Learning method and system that restricts entertainment

Abstract

Method and system to help a student to focus on study materials on a computer by restricting the student from enjoying entertainment materials on the computer. The study materials are presented through a study program, and the entertainment materials are presented through an entertainment program. The entertainment program needs a device to entertain. The device can be a speaker or a position-pointing device, such as a mouse. The computer includes an access filter, which separates the programs from the device. The access filter can be modified to restrict coupling between the device and the entertainment program, but simultaneously allow coupling between the device and the study program. The restriction in the access filter can be removed under a predetermined condition, such as the amount of time the student has been working on the study materials, the student's performance in the study materials, and the time of day.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computing apparatus to use a plurality of programs, which include a learning program with its primary purpose for a user to learn, and an entertainment program with its primary purpose to entertain the user, the apparatus comprising:
 a device, which the entertainment program needs to fulfill its primary purpose and which the learning program needs to fulfill its primary purpose;   an access filter; and   a controller, under a predetermined condition, to modify the access filter on coupling between the device and at least a portion of the entertainment program, while allowing the coupling between the device and the learning program,   wherein under the predetermined condition, to modify the access filter to select from the list of (a) to change the access filter from allowing to restricting coupling between the device and the at least a portion of the entertainment program so as to adversely affect the entertainment program from fulfilling its primary purpose, and (b) to change the access filter from restricting to allowing coupling between the device and the at least a portion of the entertainment program so as not to adversely affect the entertainment program from fulfilling its primary purpose.   
     
     
         2 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the device to include a storage medium to store at least the entertainment program. 
     
     
         3 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus to determine whether a first program is a learning program or an entertainment program. 
     
     
         4 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the apparatus to determine includes to match an identifier of the first program with identifiers of a plurality of programs. 
     
     
         5 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 3 ,
 wherein the user to have an identifier,   wherein the first program to have a plurality of attributes, and   wherein the apparatus to determine the first program as a learning program if the identifier of the user to be one of the attributes of the first program.   
     
     
         6 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition to depend on time. 
     
     
         7 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined condition to depend on the time of day. 
     
     
         8 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the computing apparatus to monitor an amount of time the user spent on the learning program, and   wherein the predetermined condition to depend on the amount of time.   
     
     
         9 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the computing apparatus to monitor a goal achieved by the user in working on the learning program, and   wherein the predetermined condition to depend on the goal achieved by the user.   
     
     
         10 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the device to include electronics to access a network. 
     
     
         11 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein at least the entertainment program to be accessed through the network. 
     
     
         12 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the computing apparatus to provide one or more tokens to the user depending on at least a goal achieved by the user in working on the learning program, and   wherein the predetermined condition depends on at least one token.   
     
     
         13 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 12 ,
 wherein the plurality of programs to include at least a first entertainment program with a first predetermined condition, and a second entertainment program with a second predetermined condition,   wherein the first predetermined condition depends on a first number of tokens, and the second predetermined condition depends on a second number of tokens, and   wherein the first number of tokens to be different from the second number of tokens.   
     
     
         14 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the device to include a screen to display the entertainment program. 
     
     
         15 . A computing apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the screen not to present the at least a portion of the entertainment program to restricting coupling between the device and the at least a portion of the entertainment program.