with the first game and respective game performance associated with at least one other game of the plurality of games. Upon determining the first comparative game performance, the server may derive a personal character from the first comparative game performance and provide an indication of the personal characteristic.

By using games and technology, systems and method for identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests may provide a directional sense of an individual's cognitive, social, and communicative strengths and weaknesses in a way that might previously have only been found by “accident.”

The identification of an individual's abilities, skills and interests presented herein can build on three time tested frameworks: Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences; George McCloskey's work on Executive Functions (EFs); and John Holland's work on career interests. Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences work outlines the comprehensive set of human abilities. George McCloskey's work on Executive Functions (EFs) describes the set of cognitive skills that work together to help a person learn and “produce” outputs and achieve goals. John Holland's work on career interests helps people explore careers based on how they like to spend their time.

A set of games can be provided for children and adults who love to play. The games themselves can be designed to collect data on how the player reacts, answers questions, makes decisions, etc. The more games are played by a person, the more information about their abilities and executive function skills can be gathered.

The games can be complemented with observations provided by parents (and educators, therapists, etc. invited by the parents) to compile a 360° view of an individual. For example, parents/professionals can complete the McCloskey Executive Function Survey (MEFS) and Autism Speaks' Community-based Skills Assessment (CSA) to provide additional information on an individual. This integration of observations from the people who work most closely with the individual with the data from the games can provide valuable insights into areas of agreement and possible disconnects. This may serve to highlight areas of strengths and developmental needs for an individual.

All the data from games and surveys can be analyzed and displayed on “dashboards” and reports on individual's Gardner intelligences, EFs, and career interests. By combining an understanding of an individual's ability with an understanding of their personal interests and ambitions in the reports, an individual's strengths and interests can be displayed to support the exploration of fulfilling educational and vocational options for each individual. Parents can choose to share these reports with other professionals and educators working with the child.

An artificial intelligence platform can be used to identify each individual's abilities, skills, or interests. The artificial intelligence platform can be a human avatar to interact with users. The human avatar can make use of speech recognition and conversational context. The artificial intelligence can guide players through website and games, answer questions, and present the results to players and parents in an intuitive and easy-to-understand manner. The artificial intelligence can be trained to ask questions the way an expert psychologist working with individual clients engages in conversation to build EF skills.

An individual's abilities, skills and interests can be identified by analyzing the data of how individuals make decisions and react while playing games. The results from these analyses may offer parents some directional sense of where to explore further to build on areas of strengths and decide on a course of action for areas of weakness. Over time, the artificial intelligence platform can be “trained” to hold one-on-one conversations the way a psychologist converses with clients to build EF skills. Based on the results, individuals and families can identify abilities, skills and interests for the pursuit of fulfilling futures for each individual.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Autism is one of the biggest childhood epidemics of our time, and up to 1 million individuals on the autism spectrum will transition to adulthood in the coming decade. Specifically, 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys) identified with autism spectrum disorder (CDC, May 2014) and the rate is higher than all non-routine childhood diseases (e.g., juvenile diabetes, children cancers, etc.) combined. It is expected that up to 1 million autistic teenagers will become adults in the US between now and 2030. Moreover, approximately 65% to 80% of autistic adults currently unemployed in the US. Those who are employed work fewer hours and earn less than adults with other disabilities. Many autistic adults do not have independent housing and require parental support.

The London School of Economics reports that autism is the costliest condition in the UK, costing more than heart disease, cancer, and strokes combined. In the US, in 2010 there were one million members of the population with ASD, with 80% of those being people under 19 years of age. The total is expected to grow to 1.7 million by 2020, 2.7 million in 2030, and 5.8 million by 2050. In 2010, in the US cost an estimated 0.2% of GDP, and is expected to grow to 0.3% by 2020, 0.5% by 2030, and 0.7% by 2050.

Thus, unless new tools are created to help these individuals pursue productive lives, they will likely be a drain on society for decades to come.

Parents of typical children may have school grades, standardized test scores, years of extracurricular activities and dinner conversations to help guide the transition to adulthood. School grades and standardized test scores, for example, SAT, ACT, professional interest batteries, etc., may help parent assess their children's ability on dimensions of interest to schools and colleges. Years of extracurricular activities such as dance and sports and dinner conversations may be used as a gauge of interest and ability in area not assessed by pen-and-pencil.

However, these most basic guideposts often are unreliable or missing altogether for parents of autistic children. Autistic teenagers may not do well with grades and test scores. Autistic teenagers may not communicate well. They may have strengths in areas not assessed through traditional means that remain hidden through lack of vehicle for expression. Thus the critical tool for planning is missing for many autistic families, leading to less than ideal post-secondary educational/vocational pursuits, under-employment/unemployment, and housing & transportation challenges later in life.

In an embodiment, the systems and methods of identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests can provide a directional understanding of their autistic child's underlying abilities, executive function skills, and interests. Understanding abilities and interests can be the first step in helping a child pursue post-secondary educational/vocational plans. Specifically, it may help parents identify where their children reach current limits (“hit the wall”) on a host of abilities and skills, especially those not traditionally assessed by schools and standardized tests. Moreover, it may help the children build skills where research has shown possible, especially with “Executive Function”.

In an embodiment, the systems and methods of identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests may use 3 time-tested frameworks to identify the characteristics. The 3 time-tested frameworks may include: Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences work; Executive Function; and John Holland's work on career interests.

Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences work outlines the comprehensive set of human abilities. Abilities assessed by traditional tests are linguistic, logic, and mathematics. Other abilities missed by traditional assessment tools are spatial, bodily, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal.

Multiple Intelligences is a theory of intelligence that differentiates it into specific (primarily sensory) “modalities”, rather than seeing intelligence as dominated by a single general ability. Psychologists historically believed that intelligence can be measured and represented by a single factor such as an IQ score. Multiple Intelligences is a different concept advanced by Professor Howard Gardner from the Harvard Graduate School of Education over 30 years ago. Multiple Intelligence suggests that there is not a single intelligence, but 8 different intelligences: 1) Verbal-linguistics; 2) Logical-mathematical; 3) Visual-spatial; 4) Musical; 5) Bodily-kinesthetic; 6) Interpersonal; 7) Intrapersonal; and 8) Naturalistic. Professor Gardner believes that each individual possesses a unique blend of all 8 intelligences. Those 8 intelligences are further described inFIG. 30.

