INTERACTIVE AND EDUCATIONAL VISION INTERFACES

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A method for using an interactive computer interface to dynamically reflect how one or more user-selectable conditions and severity of those conditions can affect a user's vision, the method comprising:

receiving user input that identifies a condition that can affect vision;

displaying an image, the image being displayed in a manner that reflects how the image would appear to a user when vision of the user is not yet affected by the identified condition;

displaying an interface control that is operable to receive user input for identifying a severity of the condition;

receiving user input at the interface control that identifies a user-selected severity of the condition; and

dynamically displaying an altered version of the image, the altered version being displayed in response to the user-selected severity, the altered version of the image being displayed in such a manner as to reflect how the image would appear to the user when the user's vision is affected by the condition at the user-selected severity.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the method further includes:

receiving user input that identifies a new user-selected severity of the condition; and

dynamically displaying a new altered version of the image, responsive to the new user-selected severity, the new altered version of the image being displayed in such a manner as to reflect how the image would appear to the user when the user's vision is affected by the condition at the new user-selected severity.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the new altered version of the image reflects a diminished relative visual perception of the image as compared to the altered version of the image.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the method further includes displaying a plurality of selectable conditions to the user, the plurality of selectable conditions being displayed simultaneously to the user, and wherein the user input that identifies the condition comprises a user selection of one of the displayed plurality of selectable conditions.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of selectable conditions include at least age-related macular degeneration, floaters, cataracts and glaucoma.

26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the interface control comprises a radial dial.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the interface control includes a control feature that is rotated about the radial dial and which, when rotated, is operable to smoothly and dynamically adjust the user-selectable severity.

28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the interface control is a linear control that is used to select the user-selectable severity from the limited number of selectable severities.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the interface control is a sliding scale control.

30 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the user-selectable severity is based on an intensity of the condition.

31 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the user-selectable severity is based on a time or age associated with the condition.

32 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the interface control is displayed simultaneously with the image.

33 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the interface control is displayed simultaneously with the altered version of the image.

34 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the method further includes displaying a link to at least one other condition, simultaneously with the image and the interface control.

35 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the method further includes displaying a user-selectable link that is selectable to access additional information about the condition and which is displayed with the image and the user control.

36 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the method further includes displaying a representation of an eye simultaneously with the image and the interface control.

37 . A computing system comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory having stored computer-executable instructions which, when executed, implement a method for using an interactive computer interface to dynamically reflect how one or more user-selectable conditions and severity of those conditions can affect a user's vision, wherein the method includes:

receiving input that identifies a condition that can affect vision;

displaying an interface control that is operable to set a severity of the condition;

receiving user input at the interface control that sets a severity of the condition;

displaying an image, the image being displayed in a first manner that reflects how the image would appear to a user when vision of the user is affected by the condition at the severity set by the user;

receiving user input at the interface control that identifies a new severity setting of the condition; and

dynamically displaying an altered version of the image, in response to the new severity setting, the altered version of the image being displayed in such a manner as to reflect how the image would appear to the user when the user's vision is affected by the condition at the new severity setting.

38 . The system of claim 37 , wherein the new altered version of the image reflects a diminished relative visual perception of the image as compared to the how the image was displayed in the first manner.

39 . A computer program product comprising one or more recordable-type storage device having stored computer-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one computing processor, implement a method for using an interactive computer interface to dynamically reflect how one or more user-selectable conditions and severity of those conditions can affect a user's vision, wherein the method includes:

receiving user input that selects a condition that can affect vision;

displaying an interface control that is operable to receive user input for selecting a severity of the condition;

receiving user input selecting the severity of the condition through the interface control;

displaying an image, the image being displayed in a first presentation that reflects how the image would appear to a user when vision of the user is unaffected by the condition at the selected severity; and

displaying the image in a second presentation that reflects how the image would appear to the user when vision of the user is affected by the condition at the selected severity.

40 . The computer program product of claim 39 , wherein displaying the image in the first presentation and the second presentation occur at different times, wherein displaying the image in the first presentation occurs prior to receiving the user input through the interface control and wherein the displaying of the image in the second presentation occurs after receiving the user input through the interface control.