GB2468497A

GB2468497A - Method Of And Apparatus For Improving Cognition And Motor Skills In Young Children

Info

Publication number: GB2468497A
Application number: GB0904130A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Brandon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-10
Filing date: 2009-03-10
Publication date: 2010-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-10
Also published as: GB0904130D0; GB2468497B

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for providing an educational game comprises the steps of providing image and sound reproducing equipment (11) and image influencing equipment (15) for influencing an image reproduced by the former, generating (30) an animation on display screen (12) of the reproducing equipment (11) with periodic pausing (32) and concurrently generating (34) an audio narrative associated with the animation and including, at each pause, user instructions relating to an image and colour matching exercise, concurrently generating (31) a duplicate animation on display screen (16) of the influencing equipment (15), operating (36) the influencing equipment (15) during a pause and in accordance with the instructions to select a colour and shape corresponding with the feature to be inserted into the image on the screen (12) of the reproducing equipment (11) and resuming (40) movement of the image after insertion of the feature. During the matching exercise, the paused image preferably displays an outline of an omission, in which the user must place their selected feature.

Description

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING COGNITION AND MOTOR SKILLS

IN YOUNG CHILDREN

The present invention relates to a method of stimulating motor skills and assisting cognitive development in young children through equipment/user interaction and to apparatus for performance of the method.

An important aspect in the advance of children of pie-school age to higher levels of understanding and response is development of their motor skills and cognitive capabilities by teaching and stimulation, a task in the hands of parents who do not necessarily possess expertise in these areas. Aids to assist with such development commonly take the form of game-like products which generate interest in a child and encourage recognition of, inter alia, two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes, colours and sound, for example multi-coloured products providing assembly tests. The limited spans of attention and concentration of which young children are capable require traditional products of that kind and the associated methods to be continuously entertaining and stimulating and invariably involve parental supervision and assistance. In recent decades one of the greatest attractions to small children has become broadcast television and, as an extension of that, pre-recorded programs playable by way of television apparatus or computers. These media, although offering potential for use in development of motor skills and cognition, have been under-utilised in this field and are focused largely on a mix of entertainment and education in a purely passive sense, i.e. providing visual and acoustic material without calling for any form of responsive contribution on the part of the child.

The principal object of the invention is therefore to provide a method and associated apparatus capable stimulating motor skills and assisting cognitive development by use of a visual and acoustic medium capable of maintaining the attention of a young child, but having an interactive rather than passive basis.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following

description.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of stimulating motor skills and assisting cognitive development in young children through equipment/user interaction, comprising the steps of providing image and sound reproducing equipment and image influencing equipment for influencing an image reproduced by the reproducing equipment by transmission thereto of image change signals relating to selectable areas of the image, generating a moving image on a display screen of the reproducing equipment with periodic pausing of the image movement, concurrently generating by way of audio output means of the reproducing equipment an audio narrative associated with the generated image and including on each occasion of pause in the image movement user instructions relating to feature insertion into the image, concurrently generating a duplicate image on a display screen of the influencing equipment, operating the influencing equipment during a pause in the image movement and in accordance with the respective user instructions to select one of a plurality of predetermined different colours and duplicate image components corresponding with the respective feature to be inserted thereby to cause transmission to the reproducing equipment of image change signals producing insertion of the feature in the selected colour into the image on the display screen of the reproducing equipment, and resuming movement of the image after insertion of the feature.

A method exemplifying the present invention has the advantage that motor skills and cognition can developed and enhanced by a procedure in which a moving image and accompanying narrative, which together can provide a story designed to maintain the attention a young child as viewer and listener, are subject to periodic pause of the image movement and in which restoration of image movement, thus continuation of the story, requires a positive and specific input by the child. This input takes the form of contribution to the image of a feature having both shape and colour, thus requiring the child to develop capabilities of recognition in these respects and, in particular, an understanding of the relevance of shapes and colours to the pictorial content of the displayed image. Motor skills are promoted by the actions required to select duplicate image components with use of, for example, a stylus or similar implement in order to identify and move to the components in succession, analogously to the skill of drawing. Guidance in the actions required is provided by the user instructions issued during the image pause, so that parental involvement can, if desired, be confined to mere supervision or encouragement.