Executive Function describes the set of cognitive skills that work together to help a person learn and “produce” of outputs and achieve goals. Among others, these skills may include “Self Regulation” functions governing a person's ability to pay attention, engage, remember, ask questions, and use efficiency and optimization to develop solutions, “Self-Realization” and “Self-Determination” functions that enables a person to effectively interact with others and create own long-term plans and goals. When executive function skills break down, behavior becomes poorly controlled thereby limiting the person's ability to go to school or work.

Executive Functions (EFs) are a set of mental processes responsible for directing a person's perceptions, emotions, cognition, and actions. Effective coordination and control of EFs allows one to take in and process information, plan actions and execute on those plans. Conversely, ineffective mastery of EFs results in behaviors that lead to difficulties in school and work environments. According to Dr. George McCloskey, creator of the “Holarchical Model of Executive Functions”, there are five different levels of executive control. Referring toFIG. 31, in Self-Regulation level, the HMEF specifies 33 separate EF skills. About 15 of these Self-Regulation EF skills may be assessed through games as described inFIG. 32.

John Holland's work on career interests helps people explore careers based on how they like to spend their time. Professor John Holland from Johns Hopkins University developed a typology of career preferences over years of research on the topic. The Holland occupational preference typology is commonly referred to using the acronym for the various types in Holland's model—RIASEC. Holland suggested that peoples' preferences fit into one or more categories: realistic (doers), investigative (thinkers), artistic (creators), social (helpers), enterprising (persuaders) and conventional (organizers). These six categories describe a preference for particular work-related environments. Implicit in the theory is the concept that a person's career should reflect a person's preferences in order for that person to find fulfillment in his or her chosen career. For example, an “outdoor person” will not enjoy sitting in an office cubicle environment all day. Holland's RIASEC typology helps to highlight for people what types of work environments they may find the most interesting, and this typology has wide acceptance among career counseling professionals over the past many decades. RIASEC and the Holland codes are further described inFIG. 33.

In an embodiment, the systems and methods of identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests may combine an understanding of a person's ability (Gardner's abilities and Executive Function skills) with an understanding interests described by Holland, thereby enabling the pursuit of educational/vocational options consistent with each individual's profile.

FIG. 1is a system diagram illustrating an overview of example system of identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. For example, a server20comprises a processor and memory. The memory coupled to the processor may comprise at least one executable instruction that when executed by the processor causes the processor to effectuate operations comprising receiving game data indicative of a plurality of games, determining a first comparative game performance associated with a first game of the plurality of games, deriving a personal character from the first comparative game performance, and providing an indication of the personal characteristic.

Each game of the plurality of games is designed to assess at least one personal characteristic such as human abilities, cognitive skills, and career interests. As shown inFIG. 1, each game of the plurality of games may be implemented in a mobile communication device12, tablet14, computer16, and multimedia console game18to assess the an individual's abilities, skills and interests. Each game may transmit the game data to a server20over wireless and/or wired network. The first comparative game performance is determined, for example, based on the game data and comparative game information. The comparative game information may indicate a comparison between game performance associated with the first game and respective game performance associated with at least one other game of the plurality of games.

FIG. 2illustrates an example flow for identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. For example, at step30, game data indicative of a plurality of games is received at a server from each game of the plurality of games designed to assess at least one personal characteristic. The personal characteristics may comprise an individual's abilities, skills, and/or interests. Upon receiving the game data, a first comparative game performance associated with a first game of the plurality of games may be determined by the server at step32. The first comparative game performance is determined, for example, based on the game data and comparative game information. The comparative game information may indicate a comparison between game performance associated with the first game and respective game performance associated with at least one other game of the plurality of games. At step34, a personal character from the first comparative game performance may be derived and at step36, an indication of the personal characteristic may be provided by the server.

In an embodiment, players may play games on PCs, mobile phones, tablets, or multimedia console games. Those games can be designed to assess some aspects of Gardner's Multiple Intelligence through focus of games: linguistics, logic-arithmetic, spatial, music. There is no defined way of measuring multiple intelligences similar to an IQ test. A directional understanding of a person's abilities, skills and interests not an “MI score” can be provided. This understanding can be obtained through games that get increasingly difficult and thus require special skills/intelligence in a particular area to advance to the highest levels. By analyzing the data on how a player reacts to the challenges posed, a sense of how a player compares to others who have played that game can be obtained. If a player is among the top 10% of all players, chances are this could be an area of strength.

The games may accurately capture multiple intelligences. Some intelligence, for example, logic, math, visual, and spatial, can lend themselves better to being evaluated by games than others. Additional games may be created to assess interpersonal skills while developing/integrating new technologies to use Xbox Kinect to assess bodily-kinesthetic abilities.

The games can be designed to assess Executive Functions, focusing on the 33 Self-Regulation functions and moving to Self-Realization and Self-Determination. Executive Functions is traditionally measured through direct observation by trained psychologists and professionals. Dr. McCloskey advanced the field by creating the McCloskey Executive Function Scale (MEFS). The MEFS can be completed by parents, educators, other professionals, and the individual himself/herself if able to provide a 360° view of a person. In addition to direct observations through the MEFS, the games can also provide a profile of a player on some of the EF skills that can be detected using games.

It is believed that effective Executive Function is critical in both the classroom and the workplace. Effective mastery of EF skills may allow a person to pay attention, engage, optimize his/her plans to achieve efficiency, and generate/execute solutions. These are skills that enable success in both the classroom and the workplace.

The games can be designed to assess Holland interest battery through interactive version of the Career Interest Survey. In assessing the RIASEC, the traditional RIASEC word-based survey is not likely used because a significant portion of individuals with autism, dyslexia, etc. has difficulties using these tools. Instead, image-based career interest assessment tool can be used to assess the career interest. The image-based career interest assessment tool may ask participants to choose between pairs of careers that are presented using text, images, and voice. This multi-media presentation of the RIASEC types can maximize the likelihood that the test taker truly understands each item. Using the science of discrete choice analysis, the most preferred work environments can be inferred more effectively than more conventional approaches. The career interest assessment to identify an individual's primary work interests can be used. This information, in turn, can be used to identify possible careers the individual may find fulfilling.

