System and method for controlling an advancing reading slot of a reading aid at variable velocities
A system and computerized method is provided that controls a reading slot to provide aid to a user in reading a passage. The computerized method includes generating a mask having an opaque portion and a reading slot. The opaque portion covers a plurality of lines having characters that are visible through the slot. The plurality of lines includes at least a first line and a second line. The method includes advancing the slot at a midline velocity in relation to the first line of the passage, and increasing the velocity of the slot in accordance with a digital transition velocity profile when the slot enters a transition zone of the passage.
1. A computerized method of controlling a reading slot to provide aid to a user in reading a passage, wherein the method comprises:
generating, by a processing device, a mask having an opaque portion and the slot, the opaque portion covering a plurality of lines having characters that are visible through the slot, the plurality of lines including at least a first line and a second line, the slot including a lead edge and an opposing trail edge that define a length dimension having a first length between the lead edge and the trail edge of the slot;
advancing, by the processing device, the slot at a midline velocity in relation to the first line of the passage; and
increasing, by the processing device, the velocity of at least one of the lead edge and the trail edge of the slot in accordance with a digital transition velocity profile when the slot enters a transition zone of the passage from the first line to the second line, wherein increasing the velocity increases the length dimension between the lead edge and the trail edge from the first length to a second length.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises displaying the mask over the plurality of lines.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises accessing reading proficiency of the user.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises determining an opacity level of the mask based on the reading proficiency of the user.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises determining and selecting the midline velocity based on the reading proficiency of the user.
6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises determining the length dimension of the slot based on the reading proficiency of the user.
7. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the slot includes a translucent portion and a semi-opaque portion, wherein the method further comprises setting at least one of a length dimension of the semi-opaque portion and a degree of opaqueness of the semi-opaque portion based on the reading proficiency of the user.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises determining when the slot enters the transition zone based on a marker associated with the first line of the passage.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises decreasing the velocity of at least one of the slot's lead and trail edges such that the length dimension decreases between the slot's lead and trail edges in accordance with the transition velocity profile until the length dimension reaches a predetermined dimension.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises adjusting the velocity of the slot's lead and trail edges at different times.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises decreasing the velocity of at least one of the slot's lead and trail edges in accordance with a digital recovery velocity profile when the slot exits the transition zone.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises determining when the slot exits the transition zone based on a marker associated with the second line of the passage.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises adjusting at least one of the slot's position or advancement based on a code related to the passage, wherein the code is embedded in the passage or is associated with the passage.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a request to adjust one of: a position of the slot, the velocity of the slot, and a velocity of at least one of a lead edge or trail edge of the slot; and
adjusting at least one of: the slot position, the velocity of the slot, and the velocity of the at least one of the lead edge and trail edge of the slot.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving feedback information from the user in response to the request to adjust; and
adjusting, based on the feedback information, at least one of: a selected distance for position of the slot, an amount for velocity of the slot, an amount for the velocity of the lead edge and trail edge of the slot.
16. A system to control a reading slot to provide aid to a user in reading a passage, the system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
generating a mask having an opaque portion and the slot, the opaque portion to cover a plurality of lines having characters that are visible through the slot, the plurality of lines including at least a first line and a second line, the slot including a lead edge and an opposing trail edge that define a length dimension having a first length between the lead edge and the trail edge of the slot;
advancing the slot at a midline velocity in relation to the first line of the passage; and
increasing the velocity of at least one of the lead edge and the trail edge of the slot in accordance with a digital transition velocity profile when the slot enters a transition zone of the passage, wherein increasing the velocity increases the length dimension between the lead edge and the trail edge from the first length to a second length.
17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise displaying the mask over the plurality of lines.
18. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise accessing reading proficiency of the user.
19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise determining an opacity level of the mask based on the reading proficiency of the user.
20. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the midline velocity based on the reading proficiency of the user.
21. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the length dimension of the slot based on the reading proficiency of the user.
22. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the slot includes a translucent portion and a semi-opaque portion, wherein the operations further comprise setting at least one of a length dimension of the semi-opaque portion and a degree of opaqueness of the semi-opaque portion based on the reading proficiency of the user.
23. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise determining when the slot enters the transition zone based on a marker associated with the first line of the passage.
24. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise decreasing the velocity of at least one of the slot's lead and trail edges such that a length dimension decreases between the slot's lead and trail edges in accordance with the transition velocity profile until the length dimension reaches a predetermined dimension.
25. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the velocity of the slot's lead and trail edges at different times.
26. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise decreasing the velocity of at least one of the slot's lead and trail edges in accordance with a digital recovery velocity profile when the slot exits the transition zone.
27. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise determining when the slot exits the transition zone based on a marker associated with the second line of the passage.
28. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting at least one of the slot's position or advancement based on a code related to the passage, wherein the code is embedded in the passage or is associated with the passage.
29. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving a request to adjust one of: a position of the slot, the velocity of the slot, and a velocity of at least one of a lead edge or trail edge of the slot; and
adjusting at least one of: the slot position, the velocity of the slot, and the velocity of the at least one of the lead edge and trail edge of the slot.
30. The system according to claim 29 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving feedback information from the user in response to the request to adjust; and
adjusting, based on the feedback information, at least one of: a selected distance for the position of the slot, an amount for velocity of the slot, and an amount for the velocity of the at least one of the lead edge and trail edge of the slot.
31. A method of controlling a reading slot to provide aid to a user in reading a passage, wherein the method comprises:
determining, by a processing device, a length dimension associated with the slot based at least on a reading proficiency of the user;
generating, by the processing device, a mask having an opaque portion and the slot, the opaque portion covering a plurality of lines having characters that are visible through the slot, the plurality of lines including at least a first line and a second line, the slot including a lead edge and an opposing trail edge defined according to the length dimension between the lead edge and the trail edge of the slot;
advancing, by the processing device, the slot at a midline velocity in relation to the first line of the passage; and
increasing, by the processing device, the velocity of the slot in accordance with a digital transition velocity profile when the slot enters a transition zone of the passage from the first line to the second line.
32. The method according to claim 31 , wherein increasing the velocity of the slot comprises increasing the length dimension between the lead edge and the trail edge.