Depending on the age and capabilities of the child participating in the method the step of operating the influencing equipment can entail free selection of duplicate image components disposed within an empty area provided in the paused image. The child consequently selects those components, for example individual points or lines in an area of the image, to define a shape by free choice and a blank space of sufficient size is present in the image to accommodate the defined feature to be inserted. If the child does not have this level of capability, assistance can be provided by inclusion in the generated image, on each occasion of pause in the movement thereof, of a moving guide providing an outline of an omitted feature and the selection of duplicate image components can proceed by way of tracing the provided outline in conjunction with guidance by the user instructions. A facility for adaptation to differing levels of capability can be provided by allowing the user or a supervisor to make a choice between the two alternative operating procedures, namely on the one hand selection of the duplicate image components which trace the feature outline provided in the paused image by the moving guide and on the other hand free selection of duplicate image components disposed within the empty area in the paused image.

For preference the moving guide forms the outline progressively, especially by way of a dashed or dotted line. The guide can take the form of an icon, particularly an icon which attracts and maintains the attention the child and which generates the line as it moves.

The inserted feature preferably moves in its entirety or in part within the image on resumption of image movement, so that, in effect, the inserted feature is brought to life.

This generates an interest on the part of the child in further creation of features in subsequent image movement pauses, since an inserted feature becomes an active rather than essentially passive element in the moving image and imparts to the child a sense of contribution to an unfolding story communicated by the continuing image movement. The resumption of image movement can, if desired, be triggered by the user of the influencing equipment, i.e. the child, so that the child becomes solely responsible for the transitions between the static and dynamic phases of the image. In that case, it can be advantageous for the user instructions to include a prompt to trigger the resumption of image movement.

The step of operating the influencing equipment to select a colour can comprise, for example, touching or transmitting a signal to one of a plurality of differently coloured touch-sensitive or transmitted-signal-responsive zones on the equipment, for which purpose use can be made of a stylus or other implement. This action promotes colour recognition and selection, particularly learning of colours appropriate to specific features within the context of the image. For preference the touched zone is illuminated to indicate the colour selection and thus provide a visual reminder of the choice made. Similarly, the step of operating the influencing equipment to select duplicate image components can entail selective contact with or transmission of a signal to, in particular, parts of a touch-sensitive or transmitted-signal-responsive surface of the display screen of the influencing means.

The invention further provides apparatus configured to perform the method, comprising image and sound reproducing equipment with a display screen for displaying an image and audio output means for providing an audio output, and image influencing equipment with a display screen for displaying a duplicate image and influencing means for influencing an image displayed on the screen of the reproducing equipment by transmission thereto of image change signals relating to selected areas of the image, the reproducing equipment being configured to generate a moving image and display the image on the display screen thereof with periodic pausing of the image movement and to concurrently generate by way of the audio output means an audio narrative assodated with the image and including on each occasion of pause in the image movement user instructions relating to feature insertion into the image, and the influencing equipment being configured to concurrently generate a duplicate image and display the duplicate image on the display screen thereof and being operable during a pause in the image movement and in accordance with the respective user instructions to select one of a plurality of predetermined different colours and duplicate image components corresponding with the respective feature to be inserted thereby to cause transmission to the reproducing equipment of image change signals producing insertion of the feature in the selected colour into the image on the display screen of the reproducing equipment, movement of the image being resumed after insertion of the feature.

In order to enable execution of particularly preferred aspects of the method the influencing equipment can be operable to freely select duplicate image components disposed within an empty area provided in the paused image or, if the generated image on each occasion of pause in the movement thereof includes a moving guide providing an outline of an omitted feature, the influencing equipment can be operable to select duplicate image components tracing the provided outline. For preference, however, the influencing equipment is operable to select one of two alternative operating procedures, in particular either selection of duplicate image components which trace an outline provided in the paused image by a moving guide delineating an omitted feature or free selection of duplicate image components disposed within an empty area provided in the paused image.

The influencing equipment can, if desired, be furnished with user operable means to cause resumption of image movement and, to enable colour selection, with a plurality of differently coloured touch-sensitive or transmitted-signal-responsive zones for selection of a colour. In a convenient arrangement, these zones can be arranged around the display screen of the influencing equipment. The influencing means can further include illuminating means to illuminate each zone in response to contact therewith and to maintain the illumination until resumption of the image movement. The display screen of the influencing equipment can have a touch-sensitive or signal-responsive surface responsive to selective contact therewith or transmission of a signal thereto for selection of the duplicate image components.

