Method and apparatus for communicating using pictograms

Abstract

A device for communicating, preferably between two people who could not normally orally communicate, by at least one user pointing to pictograms on the device. The device can be a static medium having a plurality of icons thereon or can be part of a computer generated program having a graphic display that is either moving or stationary so that a user can select at least one icon to communicate an idea. When two or more people use the device to communicate, the device enables a dialogue to develop between the people. A first responder to an emergency situation could use the device in any country to gather information to quickly respond to the situation.

1 . An apparatus for communicating by pointing to pictograms on the apparatus, comprising: 
 a static medium having a plurality of icons thereon so that a user can select at least one of said plural icons to communicate an idea.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said icons are arranged at least one of hierarchically, sequentially and by color code to enable the user to quickly point to at least one of said plural icons using one of the user's finger and a stylus.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the icons are readily erasable.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the icons are structured and arranged so that the functionality and cognition of said icons is directly linked to the arrangement.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for communicating by pointing to pictograms on the apparatus, comprising: 
 a plurality of adjacent panels foldable into a pocket-sized device,    each of said plural panels having a plurality of different pictograms on first and second sides,    each panel comprising one pictogram depicting a general concept and a plurality of smaller pictograms depicting a specific concept related to said general concept.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said plural smaller pictograms have an attribute that connotes added meaning.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the general concept is a medical emergency and the plural different pictograms depicts scenarios related to the medical emergency.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 at least one additional panel that depicts additional pictograms related to a treatment for the medical emergency and    at least one still additional panel that depicts pictograms related to medication instructions to be followed by a victim of the medical emergency, said pictograms comprising medication quantities, modes of delivery when to take the medication.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said pictograms denote information related to medication restrictions and side effects.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising at least one yet additional panel that depicts further pictograms related to a background of a victim of the medical emergency.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising English language text adjacent at least one of said plural smaller pictograms that describes said one of said plural smaller pictograms.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising at least one additional panel that depicts English language phrases and corresponding non-English language phrases.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said at least one additional panel further comprises phonetic phrases corresponding to the non-English language phrases.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said plural pictograms depict elements related to military communication and the plural pictograms are structured and arranged to enable dialogue between at least one of military personnel that speak different languages and military personnel and civilians.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is a military communicator and wherein 
 a first one of said plural panels comprising pictograms of flags of various nations,    a second one of said plural panels comprising a pictogram of world map identifying countries of the world,    a third one of said plural panels comprising pictograms of military vehicles including military air transport and military ground transport,    a fourth one of said plural panels comprising pictograms of military weaponry and communication devices including artillery weaponry, bombs, handheld military weapons, land mines, military radios,    a fifth one of said plural panels comprising pictograms of characteristics including physical characteristics of one of military personnel, paramilitary personnel, civilians and hostile people in civilian attire, attire for one of military personnel, civilian, paramilitary and hostile people in civilian attire including colors of the attire, and    a sixth one of said plural panels comprising pictograms of terrain, man-made structures traversing the terrain, non-public transportation for traversing the terrain and the presence of military guard posts along the terrain.    
   
   
       16 . A method of communicating between a first responder to an event an a person at the event that is voice disabled, language challenged or deaf, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a portable language communicator;    using said portable language communicator to initiate a dialog between the first responder and the person.    
   
   
       17 . A method of communicating between a first responder to an event and a person at the event that is voice disabled or language challenged, by pointing to pictograms on a portable visual language translator, comprising the steps of: 
 presenting the language translator to the person;    having the person point to at least one pictogram on said language translator indicating an event that may require the first responders assistance.    
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of pictograms are sequenced so that a set of images are accessible in an order specific to the event and further comprising the step of pointing to said plural pictograms to lay out said order in a logical time dependent sequence to attempt to recreate the event.  
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said step of having the person point comprises the person pointing to a first pictogram on said language translator indicating a general nature of the event that occurred and that may require the first responders assistance and having the person point to a second pictogram on said language translator indicating a specific nature of the event that occurred, the specific nature being directly related to the general nature.  
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of creating a dialogue between the first responder and the person by both the first responder and the person pointing to pictograms.  
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a step of the first responder pointing to a third pictogram to indicate an action to be performed by the first responder to address the event.  
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a step of the first responder pointing to a fourth pictogram to indicate a procedure to be followed by the person after the action has been performed by the first responder.  
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a step of the person pointing to a plurality of pictograms on said translator to indicate information regarding the person's background prior to performing the action.  
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of presenting the language translator comprises unfolding a pocket sized translator.  
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising the step of folding the language translator so that two panels that are not directly adjacent each other are moved adjacent each other so that additional meaning can be ascertained from the two panels.  
   
