Patent ID: 8057233

Claim:
A learning game method making use, in play, of a set of at least two manually manipulable interactive blocks each having a changeable individual characterization, each interactive block having: a processor arranged to control operation of the block; a power source providing power to the block; a visual display unit arranged to display visual display material, the visual display material presenting said changeable individual characterization of its respective interactive block in a form selected from the group consisting of: a letter; a group of letters; and a word; a response generator; a communication unit configured, in use, to effect communication with at least a second of said at least two blocks of the set; and a proximity sensor configured to sense proximity and determine relative position of at least said second of said at least two interactive blocks, the method comprising the steps of: on a first block, generating and presenting a first individual characterization selected from the group consisting of: a first letter; a first group of letters; and a first word; on a second block different and separable from the first block, generating and presenting a second individual characterization selected from the group consisting of: a second letter; a second group of letters; and a second word; locating the first and second blocks proximate to each other, the step of locating causing positioning of the first and second blocks in one of a multiplicity of different relative positions; determining a relative position between the first and second blocks; establishing communication between the first and second blocks, the communication permitting acquisition by said processors of an understanding of the presented first and second individual characterizations; in the event that said relative position between the first and second blocks results in production of a meaningful interaction between the first and second individual characterizations wherein the meaningful interaction produces one of a phoneme or a word arising from the combination and relative position of the first individual characterization with the second individual characterization, generating a sensory output from said response generator of at least one of said first and second blocks to announce the meaningful interaction; and after generation of an interaction that follows relative positioning of the first block, having the processor execute a selective change to the presented individual characterization, the change producing a new changeable individual characterization presented on the visual display unit in a form selected from the group consisting of: i) a new letter; ii) a phoneme formed from a combination and relative position of the first and second individual characterizations; and iii) a word formed from a combination and relative position of the first and second individual characterizations.