For ease of use, the influencing equipment is preferably embodied as a tablet, preferably of light weight, able to rest horizontally or substantially horizontally on a support surface, for example the lap of a user.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided interactive image display apparatus comprising image reproducing equipment with a first display screen for displaying an image and image influencing equipment with a second display screen for displaying a duplicate image transmitted thereto from the image reproducing equipment, the image influencing equipment comprising location selection means responsive to contact with or transmission of signals to points on the second display screen to select image locations by generating location signals respectively associated with the points, colour selection means comprising a plurality of differently coloured zones each responsive to contact therewith or transmission of a signal thereto to select a colour by generating a colour signal associated with the respective zone colour and image influencing means responsive to the location signals and colour signal to issue image influencing signals representative of modification of the image at the selected locations or in areas associated with the selected locations and in the selected colour and the image reproducing equipment comprising image modifying means responsive to the image influencing signals to modify the image on the first screen at the selected locations or associated areas and in the selected colour.

Apparatus of this kind can be employed in the afore-described method according to the invention and thus as the apparatus employed for performance of the invention, but is more widely usable for influencing a principal image in other applications, including graphical design and other entertainment or educational activities. The apparatus has the particular advantage of providing an easily managed and simply operated remote influencing of a primary image without requiring user action directly at the display of that image, but rather action on display of a duplicate or secondary image, and of permitting modification of the image with respect to both pictorial content and colour.

The associated areas are preferably areas surrounded, especially outlined, by selected locations, so that the image displayed on the first screen can be modified both lineally and areally. In one embodiment, the second screen is a touch screen and preferably, also, the colour selection zones are touch-sensitive zones. In another embodiment, however, the second screen is a screen responsive to transmission thereto of a pressure signal or an optical, acoustic or electromagnetic signal. Similarly, the colour selection zones can be zones responsive to transmission thereto of a pressure signal or an optical, acoustic or electromagnetic signal. The apparatus can include a signal transmission device, particularly a hand-held device such as a stylus, for that purpose.

For preference the image influencing equipment is constructed in the form of a tablet, especially a relatively small-size flat body, for example up to approximately 30 centimetres in each of two mutually orthogonal directions of each of its main faces, able to be placed generally horizontally on a support surface including a user's lap. The tablet format is particularly easy to use and support not only by adults, but also by small children. The tablet can have a square, oblong, circular, oval or any other desired geometric shape of its major faces and for preference comprises a robust casing of plastics material, including a material offering a resilient surface to accept impacts without fracture and with some damping effect to protect internal components from shock.

In one convenient layout of the image influencing equipment the colour selection zones are disposed in a line on one side of the second screen. Alternatively, the zones are disposed in lines on two opposite sides of the second screen. These arrangements of the zones are easily surveyable and selection is quasi-instinctive for, in particular, a small child by pointing a finger.

An example of the present invention and an embodiment of apparatus for performance of the method will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a flow chart illustrating steps in a method exemplifying the invention in conjunction with apparatus capable of performing the method.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown at the top the basic components of apparatus for use in stimulating motor skills and assisting cognitive development in young, especially pre-school, children in performance of a method exemplifying the invention.

The apparatus 10 comprises sound and image reproducing equipment 11 with an image display screen 12, audio output means 13 and an input point 14 for a data carrier carrying a recorded program, for example a digital video disc. The equipment 11 can take the form of, for example, a television set with coupled video recorder/player able to transfer digital data represented a recorded image and recorded sound from the data carrier to the set for display of the image on the screen 12 and issue of the sound from the audio output means 13. The equipment 11 could equally well be a computer, a home game unit or similar.

The apparatus further comprises image influencing equipment 15 in the form of a compact interactive control module with a touch screen 16 on which can be displayed a duplicate image passed to the equipment 15 from the equipment 11 by way of a digital signal transmission line 17. The control module is capable of generating image change signals in response to selective contact with the screen 16, the generated signals, which represent contacted points of the image, being transmitted to the equipment 11 by way of a further signal transmission line 18. Signal transmission between the equipment 11 and equipment 15 could also be in wire-free manner. The equipment 11 in turn is capable of response to the image change signals by producing a corresponding change in the instantaneous composition of the image displayed on the screen 12, in particular by insertion into the image of a feature shape in a selected colour. Colour selection is performed at the equipment 15 by contact with a selectable one of a plurality of differently coloured circular zones 19 ranged around the screen 16. Contact with any one of the zones 19 has the consequence that the image change signals transmitted by way of the line 18 influence the equipment 11 to insert into the image the selected feature in the colour associated with the contacted zone 19. The equipment 15 also includes illuminating means to illuminate a zone 19 when contacted and to maintain illumination until transmission of the image change signals or insertion of the related image feature. In addition, the equipment 15 can, if desired, include audio output means to repeat the audio output at the equipment 11 or even issue an independent output, for example an audio statement of a colour name in response to contact with one of the zones 19.

Principles for technical realisation of the specified functional capabilities of the equipment 11 and 15 are known as such, for example in the fields of electronic graphic and electronic editing systems, and accordingly are not described in further detail with regard to construction and operation. In an alternative or additional mode of operation of the equipment 15 for, in particular, selection of image points and a colour, the apparatus can include a stylus 20 able to transmit signals, for example electromagnetic, acoustic or optical, including laser, signals and the screen 16 and zones 19 can be constructed to be responsive, especially point responsive in the case of the screen, to the signals. It is also possible for the stylus to be wire-coupled to the equipment 11 and to supply electrical signals when contacted with points on the screen 16 or one of the colour selection zones.

The steps of a method performed with use of the apparatus 10 are shown in the form of a flow chart with respective step sequences aligned under the two items of equipment 11 and 15. In a first step 30 associated with the equipment 11 an image and an associated narrative are generated by the equipment 11, such as by running an input digital video disc to cause display on the screen 12 of a moving image digitally recorded on the disc and to concurrently cause audio output of a similarly recorded narrative by the audio output means 13. The image has the form of a moving image visually representing a story and the narrative has the form of an audio explanation of the story.

Simultaneously with generation of the image on the screen 12 a duplicate image transmitted by way of the line 17 is generated on the screen 16 of the equipment 15 in a step 31 concurrent with the step 30, the link represented by the line 17 being schematically indicated in the flow chart by the horizontal arrow directed from the box denoting step 30 towards the box 31 denoting step 31. Further such horizontal arrows subsequently appearing in the flow chart signify directional influencing of the equipment 10 and equipment 15, respectively.

In a next step 32 a pause in the image displayed by the equipment 11 occurs concurrently with a pause of the image displayed by the equipment 15, as indicated in step 33. The pause, which changes the image from a dynamic state of progression to a substantially static state, occurs at a predetermined point in the image progression, in particular at a predetermined place in the story pictorially represented by the image. Pause of the image does not, however, exclude the possibility that specific subordinate features of the image may continue to move, for example in a cyclic manner, whilst the rest of the image is static; in the paused state, however, the image as a whole does not exhibit progression.

The image in the paused state is characterised by an intentionally omitted feature or, at least, by an area provided for insertion of a supplementary or an enhancing feature, such a feature having an impact on the progression of the story so far unfolded by the image and narrative. Whilst the image is paused, an outline of the omitted feature is produced in a step 34 by an icon moving in the otherwise static image and trailing a progressively extending dotted or dashed line delineating the feature, for example a geometric shape, an anthropomorphic form, the shape of a simple mechanical contrivance, the shape of a construction or a shape occurring in nature, but particularly a feature able to be comprehended by a young child who is the subject of the cognitive and motor skill development intended by the method. The generated outline similarly appears in the duplicate image displayed by the equipment 15, as indicated in step 35.

Generation of the outline is accompanied, in the case of step 34, by issue of instructions -which temporarily supplant the story narrative -by the audio output means 13 to instruct the user, i.e. child, to take action to insert the outlined feature in a selected colour into the displayed image. In a succeeding step 36, which constitutes a step of operation of the equipment 15, the user employs the stylus 20 to contact one of the colour zones 19 and thereby select the colour represented by that zone and to trace the feature outline now present in the duplicate image displayed on the screen 16. Contact of the stylus with the screen effects selection of duplicate image components associated with the outline and, as mentioned further above, transmission of corresponding image change signals to the equipment 11 to cause insertion of the outlined feature in the selected colour into the image displayed on the screen 12 of the equipment 11, as indicated by step 37. At the same time, the feature is inserted into the displayed duplicate image at the equipment 15, as indicated in step 38. The feature insertion can, in its basic form, consist of coloration -in the selected colour -of an area corresponding with the outline.