   
       26 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of presenting the language translator comprises showing the person a computer screen displaying the pictograms.  
   
   
       27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the pictograms are displayed in a rapid linear succession.  
   
   
       28 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein each step of pointing to a pictogram comprises selecting the pictogram with a computer recognized input selected from one of a stylus, a mouse, a light beam, a head pointer, voice recognition, a track ball and a track pad.  
   
   
       29 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the pictograms are at least one of static, changeable and animated.  
   
   
       30 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the pictograms have attributes that connote additional meaning selected from at least one of color, shade, sound, speed, direction, rotation, scaling, shifts in 3-dimensional perspective, patterns, gradients, shape, true animation, video, sound, flashing, rate of flash and brightness.  
   
   
       31 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the event is one of a medical emergency, a fire and rescue disaster, a law enforcement emergency, part of a military operation, maritime communication, disaster relief and a natural event requiring humanitarian aid.  
   
   
       32 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of the person sequentially pointing to a plurality of pictograms to convey a complex idea that is not conveyed by a single one of said plural pictograms.  
   
   
       33 . A device for a language or voice-challenged person to communicate with a medical professional, said device comprising: 
 a plurality of adjacent foldable panels that are attached to one another and are foldable to fit inside a pocket of a user's clothes, each of said panels including a plurality of readily identifiable pictograms,    at least one of said panels comprising a first pictogram depicting a general medical emergency and a plurality of second pictograms depicting a specific medical emergency related to said first pictogram,    wherein a first one of said panels depicts said general medical emergency as a bite depicted by a human body part having a bite mark and said plural second pictograms depict possible causes of the bite,    wherein a second one of said panels depicts said general medical emergency as a fall depicted by a person in a supine position and said plural second pictograms depict possible causes of the fall, wherein additional second plural pictograms depict possible surfaces fallen onto and a height of the fall,    wherein a third one of said panels depicts said general medical emergency as ingestion of an item that should not be ingested depicted by a child having a question mark on their stomach and said plural second pictograms depict possible items that should not be ingested,    wherein a fourth one of said panels depicts said general medical emergency as a vehicle crash depicted by a car hitting a pedestrian and said plural second pictograms depict possible vehicle crash scenarios, wherein additional plural second pictograms depict details regarding placement of passengers within the vehicle prior to the vehicle crash, and    wherein a fifth one of said panels depicts said general medical emergency as an allergic reaction depicted by an ill-looking person and said plural second pictograms depict possible items that may have caused the allergic reaction.    
   
   
       34 . The device as claimed in  claim 33 , 
 wherein another one of said plural panels depicts pictograms showing possible symptoms of the medical emergency,    wherein still another one of said plural panels depicts pictograms related to treatments of the medical emergency,    wherein yet another one of said plural panels depicts pictograms that specify medication instruction for treating the medical emergency,    wherein yet still another one of said plural panels depicts pictograms related to instructions for the person to follow after treatment of the medical emergency,    wherein yet still further another one of said plural panels depicts pictograms to ascertain personal background information of the person,    wherein still yet another additional one of said plural panels depicts pictograms to ascertain the person's medical history.    
   
   
       35 . A method of gathering information through visual identification, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a portable visual translator;    indicating at least one universally recognizable pictogram on said visual translator that denotes a word or sentence related to a scenario.    
   
   
       36 . The method as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said scenario is law enforcement.  
   
   
       37 . The method as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said scenario is military law enforcement.  
   
   
       38 . The method as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said scenario is maritime communications.  
   
   
       39 . The method as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said scenario is disaster relief.