Assistive, context-relevant images may be provided. First, text may be received. Then a spell check indication may be received and a spelling check may be performed on the received text in response to the received spell check indication. Next, in response to the performed spelling check, a misspelling indication may be provided configured to indicate that at least one word in the received text is misspelled. A selection of the misspelling indication may then be received. Then, on a display device in response to the received selection of the misspelling indication, a plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word and an image corresponding to a first one of the plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word may be displayed.

BACKGROUND

Illiteracy is the inability to read or write simple sentences in any language. Functional illiteracy is a term used to describe reading and writing skills that are inadequate to cope with the demands of everyday life. A functionally illiterate person can read and possibly write simple sentences with a limited vocabulary, but cannot read or write well enough to deal with the everyday requirements of life in his own society. For example, an illiterate person may not understand the written words “cat” or “dog”, and may not recognize alphabet letters. A functionally illiterate person may well understand these words and more, but cannot read well enough to understand the things he must read in order to get by in his daily life, such as job advertisements, past-due notices, newspaper articles, complex signs, and posters. While pure illiteracy has approximately the same characteristics worldwide, the characteristics of functional illiteracy vary from one culture to another, as some cultures require better reading and writing skills than others.

SUMMARY

Assistive, context-relevant images may be provided. First, text may be received. Then a spell check indication may be received and a spelling check may be performed on the received text in response to the received spell check indication. Next, in response to the performed spelling check, a misspelling indication may be provided configured to indicate that at least one word in the received text is misspelled. A selection of the misspelling indication may then be received. Then, on a display device in response to the received selection of the misspelling indication, a plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word and an image corresponding to a first one of the plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word may be displayed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Consistent with embodiments of the present invention, functional illiterates may be provided the ability to view context-relevant images and links to content during the review of spelling and/or grammar within, for example, software/hardware/online services' graphical interfaces and “ease-of-use” guides. Embodiments of the invention may also be used, for example, to help those just learning a language (e.g. school students) or those learning a second language (e.g. English as a second language). For example, learners may hone their language (e.g. English) skills by associating context-relevant pictures, phonetics, and sound to enhance and propel their individualized learning experiences.

FIG. 1shows a dialog box105consistent with embodiments of the invention. As shown inFIG. 1, text110may include a misspelled word115. As a result of running a spelling check on text110, a misspelling indication117may be placed under misspelled word115. A plurality of suggested spellings120for misspelled word115may be provided in dialog box105. A first suggested spelling125may be highlighted. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, when one of the plurality of suggested spellings120is highlighted, an image, a sound button, and a phonetic spelling of the highlighted word may be provided in dialog box105.

Consistent with embodiments of the invention, when first suggested spelling125is highlighted, a first image130corresponding to first suggested spelling125may be provided in dialog box105. When a first sound button135is selected by a user, a sound may be provided that corresponds to first image130and first suggested spelling125. A first phonetic spelling140of first suggested spelling125may also be provided in dialog box105. When a user causes others of the plurality of suggested spellings120to be highlighted, similar corresponding images, sound buttons, and phonetic spellings may be provided in dialog box105. Moreover, consistent with embodiments of the invention, audible pronunciation assistance of an entire string of words (e.g. phrase, sentence, paragraph, etc.) may be provided to assist in verification of intended meaning when a string of words is selected from text110.

Embodiments of the invention may be used with any type of software package including, but not limited to, website designer software, word processing software, spreadsheet software, e-mail software, database software, project management software, and presentation software. The aforementioned software packages are examples and, as previously stated, embodiments of the invention may be used with any software package type.

FIG. 2is a flow chart setting forth the general stages involved in a method200consistent with an embodiment of the invention for providing assistive, context-relevant images. Method200may be implemented using a computing device900as described in more detail below with respect toFIG. 9. Ways to implement the stages of method200will be described in greater detail below.

Method200may begin at starting block205and proceed to stage210where computing device900may receive text. For example, the user may be a small flower shop business owner who wishes to build her business' brand recognition, online presence, and drive foot traffic to her retail store. Consequently, the user may decide to use a website designer software package to build a website for all her customers to see. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, the website designer software package may utilize an assistive application920as described in greater detail below. While building the website, the user may enter text110into computing device900that may receive text110.

From stage210, where computing device900receives text110, method200may advance to stage220where computing device900may receive a spell check indication. For example, as the user nears completion of her website, she may realize that her illiteracy may seriously affect her potential customers' perception of her business if the text/content on her website were terribly misspelled or grammatically incorrect. The user may notice a “Review” tab in the website designer software package ribbon300as shown inFIG. 3. The user may then click on this tab and find a “Spelling and Grammar” icon/button305with an “ABC and a check-mark” that may indicate to her that it can help provide her a comforting check against the content (e.g. test110) she had previously composed. Clicking on button305may cause computing device900to receive the spell check indication.