In an embodiment, the games requiring bodily movement can be designed to assess aspects of body-kinesthetic. For example, the games using Xbox Kinect motion detector assess the aspects of bodily-kinesthetic. In another embodiment, the games can be designed to remotely assess the individual's abilities, skills and interests described above using video conferencing tools such as Skype. In addition, the games can also be designed to perform in-person assessments at centers around the country or world.

FIG. 3illustrates a top-level process flow of a website to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 3, a user who enters the website that implements the systems and methods to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests may register his account, play games, receive information about Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences work, Executive Function, and John Holland's work on career interests, and review the results for completed games through dashboard.

FIG. 4A-Eillustrates various account registration flows of a website to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. The website may have different registration algorithms based on the users' age.FIG. 4Aillustrates an account registration flow for children who are 12 or under 12 years old.FIG. 4Billustrates an account registration flow for children between 13 and 17 years old.FIG. 4Cillustrates an account registration flow for children or adults over 18 years old.FIG. 4Dillustrates an account registration flow for parents.FIG. 4Eillustrates an account registration flow for educators.

In an embodiment, registration can be free and required to enable users to have complete access to all levels in the games. A subscription can be required to access the parents' reports on the child's abilities, skills, and interests. These reports may provide invaluable insights that help parents explore areas of strengths and plan for productive futures for their child.

FIG. 5illustrates a data collection flow of a game that is designed to assess an individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. When a user plays a game, game data is stored to database using application programing interface (API). The game data can be transmitted to a cloud server over the wired/wireless network. Examples of data elements collected for each level and round by various games are:Date/time stampLevel NumberLevel Successfully Completed (Yes/No)?ScoreAmount of time availableAmount of time used% of available time usedNumber of cars in lotTheoretical minimum # moves# Moves takenNumber of mirrors usedTheoretical minimum mirrors neededHint mode was used (Yes/No)# word possible# words correct# words missedNumber of squares on gridWas Incorrect click on a Number or Empty SpaceHigh number in sequence to be remembered# hidden eggs# eggs found# wrong clicks# times hint was used# Correct answers# Wrong answers# children in level# adults in level# elderly in level# problems shown in levelNumber of Incorrect MatchesMax umber of Spaces between numbersTotal # of balls presented in Line# Balls fired# Times User clicked on correct ball to complete Match# of Times user fired to group same numbers for bonus pointsHow many balls not cleared at end# Unique Items shownNumber of Duplicated Items shownNumber of Non-Clicked Duplicated Items# of correct clicks# of incorrect clicks# of Shapes Shown# shapes used# shapes discarded# shapes untouched# of RotationsTotal # of Cubes# of Visible Cubes# of Hidden Cubes# of wrong answers# of Seesaws# of Weights In Problem# incorrect answers# Images to compare# Differences to find# wrong clicks# of Hints UsedMatrix size# of rotationsTotal number of clicks# of BulbsTotal # of ClicksTheoretical minimum number of clicks to complete# Resets

FIG. 6illustrates an example flow of generating comparative game information according to an embodiment. The comparative game information may indicate how the player plays in comparison to other players in the games. The comparative game information may have a format of benchmarking tables.

Referring toFIG. 6, the process for preparing benchmarking tables may go through all the players who have played the various games to create benchmark table. The benchmark table can help determine the scores and/or performance level required to be at the 99thpercentile, 98thpercentile, etc. As shown inFIG. 6, the Ability Area can be Logic, Math, Music, Attention, Focus, etc. The filters may provide the ability to look at all players or select the comparison set based on (among other possibilities): gender, age, clinical diagnosis, etc. In an embodiment, a batch process can be initiated periodically, for example, hourly, every x hours, or daily. The periods for the batch process may be predetermined.

FIG. 7illustrates an example flow of determining a player's performance according to an embodiment. As described inFIG. 6, once the benchmark tables have been calculated, the process for determining player's levels can be used to determine how each player in the database stands in comparison to all other players using data from the games that the player has played. InFIG. 7, the Ability Area can be Logic, Math, Music, Attention, Focus, etc. The filters may provide the ability to look at all players or select the comparison set based on (among other possibilities): gender, age, clinical diagnosis, etc. In an embodiment, a batch process can be initiated periodically, for example, hourly, every x hours, or daily. The periods for the batch process may be predetermined.

FIG. 8illustrates an example flow of reporting a player's relative performance on dashboard according to an embodiment. Once a player's relative performance to other players' performance in various filter groups have been determined, the resulting data can be shown to parents and other authorized adults using dashboard. InFIG. 8, the Filters may provide the ability to look at all players or select the comparison set based on (among other possibilities): gender, age, clinical diagnosis, etc. The Ability Area can also be Logic, Math, Music, Attention, Focus, etc.

FIG. 9illustrates another example flow of reporting a player's relative performance according to an embodiment. As described inFIG. 8, once a player's relative performance to other players' performance in various filter groups has been determined, the resulting data can be shown to parents and other authorized adults using dashboard. InFIG. 9, the Filters may provide the ability to look at all players or select the comparison set based on (among other possibilities): gender, age, clinical diagnosis, etc. The Ability Area can also be Logic, Math, Music, Attention, Focus, etc.

In an embodiment, game results and reports can be sent to parents and/or professionals who subscribe to the service. The authorized parents and/or professional can view reports on an individual through the website. Parents (or subscribing educator/professionals) may have the option of sending the reports to others with the parent's discretion.

FIG. 10is a screenshot of an example website to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests when a user enters the website according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, the website may include an avatar as a user interface for an artificial intelligence engine. The avatar may use artificial intelligence, natural langue, and speech recognition to engage users. The avatar can be used across multiple channels and mobile devices. The avatar may listen and respond to user's question. The avatar may also coach, educate, monitor, and remind users.

For example, the avatar may provide users information about autism, ADHD, dyslexia, other medical conditions. The avatar may also provide information about multiple intelligences, executive function, and job/career interests. The avatar may answer questions that users asks about autism, ADHD, dyslexia, other medical conditions, multiple intelligences, executive function, and job/career interests. The avatar may suggest games that a user should play. The avatar may ask players to choose between job choices. The sounds of the avatar may be implemented with a recording of a real person. The avatar can be a cartoon. The avatar can be a verbally generated personification of text.

FIG. 11is a screenshot of an example website to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests when a user selects play games according to an embodiment.

In an embodiment, games can be casual games that children, teens and adults find interesting to play on their mobile phones, PCs, or tablets. These games can be designed to provide insights into three important areas: a person's multiple intelligences, Executive Functions, and career interests. Duration of a game can vary widely, ranging from a few minutes to tens of minutes. This may depend on a player's abilities to advance and interest in continuing. The game may give a player the choice to stop or continue.

In another embodiment, games can be designed to be intuitive and require no supervision. Since they examine a person's abilities, parents/adults do not help an individual play (except if the person has motor challenges and can benefit from motor support). Although the games are designed for autistic teenagers, it can be played by anyone—at any age and regardless of clinical diagnoses.

FIG. 12is a screenshot of an example website to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests when a user selects an informational page to learn the individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 12, the informational page may explain details of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, George McCloskey's work on Executive Functions (EFs), and John Holland's work on career interests.

FIG. 13is a screenshot of an example website to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests when a user selects a dashboard page to review the results according to an embodiment. The dashboard page may include analysis of individual's Gardner intelligences, EFs, and career interests based on the game data transmitted from games.

FIG. 14is another screenshot of an example website to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests when a user selects a deep dive page to further review the results according to an embodiment. The dashboard page may display detailed analysis for one of the individual's Gardner intelligences, EFs, and career interests.

FIG. 15is a system diagram illustrating an overview of example web system to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. The system to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests may comprise report engine, game data collection, registration/subscription data collection, data warehouse, content database, data extraction and data mining process.

FIG. 16is an example flow diagram illustrating that a registered user plays a game on a website to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. In this example embodiment, a registered child age of 13 may return to the site to play game such as Word Grid. For example, the child logs into the website and authentication is performed to check whether the child is an authorized user. Once the child is authenticated, the child is greeted by a human avatar on the home page. If the child selects a game such as Word Grid, the game is explained by the human avatar. The child plays Word Grid. Once the child completes timed level, game API executes to post game specific parameters to content database. The parameter may include: Game ID, Child ID, Date, Score, # Words Possible, # Words Correct, # Words Missed, Hints Used, Level Time Available, and Level Time Used.

FIG. 17is an example flow diagram illustrating data mining process when a registered user plays a game according to an embodiment. Upon posting game specific parameters to content database, system scheduler may initiate data extraction process. Once data extraction process is initiated, new records are extracted from the content database and game play statistics are standardized for each metric available. For example, abilities measured by Word Grid may have: Linguistic and Spatial. Executive Functions measured by Word Grid may include: Attention/Perceive, Attention/Focus, and Solution/Generate. Upon the game play statistics are standardized for each metric, raw scores loaded at person, data, and metric level are computed with following equations:

Word Grid Proprietary Calculation

Linguistic—(Level*10)+(number words possible+number words correct)−words missed+(Hints Value)Spatial—(Level*10)+(number words correct)
Word Grid Executive Functions MeasuredAttention/Perceive—(number words possible+number words correct+amount of time used)Attention/Focus—amount of time used+(Percent of time used*10)+number words correctSolution/Generate—(number words correct+words missed+(Hints Value)
Upon computing raw scores, game play statistics are averaged for each measurement of each metric and the child's average for each metric is posted to data warehouse. Benchmarks are recalculated for each metric and each child's percentile is calculated for each metric for each day. These benchmarks and child's percentile are posted to database for each metric.

FIG. 18is an example flow diagram illustrating reviewing player's performance by authorized individuals on a website to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 18, parent and authorized adults may return to the website to review player's performance. The adults who want to review player's performance first logs into the website and authorization is processed for the adult. Once the adult is authorized, a human avatar greets the adult on the home page. To review player's performance, the adult selects dashboard and selects a child to review results. Adults are linked in the database to children whom they are authorized to review. If there is more than one child linked to an adult, the adult can be prompted to select the child to review. If there is only one child linked to the adult, the results for that child are displayed by default.

Upon selecting the child, result report for the child is compiled and formatted. The adult may apply filter to compare the child across multiple district population of children. Available report filters can be:Child Clinical DiagnosisChild GenderChild Age Group—Under 13/between 13 and 17/18 and Over

After the filters are applied, result reports for the child may be compiled and formatted again. The adult may review summary results of the child in comparison to benchmark. In an embodiment, the adult can apply filters to compare the child across multiple distinct populations of children. The result reports may include child ability detailed analysis, career interest detailed analysis, and executive function detailed analysis.

FIG. 19illustrates types of games that can be used to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests according to an embodiment. Three types of games can be designed to assess the individual's abilities, skills and interests: repurposed, custom, and tailored. The repurposed game can be a game that is modified existing games to enable data collection. It can be applicable for selected ability areas such as math, logic, and spatial. The custom games can be a game that is developed to capture more data or to explore some areas not possible with current games. The tailored game can be a game that is developed as a new game to assess currently unassessed or under-assessed skill areas.

FIG. 20illustrates examples of repurposed games according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 20, the repurposed games may assess abilities such as logic, spatial processing, visual memory, math, and linguistics. The repurposed games for logic may include: Parking Lot, Seesaw Logic, Rainbow Mechanic, and Christmas Tree Light-up. The repurposed games for spatial processing may include: Spot the Difference, Share Inlay, Count the Cubes, and Count the Sheep. The repurposed games for visual memory may include: Pattern Memory, and Memory III. The repurposed games for math may include: Bus Driver Math, and Quick Calculate. The repurposed games for linguistics may include a Word Search. Each repurpose game may also assess a number of Executive Functions, for example, focus, engagement, initiation and stop, memory manipulation, prioritization, time sensitivity, etc.

The game data for The Parking Lot collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time usedpercent of available time usedno of cars in lottheoretical minimum no of movesno of moves takenno of times the game is extended

The game data for Rainbow Mechanic collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time usedpercent of available time usedno of mirrors usedtheoretical minimum mirrors neededwhether hint mode is used (yes or no)

The game data for Word Grid collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time usedpercent of available time usedno of possible wordsno of words correctno of words missedno of times the hint was used

The game data for Sequence Master collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time usedpercent of available time usedno of squares on gridwas incorrect click on a number or an empty space (yes or no)high number in sequence to be rememberedno of times the game is extended

The game data for Easter Egg Hunt collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time usedpercent of available time usedno of hidden eggsno of eggs foundno of wrong clicksno of times the hint is usedno of times the game is extended

The game data for Pattern Memory II collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time usedpercent of available time usedtotal no of blocks in the gridno of colours usedno of incorrect clickswas incorrect click on incorrect color or blank square (yes or no)no of times the game is extended

The game data for Count the Sheep collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time available to view moving sheepamount of time used to answerno of sheepno of wolvesanswer providedno of times the game is extended

The game data for Bus Driver's Math collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreno of correct answersno of wrong answersno of children in levelno of adults in levelno of elderly in levelno of problems shown in level

The game data for Spot the Difference II collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time used% of available time usedimage nameno of correct answersno of wrong clicksno of hints usedno of times the game is extended

The game data for Number Twins collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedno of incorrect matchesmax no of spaces between matched numbersno of times the game is extended

The game data for Math Lines collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedtotal no of balls appearedno of balls firedno of times the ball is fired to complete a matchno of times the ball is fired next to a same numbered ballno of balls left unclearedno of times the game is extended

The game data for More of Less collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedno of squares in matrixoperator used (more or less)no of wrong answers

The game data for Double Bubble collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time usedpercent of available time usedno of unique items shownno of duplicated items shownno of non clicked duplicated itemsno of correct clicksno of incorrect clicksno of times the game is extended

The game data for Scene Memory collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time available to view imageamount of time used to answerno of items in levelno of changed itemsno of correct items foundno of times the game is extended

The game data for Find the Suspect collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time usedno of suspects shownimage chosencorrect imageno of times the game is extended

The game data for Find the Pair collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time availableamount of time usedcorrect shapetotal no of shapes shownno of mistakes

The game data for Shape Inlay collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedno of shapes shownno of shapes usedno of shapes discardedno of shapes untouchedno of rotationsno of times the game is extended

The game data for Quick Calculate collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedquestioncorrect answerno of incorrect answers

The game data for Count the Cubes collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedtotal no of cubesno of visible cubesno of hidden cubesno of wrong answersno of times the hint button is clicked

The game data for Seesaw Logic collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedno of seesawsno of weights in problemno of incorrect answers

The game data for Spot the Difference collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedno of faces shownno of differences to findno of wrong clicksno of hints usedno of times the game is extended

The game data for Memory III collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedno of pairs showntotal no of clicks

The game data for Moving Memory collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedmatrix sizeno of rotationstotal no of clicks

The game data for Christmas Tree Light Up collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedno of hints usedno of bulbstotal no of clickstheoretical minimum no of clicks to completeno of resets

The game data for Math Search collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedequationno of wrong answersno of times the game is extended

The game data for Memory collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedtotal no of clicks

The game data for Tower of Hanoi II collected and passed to the API when a level ends may include:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (yes or no)scoreamount of time usedtotal no of movestheoretical minimum no of movesno of times the game is extended

FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21Cillustrate examples of custom games to collect detailed data according to an embodiment. The game 1 Greater inFIG. 21Amay operate by showing two “cards”, each displaying a number or an equation. The numbers can be adaptively presented and its difficulty can be increased up to high school geometry. The player is asked to select which card is the greater value (or click on an “Equal” button if they are equal). The game displays increasingly difficult problems through [20] levels. A few parameters:Player can complete 3 problems in a level to proceed to the nextA player has up to 1 minute to solve problems in levels 1-10 and 2 minutes for levels 11-20Game may end when player has answered 5 incorrect questions
The system may need to randomly select a multitude of parameters to display the two cards, including:Type of problem to display on each card (e.g., addition, area of an object, algebraic equation, etc.)The numeric values used in the problemThe mathematic operator to be used in some of the problem types (e.g., parenthetical problems)

There are 11 problem types:AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivisionExponentsCircumference of squares, rectangles, circlesCircumference of trianglesArea of squares, rectangles, circlesArea of trianglesVolumeParenthetical equations where each parenthesis could contain any of the problem categories above—e.g., (342−125)×(53−32)

When the game is initiated, a “Level 0” is presented before score begins to be calculated to give the player a feel for the game. After completion, the game begins on Level 1. Upon completing 3 correct answers, system may display, “Congratulations on completing Level 1. Moving to Level 2.” After completing Level 10, system can display “Congratulations on completing Level 10. Would you like to stop or continue on?” “Stop” and “Continue on” buttons can be displayed. If the player decides to continue on, system reset the “wrong problems” counter to zero and start counting wrong problems again. At the end of the game or when the player chooses to end the game, display “Congratulations!” and show the player's core in this game relative to the last 5 scores he/she had.

Points can be earned the following ways:Correct answer: Each time a problem is answered correctly, point are awarded based on two components:The level number is multiplied by 10 and that value is given to the player as “correct answer points” (e.g., correct answers in Level 1 yields 10 points. Correct answers in Level 20 yield 200 points).A point is award for each second remaining as “time bonus points.”Level bonus: Each time a level is finished the number of that level is multiplied by 100 and those points are given (100 points are awarded upon completion of Level 1; 2,000 points for completing Level 20)Consecutive correct answers bonus:Answering 5 correct problems in a row results in 5× the points awarded for the last correct answer (e.g., if the last correct answer in the sequence of 5 earned 100 points, the 5-series bonus is 500)Answering 10× correct problems in a row results in 10× the points awarded for the last correct answer
Points can be deducted for answering incorrectly. Points equaling 5× the level number can be deducted for each incorrect response.

The following elements of Greater are captured and passed back to the API:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (Yes/No)?ScoreAmount of time availableAmount of time used% of available time usedProblem type correctly answered most frequently from start of this gameProblem type incorrectly answered most frequently from start of this game

The following items can be dumped to file outside of the API for each question posed to the player:UserIDDate/time stampLevelProblem typeProblem posedAnswer givenCorrect answer (Yes/No)?Amount of time availableAmount of time used

The game 2 Motion inFIG. 21Bmay operate by showing pictures. The pictures can be adaptively presented and its difficulty can be increased up to 15 simultaneous frames to assess multitasking. The number of objects in each frame can be varied to assess logical reasoning and prioritization. The game 3 Berserk inFIG. 21Ccan combine Greater and Motion into one simultaneous game. The cards and pictures can be adaptively presented.

FIG. 22illustrates an example flow of a custom game to collect detailed data using face recognition according to an embodiment. The game Faces can continue to adaptively present increasingly complex pictures of people engaged in various activities and asking questions. The questions asked can include:What is the color of Derek's guitar?How many faces were in the last picture?How many people were holding folder?How many yellow folders were held by the people?

When the Faces is initiated, at level 0, the player is presented with a 1-person picture. The individual can have 5 seconds to look at the picture and the name of the person in the picture. The three elements to focus on are: (1) the person's name; (2) what they are doing in the picture; and (3) questionable aspects such as color or pattern of clothing, what the person in the picture is holding, environment around the person, etc. After the picture is shown for the designated time, a picture adjusted to the individual's face can appear. At this point, the player can be asked either one of the following questions randomly selected by the system:What is the name of the individual in the picture shown? SophiaWhat is Sophia doing? Playing tennisWhat is Sophia holding? A tennis racquet
The system can give 4 choices for the player to select from.

Faces can work for a 4 person image. For example, a picture having four person can be displayed for a designated amount of time with the names “Marilyn, Jayden, Andy, Aubrie” listed respectively. The questions asked can include:What is the color of Marilyn's shoes? RedWhat is Jayden holding? A clipboardWhat is the color of Andy's folder? PurpleWhat is her name? Aubrie

At level 1, for one picture before quiz, the player can be presented with a picture randomly selected from among the 1-face images for 5 seconds. The system then quizzes the player by displaying a randomly select question about the picture just shown. If the player gets the answer wrong, they will be shown the correct answer with the full picture of the individual. The system then repeats step 1. If the player gets the answer correct, proceed to step 2.

For two pictures before quiz, the player can be shown a new image with 1 face for 5 seconds. The player can be shown another new image with 1 face for 5 seconds. The system quizzes the player randomly selecting one of the 3 possible quiz questions for the select image. If the player gets the answer wrong, repeat these two pictures before quiz step. If the player gets the answer correct, continue to next step.

The game can become increasingly difficult by showing three pictures before quiz and then four pictures before quiz. Once the player answers a question after 4 pictures, they will move up a level.

Level 2 and beyond can work the same way as Level 1, but the system can randomly select from images with 2 or more faces.

When quizzing the player, the system can select from any face shown up to that point. That is, even though the player may be in Level 3 (3-face images), the system can still select from a face shown during Level 1.

The player can be given points if they answer any of the following 3 questions correctly: (1) Name of the individual(s); (2) Their activity; and (3) Answer to the unique questions. The player can earn 100 points for 1-face images, 200 points for 2-face images, and 300 for 3-faces, etc. The points are not taken away for wrong answers. The Faces game ends upon player getting 20 correct answers or 5 incorrect answers.

At the end of each level, the system can use the API to record the following data elements:Date/time stampLevelScore# name questions presented# name questions answered correctly# activity questions presented# activity questions answered correctly# unique questions presented# unique questions answered correctlyMaximum number of intervening images for a correct answer (i.e., how far back can the player remember a face)

At the end of each level, the system can also use the API to record the following data elements:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (Yes/No)?Score# Correct names# Correct male names# Correct male names% Correct names% Correct male names% Correct male names# correct activities% correct activitiesMax # of people in image where player answered name correctly# of correct answers where there's 1 person in the image# of correct answers where there's 2 people in the image# of correct answers where there's 3 people in the image# of correct answers where there's 4 people in the image# of correct answers where there's 5 people in the image# of correct answers where there's 6 people in the image# of correct answers where there's 7 people in the image# of correct answers where there's 8 or more people in the image% of correct answers where there's 1 person in the image% of correct answers where there's 2 people in the image% of correct answers where there's 3 people in the image% of correct answers where there's 4 people in the image% of correct answers where there's 5 people in the image% of correct answers where there's 6 people in the image% of correct answers where there's 7 people in the image% of correct answers where there's 8 or more people in the image

FIG. 23illustrates another example flow of a custom game to collect detailed data using melody recognition according to an embodiment. The game Melodies can test musical memory, not whether someone already knows a melody. As such, the real value from the game can come from understanding what happens after a player gets a melody wrong. Whether he/she is able to remember the name of the melody when we serve it up again. The fact that a player already knows a piece is helpful in increasing his score, but the real value of the game is its tracking of correct answers the first time it is played vs. when played the second or third or fourth time.

At level 0 practice round, on one screen, the system can displays a nice background, play a clip, and ask the player to choose from 4 possible options—3 of which are names musical pieces and the 5thchoice is “I don't know; never heard this before.”

The system can play a clip randomly selected from among all possible pieces from our collection as well as from the “Previously Incorrect” list. The system randomly select only from the previously un-played collection for the first4clips. Thereafter, the system has 50% probability of choosing from un-played and 50% probability of choosing from “Previously incorrect” list. Once the player has correctly answered for a clip, that clip is not presented again.

The system can ask the player to choose from 4 possible options. If player provides the correct answer, the system notes the piece has been answered correctly, increase the # correct answers count by 1, increase the score and proceed to Step 1 again. If the player provides the wrong answer or does not know, the system: (1) plays the piece again with the correct name for the piece; (2) increases the “# wrong” counter for this piece by 1 and put piece in “Previously incorrect” queue of musical pieces to be chosen from again; (3) increases the # wrong for the game by 1; and (4) proceeds to Step 1 again.

As this game really doesn't have levels, it continues until the player reaches 10 incorrect answers or 20 correct answers. If the game ends by reaching the 10 incorrect answers constraint, the system displays “Game over. Would you like to try again?” If the game ends by reaching to 20 correct answers constrain, the system displays “Congratulations on getting 20 correct answers—you have great musical memory. Would you like to continue?” The system writes the data using the API. If player wants to continue, the system restarts the correct/incorrect counters and continue on until player reaches the next 10 incorrect/20 correct constrain.

At the end of the game or each “round”, the system can write the following to the database via the API:Date/time stampScore# pieces answered correctly the first time (i.e., player already knew the piece)% of pieces answered correct on the 1stpresentation# pieces answered correct on the 2ndpresentation% of pieces answered correct on the 2ndpresentation# pieces answered correct on the 3rdor subsequent presentation (i.e., player learned the piece)% of pieces answered correct on the 3rdpresentation# pieces answered incorrectly despite multiple presentations

In addition, the system may keep track of the individual names/IDs for the pieces that player already knew, learned, and never learned. For every clip presented, the system can write to a file the a record that has the following items:UserIDDate/time stampMusic clip name/IDAnswer player providedWhether player correctly answered (Yes/No)If player answered correctly, how many presentations did it take for player to get correct (1sttime, 2nd, 3rd, etc.)

At the end of the game or each “round”, the system can also write the following to the database via the API:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (Yes/No)?Score# of melodies answered correct on 1sthearing (i.e., already know the tune)# of melodies answered correct on 2ndhearing# of melodies answered correct on 3rdhearing# of melodies answered correct on 4thhearing% of melodies answered correct on 1sthearing (i.e., already know the tune)% of melodies answered correct on 2ndhearing% of melodies answered correct on 3rdhearing% of melodies answered correct on 4th hearing% classical clips answered correctly% jazz clips answered correctly% pop music clip answered correctly% classic rock clips answered correctly% country clips answered correctly% children clips answered correctly

FIG. 24illustrates another example flow of a custom game to collect detailed data using pattern recognition according to an embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 24, the game Patterns can continue to adaptively present increasingly complex patterns, mixing from the shapes, numbers, and letters palettes.

FIG. 25illustrates another example of a custom game to collect detailed data with different comprehension mode according to an embodiment. Most autistic students do poorly on reading comprehension test, yet source of failure is unclear. The possible cause of failure can be that: (1) they cannot receive information due to sensory overload from a paragraph of text; (2) they cannot comprehend information received; or (3) they cannot provide answer due to motor challenges. As described inFIG. 25, offering different comprehension mode can isolate factors that can interfere with comprehension to the autistic students. For example, adaptive, random presentation of different presentation options over a battery of questions can isolate respondent's preferred interaction mode.

FIG. 26illustrates other examples of custom games (Arrows, Math Bubbles, Bumpers) to collect detailed data according to an embodiment. The game Arrows can primarily measure focus whether the player is able to focus despite distractions. At the end of the game or each “round”, the system can write the following to the database via the API:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (Yes/No)?Score# correct answers against the pack (i.e. when the bird of focus is flying in a different direction as the rest of the pack)# correct answers with the pack% time correct when against the pack—this is perhaps the single most revealing metric of focus% time correct when with the packAverage speed to answerAverage speed to answer correctly—against the packAverage speed to answer correctly—with the packAverage speed to answer incorrectly—against the packAverage speed to answer incorrectly—with the pack

The primary purpose of the game Bumpers is logical process (visual recall of the bumpers is secondary). At the end of the game or each “round”, the system can write the following to the database via the API:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (Yes/No)?ScoreGrid size (number of cells)# correct tries# incorrect triesMax # paddles shown in a turn in the levelMax # paddles touched in a turn in the levelShortest time taken to answerLongest time taken to answerTotal # paddles touched for all the correct answers for all turns in the level # times hint used

The game Math Bubbles can primarily measure logic-arithmetic. The arithmetic problems can be generated based on the following table:

The player starts at level one. To proceed to the next level, the player may accurately answer five questions in a row. If a question is answered incorrectly, the level is started over. The operation of the question is randomly selected from the available options for that level. Then the two numbers are randomly generated as per the ranges listed above. Once the maximum level is finished regardless of future failures, the player can receive Level 15 difficulty questions until they fail or decide to quit. For every 50 questions answered correctly, the player is presented with a screen saying “Congrats! You have answered 50 questions correctly! You can choose to quit now with your current score or can opt to continue and answer another 50 questions from where you left off.” The player can here click whether they wish to continue or stop.

In Math Bubbles, there are four aspects to scoring: (1) Difficulty of Problem; (2) Velocity of Bubbles; (3) Density of Bubbles on screen; and (4) Time taken to answer. The difficulty score of the problem is the level of the problem×10. For example, answering a level 6 question correctly is worth 60 points.

There are three possible velocities of the bubbles: 1× speed, 1.5× speed, and 2× speed. The speed multiplier is multiplied with the difficulty score of the problem. If the level 6 questions were answered correctly on 1.5× speed, answering the question is now worth 1.5×60 or 90 points. The slow bubble can take 12 seconds to reach the bottom of the screen. The medium speed bubbles can take 8 seconds to reach the bottom of the screen, and the fast bubbles can take 6 seconds to reach the bottom of the screen

The density of the bubbles is decided by how much time is allowed between bubble releases. The base release rate (slow) is one per 12 seconds with a 1× multiplier. The medium release rate is one per 9 seconds with a 6× multiplier. The fast release rate is one per 4.5 seconds with a 2× multiplier. If the bubble from before released at medium speed on level 6 is released after 6 seconds (1.5× multiplier) the score is then 90×1.5=135.

The time taken to answer is the last factor in scoring. If the bubble is correctly answered in the top ⅓ of the screen a 2× multiplier is applied. If the bubble is answered in the middle ⅓ of the screen a 1.5× multiplier is awarded. If the bubble is answered in the last ⅓ of the screen a 1× multiplier is awarded. This is multiplied at the end to the existing score. If using the same bubble as before is answered in the middle ⅓ of the screen, then the final score is 135×1.5=202.5 which will be rounded up to the nearest whole number, in this case 203.

The equation for score is:
(Level of Problem×10)×(VelocityMultiplier)×(RateMultiplier)×(TimeToAnswerMultiplier)

The starting velocity is 1× speed and the starting release rate is one per 8 seconds. For every 15 problems answered correctly both velocity and release rate are increased one stage until the 3 level (fast) is released. If a player answers a problem incorrectly, the level of speed and velocity are moved down one level. For example, if a player has answered 32 questions correctly in a row (and is thus on a 2× multiplier for both speed and rate of release) and the 33rdquestion is answered incorrectly, the velocity and rate of release are moved down to 1.5× until 15 questions are answered correctly in a row again.

At the end of the game or each “round”, the system can write the following to the database via the API:Date/time stampLevelSuccessful (Yes/No)?Score# problems solved correctly# addition problems solved correctly# subtraction problems solved correctly# multiplication problems solved correctly# division problems solved correctly# problems missed/incorrectValue of largest “top number”—the first number presented in the equationValue of largest “bottom number”—the second number presented in the equationValue of largest “answer”Max number of problems on the screen at one time.

FIG. 27illustrates examples of tailored games to assess ability area according to an embodiment. These tailored games can assess difficult ability areas such as bodily-kinesthetic. This type of games can be created from existing Xbox games using Kinect's camera to assess bodily movement abilities.

FIG. 28Ais a diagram of an example communications system100in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented. The communications system100may be a multiple access system that provides content, such as voice, data, video, messaging, broadcast, game etc., to multiple wireless users and game players. The communications system100may enable multiple wireless users to access such content through the sharing of system resources, including wireless bandwidth. For example, the communications systems100may employ one or more channel access methods, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), and the like. A communications system such as that shown inFIG. 28Amay also be referred to herein as a network.

FIG. 29is a block diagram of an example processor1158which may be employed in any of the embodiments described herein, including as one or more components of mobile devices210,310, and610, as one or more components of network equipment or related equipment, and/or as one or more components of any third party system or subsystem that may implement any portion of the subject matter described herein. It is emphasized that the block diagram depicted inFIG. 29is exemplary and not intended to imply a specific implementation. Thus, the processor1158can be implemented in a single processor or multiple processors. Multiple processors can be distributed or centrally located. Multiple processors can communicate wirelessly, via hard wire, or a combination thereof.

As depicted inFIG. 29, the processor1158comprises a processing portion1160, a memory portion1162, and an input/output portion1164. The processing portion1160, memory portion1162, and input/output portion1164are coupled together (coupling not shown inFIG. 10) to allow communications between these portions. The input/output portion1164is capable of providing and/or receiving components, commands, and/or instructions, utilized to, for example, request and receive APNs, MNCs, and/or MCCs, establish and terminate communications sessions, transmit and receive data access request data and responses, transmit, receive, store and process text, data, and voice communications, execute software that efficiently processes radio resource requests, receive and store radio resource requests, radio resource request processing preferences and configurations, and/or perform any other function described herein.

The processor1158may be implemented as a client processor and/or a server processor. In a basic configuration, the processor1158may include at least one processing portion1160and memory portion1162. The memory portion1162can store any information utilized in conjunction with establishing, transmitting, receiving, and/or processing text, data, and/or voice communications, communications-related data and/or content, voice calls, other telephonic communications, etc. For example, the memory portion is capable of storing APNs, MNCs, MCCs, radio resource requests, software for an efficient radio resource request processing system, text and data communications, calls, voicemail, multimedia content, visual voicemail applications, etc. Depending upon the exact configuration and type of processor, the memory portion1162can be volatile (such as RAM)1166, non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.)1168, or a combination thereof. The processor1158can have additional features/functionality. For example, the processor1158can include additional storage (removable storage1170and/or non-removable storage1172) including, but not limited to, magnetic or optical disks, tape, flash, smart cards or a combination thereof. Computer storage media, such as memory and storage elements1162,1170,1172,1166, and1168, may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, universal serial bus (USB) compatible memory, smart cards, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by the processor1158. Any such computer storage media may be part of the processor1158.

The processor1158may also contain the communications connection(s)1180that allow the processor1158to communicate with other devices, for example through a radio access network (RAN). Communications connection(s)1180is an example of communication media. Communication media typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection as might be used with a land line telephone, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, cellular, and other wireless media. The term computer-readable media as used herein includes both storage media and communication media. The processor1158also can have input device(s)1176such as keyboard, keypad, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, etc. Output device(s)1174such as a display, speakers, printer, etc. also can be included.

While example embodiments of systems and methods to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests have been described in connection with various communications devices and computing devices/processors, the underlying concepts can be applied to any communications or computing device, processor, or system capable of implementing the systems and methods to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests. The various techniques described herein may be implemented in connection with hardware or software or, where appropriate, with a combination of both. Thus, the systems and methods to identify an individual's abilities, skills and interests, or certain aspects or portions thereof, can take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangible, non-transitory media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests. In the case of program code execution on programmable computers, the computing device will generally include a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one output device. The program(s) can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. The language can be a compiled or interpreted language, and combined with hardware implementations.

It is to be understood that a storage medium, memory, a computer-readable storage medium, and a machine readable storage medium, as described herein have a concrete, tangible, physical structure. As is known, a signal does not have a concrete, tangible, physical structure. A storage medium, memory, a computer-readable storage medium, and a machine readable storage medium, as well as any computer-readable storage medium described herein, is not to be construed as a signal. A storage medium, memory, a computer-readable storage medium, and a machine readable storage medium, as well as any computer-readable storage medium described herein, is not to be construed as a transient signal. A storage medium, memory, a computer-readable storage medium, and a machine readable storage medium, as well as any computer-readable storage medium described herein, is not to be construed as a propagating signal. A storage medium, memory, a computer-readable storage medium, and a machine readable storage medium, as well as any computer-readable storage medium described herein, is to be construed as an article of manufacture having a concrete, physical, tangible structure.

Methods and systems for identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests may also be practiced via communications embodied in the form of program code that is transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received, loaded into, and executed by a machine, such as an EPROM, a gate array, a programmable logic device (PLD), a client computer, or the like, the machine becomes an apparatus for identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates to invoke the functionality of identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests as described herein. Additionally, any storage techniques used in connection with an intelligent roaming and interworking system may invariably be a combination of hardware and software.

While systems and methods for identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests have been described in connection with the various embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function of identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests without deviating therefrom. For example, one skilled in the art will recognize that systems and methods for identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests as described in the present application may apply to any environment, whether wired or wireless, and may be applied to any number of such devices connected via a communications network and interacting across the network. Therefore, systems and methods for identifying an individual's abilities, skills and interests should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.