In order to indicate the selected colour, the contacted zone 19 can be illuminated by suitable illumination means, such as a light-emitting diode, in the equipment 15. The illuminating means can be extinguished after transmission of the signals or after the feature insertion has been carried out.

It is also possible to allow free selection of the feature shape by the user solely under the guidance of the user instructions, thus without use of the icon producing the outline. In that case, for example, the user follows the instructions to employ the stylus 20 to freely draw a specified shape in an orally identified area of the image. Again, in a basic form this may consist of drawing a circle, which, if undertaken after prior selection of a colour, generates image change signals to cause reproduction of the feature shape in the selected colour in the principal and duplicate images. The equipment 15 can, if desired, be provided with switching means, indicated schematically by button A below the screen 16, for switching between alternative modes of free selection of feature shape as described and assisted selection of feature shape by way of the provided outline.

The procedure for feature delineation and colour selection can be varied in various ways, including tracing the feature outline before selecting a colour. Moreover, more than one feature outline can be traced and a respective colour selected for each traced feature, for example by the sequence of select first colour, trace first feature, select second colour, trace second feature, etc. The control module can include an appropriate memory to store each selected colour in association with each traced feature and can transmit corresponding image signals to the equipment 11 after each individual feature tracing and colour selection or after all features have been traced and colours selected. In addition, the user instructions in step 34 can omit statement of the colour and such a statement, if it is to be made, can be provided by the above-mentioned audio output means of the equipment 15. This alternative can positively contribute to cognitive development of a

young child in the field of colour recognition.

Following insertion of the coloured feature, in effect completion of the paused image, image movement is resumed, either automatically after elapse of a period of time predetermined to be sufficient for the user to complete the task of feature shape and colour selection, or by user action such as actuation of a switch which transmits a movement resumption signal and which is indicated schematically on the equipment 15 by button B, this action being represented in the flow chart by step 39. The image movement resumes in the case of the equipment 11 with the step 40 and in the case of the equipment with the step 41. The story progression by the continuing image movement and associated narrative continues until interruption at a further point and repetition of the steps 32 to 41.

The data recorded on the disc can be such that following insertion of the feature and resumption of image movement a degree of animation of whole or part of the feature within the image occurs so that the feature can be seen to be fully integrated into the story unfolded by the image.

Performance of the example of the method hereinbefore described in conjunction with use of the provided apparatus 10 has the consequence, in the case of a pre-school age of the user, of developing cognition by teaching recognition of feature shapes and colour and the effect of features inserted into the image on story progression, thereby improving the child's level of understanding and comprehension. At the same time, motor skills are improved by the actions of drawing and colour selection under guidance. A fundamental aspect of the method is the interaction embodied in its performance, which represents a significant extension of the level of teaching able to be imparted by the mere reading of a story with supporting illustrations or the electronic equivalent of an image with supporting narrative. In the case of reading a story with illustrations, a limited degree of interaction is possible, but solely with the participation of an adult, who may or may not have the capability to effectively stimulate and instruct the child. In the method exemplifying the invention, adult participation is replaced by, in effect, child self-instruction with use of apparatus configured to provide appropriate tasks relating to cognition and motor activity while maintaining the child's interest and thus concentration.

The interactive display apparatus represented by the equipment 11, in this instance particularly for reproducing images with or without associated sound, and the equipment for influencing the image displayed on the screen of the equipment 11 can also have independent utility, i.e. separately from performance of the method of the invention, in view of the image modification capabilities able to be exerted by the apparatus by way of the control functions of the equipment 15. The equipment 15, which is preferably of compact tablet form and readily portable, accordingly comprises a location selection system responsive to contact with or transmission of signals to points on its screen 16 -which through the transmission path established by the line 17 can display a duplicate of the image displayed on the screen 12 -in order to select image locations by generating location signals respectively associated with the points, thus pixels or groups of pixels of the duplicate image. For that purpose the screen 16 can be, for example, a touch screen constructed in accordance with one of several known technologies, such as a multi-layer resistive panel of such construction that point pressure on the panel causes local contact of otherwise physically separate layers. A sensing system capable of detecting the contact location is associated with the panel and generates a data signal, for example a digital co-ordinate signal denoting that location. Successively generated location signals of that kind produced by moving contact with the panel can be stored by suitable data storage means (not shown) in the equipment 15. Alternatively, the touch screen can be constructed on a capacitive basis with a conductive coating applied to a screen panel and conducting current producing a capacitive field across the screen, the field responding to the capacitance present in a user's finger brought into contact with or even just into close proximity to, the panel. A local change in capacitance is sensed and a location signal generated to indicate the point of local change. Location signals deriving from motion of the finger across the panel are again intermediately stored. Also usable are, inter alia, technologies involving transmission of acoustic waves or light beams across the screen to create a field responding to interruption, or mechanical energy systems detecting vibration resulting from screen contact. Depending on the technology employed, an implement, such as the stylus 20, can also be provided for screen contact. In this connection the references in this specification to "contact" in relation to touch-sensitive surfaces include close proximal relationships of the surface and a finger or implement without actual physical contact. If an implement is to be provided, further technologies can be employed, particularly non-contact styli transmitting an air-pressure-pulse, acoustic, optical or electromagnetic-wave signal. The screen in that case is constructed to be locally sensitive to incidence of the respective form of signal and to cause generation, by way of an associated location signal generating means, of a location signal indicative of the point of incidence of the transmitted signal. Such technologies are well-known in terms of principle and do not require more detailed explanation.

The equipment further comprises colour selection means formed by the plurality of differently coloured zones, which are arranged in a line on one side of the screen 16 or, as shown, in lines on each of two opposite sides of the screen and which are responsive to contact therewith or transmission of a signal thereto to select a colour signal associated with the respective zone colour. The zones can be constructed in accordance with one of the afore-mentioned technologies applying to construction of the screen 16, preferably, but not essentially, the same technology.

The colour signal is also intermediately stored in the storage means of the equipment 15, which further comprises image influencing means such as a microprocessor, able to read out the stored location selection and colour signal data and process the data to generate a control data signal, which is transmissible on the return signal path represented by the line 18 to the equipment 12 and which provides command data for modification of the image displayed on the screen 12 at the selected pixel or pixel group locations, including areas associated with -especially surrounded or outlined by -such locations, and in the selected colour. For this purpose the equipment 11 comprises image modifying means (not shown) responsive to the image modification data to produce the desired modification of the displayed image. The image modifying means can be formed by, for example, digital data processing means influencing an image-determining video pixel store of the equipment 11, including software controlling the store operation.

Interactive image display apparatus with these features can be employed not only in the method provided by the present invention, but also more generally for adaptation of a displayed principal image as part of a drawing or design exercise, playing a game or other entertainment, education or personal development activity. The image can be derived from an own image store of the equipment 11 from a video data carrier, such as a digital video disc, or from an outside source such as, for example, the Internet, Ethernet or a broadcast transmission. Modification of the image is facilitated by user manipulation of a duplicate image displayed on equipment which, as a unit separate from the equipment 11, can be of compact size, light weight, portable and positionable horizontally for ease of operation, thus suitable for use by both adults and children.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of stimulating motor skills and assisting cognitive development in young children through equipment/user interaction, comprising the steps of -providing image and sound reproducing equipment and image influencing equipment for influencing an image reproduced by the reproducing equipment by transmission thereto of image change signals relating to selectable areas of the image, -generating a moving image on a display screen of the reproducing equipment with periodic pausing of the image movement, -concurrently generating by way of audio output means of the reproducing equipment an audio narrative associated with the generated image and including on each occasion of pause in the image movement user instructions relating to feature insertion into the image, -concurrently generating a duplicate image on a display screen of the influencing equipment, -operating the influencing equipment during a pause in the image movement and in accordance with the respective user instructions to select one of a plurality of predetermined different colours and duplicate image components corresponding with the respective feature to be inserted thereby to cause transmission to the reproducing equipment of image change signals producing insertion of the feature in the selected colour into the image on the display screen of the reproducing equipment and -resuming movement of the image after insertion of the feature.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of operating the influencing equipment comprises free selection of duplicate image components disposed within an empty area provided in the paused image.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the generated image on each occasion of pause in the movement thereof includes a moving guide providing an outline of an omitted feature and the step of operating the influencing equipment comprises selection of duplicate image components tracing the provided outline.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of operating the influencing equipment comprises selecting one of two alternative operating procedures respectively consisting of selection of duplicate image components tracing an outline provided in the paused image by a moving guide to delineate an omitted feature and of free selection of duplicate image components disposed within an empty area provided in the paused image.
5. A method as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the outline is formed progressively by the moving guide.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outline is a dashed or dotted line.
7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the moving guide is an icon.
8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inserted feature moves in its entirety or in part within the image on resumption of image movement.
9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the resumption of image movement is triggered by the user of the influencing equipment.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user instructions include a prompt to trigger the resumption of image movement.
11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of operating the influencing equipment to select a colour comprises touching or transmitting a signal 10 one of a plurality of differently coloured touch-sensitive or transmitted-signal-responsive zones on the equipment.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the touched zone is illuminated to indicate the colour selection.
13. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of operating the influencing equipment to select duplicate image components comprises selective contact with or transmission of a signal to parts of a touch-sensitive or transmitted-signal-responsive surface of the display screen of the influencing means.
14. Apparatus configured to perform a method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising image and sound reproducing equipment with a display screen for displaying an image and audio output means for providing an audio output, and image influencing equipment with a display screen for displaying a duplicate image and influencing means for influencing an image displayed on the screen of the reproducing equipment by transmission thereto of image change signals relating to selected areas of the image, the reproducing equipment being configured to generate a moving image and display the image on the display screen thereof with periodic pausing of the image movement and to concurrently generate by way of the audio output means an audio narrative associated with the image and including on each occasion of pause in the image movement user instructions relating to feature insertion into the image, and the influencing equipment being configured to concurrently generate a duplicate image and display the duplicate image on the display screen thereof and being operable during a pause in the image movement and in accordance with the respective user instructions to select one of a plurality of predetermined different colours and duplicate image components corresponding with the respective feature to be inserted thereby to cause transmission to the reproducing equipment of image change signals producing insertion of the feature in the selected colour into the image on the display screen of the reproducing equipment, movement of the image being resumed after insertion of the feature.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the influencing equipment is operable to freely select duplicate image components disposed within an empty area provided in the paused image.
16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the generated image on each occasion of pause in the movement thereof includes a moving guide providing an outline of an omitted feature and the influencing equipment is operable to select duplicate image components tracing the provided outline.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the influencing equipment is operable to select one of two alternative operating procedures respectively consisting of selection of duplicate image components tracing an outline provided in the paused image by a moving guide to outline an omitted feature and of free selection of duplicate image components disposed within an empty area provided in the paused image.
18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the influencing equipment comprises user operable means to cause resumption of image movement.
19. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the influencing equipment comprises a plurality of differently coloured touch-sensitive or transmitted-signal-responsive zones for selection of a colour.
20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the zones are arranged around the display screen of the influencing equipment.
21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the influencing means comprises illuminating means to illuminate each zone in response to contact therewith and to maintain the illumination until resumption of the image movement.
22. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 21, wherein the display screen of the influencing equipment has touch-sensitive or transmitted-signal-responsive surface responsive to selective contact therewith or transmission of a signal thereto for selection of the duplicate image components.
23. Interactive image display apparatus comprising image reproducing equipment with a first display screen for displaying an image and image influencing equipment with a second display screen for displaying a duplicate image transmitted thereto from the image reproducing equipment, the image influencing equipment comprising location selection means responsive to contact with or transmission of signals to points on the second display screen to select image locations by generating location signals respectively associated with the points, colour selection means comprising a plurality of differently coloured zones each responsive to contact therewith or transmission of a signal thereto to select a colour by generating a colour signal associated with the respective zone colour and image influencing means responsive to the location signals and colour signal to issue image influencing signals representative of modification of the image at the selected locations or in areas associated with the selected locations and in the selected colour and the image reproducing equipment comprising image modifying means responsive to the image influencing signals to modify the image on the first screen at the selected locations or associated areas and in the selected colour.
24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the associated areas are areas surrounded by selected locations.
25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the second screen is a touch screen.
26. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 24, wherein the zones are touch-sensitive zones.
27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the second screen is a screen responsive to transmission thereto of a pressure signal or an optical, acoustic or electromagnetic signal.
28. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 23, 24 and 27, wherein the zones are zones responsive to transmission thereto of a pressure signal or an optical, acoustic or electromagnetic signal.
29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 or 28, further comprising a transmission device for transmitting the pressure, optical, acoustic or electromagnetic signal.
30. Apparatus according to any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein the image influencing equipment has the form of a tablet.
31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 23 to 30, wherein the zones are disposed in a line on one side of the second screen.
32. Apparatus according to any one of claims 23 to 30, wherein the zones are disposed in lines on two opposite sides of the second screen.