Once computing device900receives the spell check indication in stage220, method200may continue to stage230where computing device900may perform a spelling check on received text110in response to the received spell check indication. For example, computing device900may perform a spelling check on text110that the user entered while building the website.

After computing device900performs the spelling check in stage230, method200may proceed to stage240where computing device900may provide, in response to the performed spelling check, misspelling indications117configured to indicate that at least one word115in received text110is misspelled. For example, after the user clicks on “spell-check” button305, the user may notice, as shown inFIG. 4, that a few of the words she has typed into the body of her website content have been misspelled. Each of these misspelled words may be highlighted by computing device900with misspelling indications117to respectively indicate these spelling discrepancies. For example, as shown inFIG. 4, misspelling indications117may comprise jagged lines placed under the misspelled words in text110. Embodiments of the invention are not limited to jagged lines and other misspelling indications may be used.

From stage240, where computing device900provides the misspelling indication, method200may advance to stage250where computing device900may receive a selection of the misspelling indication. For example, the user may click on misspelled word115that she had spelled in text110as shown inFIG. 4. In other words, the user may click on “duk” that has a misspelling indication117under it as shown inFIG. 4. In this way the user may send and computing device900may receive the selection of misspelling indication117.

Once computing device900receives the selection of the misspelling indication117in stage250, method200may continue to stage260where computing device900may display on a display device (e.g. one of output devices914), in response to the received selection of misspelling indication117, a plurality of suggested spellings120for the at least one word115and image130corresponding to first one of the plurality of suggested spellings125for at least one word115. For example, once computing device900receives the selection of the misspelling indication117, spell-check/grammar modal dialog box105may pops-up on the display with alternate suggestions for misspelled word115that the user might have meant to write as shown and discussed above with respect toFIG. 1.

As shown inFIG. 5, when the user selects a second suggested spelling505from dialog box105, a second image510appears in dialog box105. Accordingly a second phonetic spelling525appears and now second sound button520corresponds to second suggested spelling505. As with first suggested spelling125, after viewing second image510and listening to the sound corresponding to second image510after clicking second sound button520, the user may determine that second suggested spelling505(e.g. “duke”) is not what she intended.

As shown inFIG. 6, when the user selects a third suggested spelling605from dialog box105, a third image610appears in dialog box105. Accordingly a third phonetic spelling625appears and now third sound button620corresponds to third suggested spelling605. As with first suggested spelling125and second suggested spelling505, after viewing third image610and listening to the sound corresponding to third image610after clicking third sound button620, the user may determine that third suggested spelling605(e.g. “dusk”) is not what she intended.

As shown inFIG. 7, when the user selects a forth suggested spelling705from dialog box105, a forth image710appears in dialog box105. Accordingly a forth phonetic spelling725appears and now forth sound button720corresponds to forth suggested spelling705. Unlike first suggested spelling125, second suggested spelling505, and third suggested spelling605, after viewing forth image710and listening to the sound corresponding to forth image710after clicking forth sound button720, the user may determine that forth suggested spelling705(e.g. “duck”) is what she intended. Accordingly, the user may select change button725. As a result of the user selecting change button725, misspelled word115in text110may be changed to reflect the user's selected spelling correction as shown inFIG. 8. For example, as shown inFIG. 8, “duk” is not correctly shown as “duck.” Upon completion of the user's evaluation/modification of the aforementioned spelling/grammatical items, she may feel an elevated level of confidence that her website is ready to be published to the rest of the world without her illiteracy impairment surfacing within the content of her website. Once computing device900displays the plurality of suggested spellings in stage260, method200may then end at stage270.

Consistent with embodiments of the invention, the user may highlight an entire string of words (e.g. phrase, sentence, paragraph, etc.) in text110to assist in verification of the string (e.g. audible pronunciation assistance). For example, if the user highlighted the string of words “the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog”, ribbon300could display a speaker/“ear” icon with a “listen to text” label and upon clicking, the user may audibly hear the highlighted phrase.

Furthermore, consistent with embodiments of the invention, the user may point her mouse over any of the images. As a result, computing device900may provide hyperlinks to other descriptions and/or image over, for example, the internet.

Consistent with embodiments of the invention, the user may help improve the accuracy of the context-relevant/assistive images described above. While computing device900may show an image to the user for a given word, there is no guarantee that the image computing device900produces will be the best (e.g. most relevant and clear) image. For example, a better image (e.g. in terms of clarity or quality) may exist. Consequently, embodiments of the invention may provide the user with a link below the image that may say “contribute a better image.” Clicking this link may launch a separate Web browser that may open up an image search page for the given word. From there, the user can specify (e.g. by clicking) a more relevant image for the word.

Consistent with embodiments of the invention, computing device900may take the aforementioned user feedback data, translate it into changes, and circulate it back into a spelling/grammar engine in assistive application920. When doing this, computing device900may take into account several factors including frequency and location for example. Frequency may comprise the frequency with which users recommend an image for a given word. This may factor into computing device900deciding which image to show. Furthermore, with location, words may follow geographic boundaries, and the same word in some locations may convey a predominantly different meaning than the same word used elsewhere. The geographic locations of user feedback, determined by IP, and the geographic location of the end user, may also factor into which image computing device900may decide to show.

Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may also include a way to display other meanings of the same word (i.e. lift (verb), lift (noun—an elevator)). For example, a button may be provided that, when selected, may provide a drop down menu to display other meanings of the selected same word.

An embodiment consistent with the invention may comprise a system for providing assistive, context-relevant images. The system may comprise a memory storage and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage. The processing unit may be operative to receive text and to receive a spell check indication. In addition, the processing unit may be operative to perform a spelling check on the received text in response to the received spell check indication and to provide, in response to the performed spelling check, a misspelling indication configured to indicate that at least one word in the received text is misspelled. Also, the processing unit may be operative to receive a selection of the misspelling indication. Moreover, the processing unit may be operative to display on a display device, in response to the received selection of the misspelling indication, a plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word and an image corresponding to a first one of the plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word.

Another embodiment consistent with the invention may comprise a system for providing assistive, context-relevant images. The system may comprise a memory storage and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage. The processing unit may be operative to receive a selection of a misspelling indication. In addition, the processing unit may be operative to display on a display device, in response to the received selection of the misspelling indication: i) a plurality of suggested spellings for at least one word; ii) an image corresponding to a first one of the plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word; and iii) a sound button corresponding to the image corresponding to the first one of the plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word.

Yet another embodiment consistent with the invention may comprise a system for providing assistive, context-relevant images. The system may comprise a memory storage and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage. The processing unit may be operative to receive text and to receive a spell check indication. In addition, processing unit may be operative to perform a spelling check on the received text in response to the received spell check indication and to provide, in response to the performed spelling check, a misspelling indication configured to indicate that at least one word in the received text is misspelled. Also, the processing unit may be operative to receive a selection of the misspelling indication. Furthermore, the processing unit may be operative to display in a dialog box on a display device, in response to the received selection of the misspelling indication, a plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word, an image corresponding to a first one of the plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word, and a sound button corresponding to the image corresponding to the first one of the plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word. Moreover, the processing unit may be operative to receive an indication that the sound button has been selected. In addition, the processing unit may be operative to, in response to the received indication that the sound button has been selected, provide over a speaker a sound corresponding to the image corresponding to the first one of the plurality of suggested spellings for the at least one word.

FIG. 9is a block diagram of a system including computing device900. Consistent with an embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned memory storage and processing unit may be implemented in a computing device, such as computing device900ofFIG. 9. Any suitable combination of hardware, software, or firmware may be used to implement the memory storage and processing unit. For example, the memory storage and processing unit may be implemented with computing device900or any of other computing devices918, in combination with computing device900. The aforementioned system, device, and processors are examples and other systems, devices, and processors may comprise the aforementioned memory storage and processing unit, consistent with embodiments of the invention.

With reference toFIG. 9, a system consistent with an embodiment of the invention may include a computing device, such as computing device900. In a basic configuration, computing device900may include at least one processing unit902and a system memory904. Depending on the configuration and type of computing device, system memory904may comprise, but is not limited to, volatile (e.g. random access memory (RAM)), non-volatile (e.g. read-only memory (ROM)), flash memory, or any combination. System memory904may include operating system905, one or more programming modules906, and may include a program data907. Operating system905, for example, may be suitable for controlling computing device900's operation. In one embodiment, programming modules906may include, for example, assistive application920. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be practiced in conjunction with a graphics library, other operating systems, or any other application program and is not limited to any particular application or system. This basic configuration is illustrated inFIG. 9by those components within a dashed line908.

Computing device900may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device900may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated inFIG. 9by a removable storage909and a non-removable storage910. Computer storage media 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. System memory904, removable storage909, and non-removable storage910are all computer storage media examples (i.e. memory storage). Computer storage media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable read-only memory (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, or any other medium which can be used to store information and which can be accessed by computing device900. Any such computer storage media may be part of device900. Computing device900may also have input device(s)912such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, a sound input device, a touch input device, etc. Output device(s)914such as a display, speakers, a printer, etc. may also be included. The aforementioned devices are examples and others may be used.

As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in system memory904, including operating system905. While executing on processing unit902, programming modules906(e.g. assistive application920) may perform processes including, for example, one or more method200's stages as described above. The aforementioned process is an example, and processing unit902may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include electronic mail and contacts applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc.