Method and device for audibly instructing a user to interact with a function

Abstract

A method for audibly instructing a user to interact with a function. A function is associated with a user-written selectable item. The user-written selectable item is recognized on a surface. In response to recognizing the user-written selectable item, a first instructional message related to the operation of the function is audibly rendered without requiring further interaction from the user.

1 . A method for audibly instructing a user to interact with a function, said method comprising:
 associating a function with a user-written selectable item;   recognizing said user-written selectable item on a surface; and   in response to said recognizing said user-written selectable item, audibly rendering a first instructional message related to the operation of said function without requiring further interaction from said user.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first instructional message directs said user to draw at least one user interface element that enables said user to interface with said function. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2  further comprising:
 determining whether a writing has been drawn on said surface within a predetermined time period since said audibly rendering said first instructional message; and 
 provided no writing has been drawn on said surface within said predetermined time period, repeating said first instructional message. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 2  further comprising:
 determining whether said user interface element has been properly drawn on said surface; and 
 provided said user interface element has not been properly drawn on said surface, audibly rendering a second instructional message comprising a hint about a manner in which said user should properly draw said user interface element. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4  further comprising, provided said user interface element has been properly drawn, audibly rendering a third instructional message. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 4  further comprising, provided said user interface element has been properly drawn, executing said function. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising, in response to a user interaction with said user-written selectable item, repeating said first instructional message. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising executing said function prior to audibly rendering said first instructional message. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said recognizing said user-written selectable item is performed in response to detecting a termination event indicating that said user-written selectable item is complete. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said recognizing said user-written selectable item comprises:
 optically recording positions of the tip of a pen computer; and 
 performing image recognition of said positions to recognize said user-written selectable item. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said audibly rendering said first instructional message is performed by an audio output device of a pen computer. 
     
     
         12 . A method for automatically executing a function, said method comprising:
 associating a function with a user-written selectable item;   recognizing said user-written selectable item on a surface; and   in response to said recognizing said user-written selectable item, immediately executing said function without first requiring further interaction between a user and said surface.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  further comprising audibly rendering an instructional message related to the operation of said function without first requiring further interaction between said user and said surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein said audibly rendering said instructional message is performed in response to the lapsing of a predetermined time period without user interaction with said surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 12  further comprising, in response to a user interaction with said user-written selectable item, re-executing said function. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said recognizing said user-written selectable item is performed in response to detecting a termination event indicating that said user-written selectable item is complete. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said immediately executing said function without first requiring further interaction between a user and said surface comprises immediately executing said function without first requiring auxiliary writing by said user on said surface. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method for audibly instructing a user to interact with a function, said method comprising:
 associating a function with a user-written selectable item;   recognizing said user-written selectable item on a surface; and   in response to said recognizing said user-written selectable item, audibly rendering a first instructional message related to the operation of said function without requiring further interaction from said user.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 18  wherein said first instructional message directs said user to draw at least one user interface element that enables said user to interface with said function. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said method further comprises:
 determining whether a writing has been drawn on said surface within a predetermined time period since said audibly rendering said first instructional message; and   provided no writing has been drawn on said surface within said predetermined time period, repeating said first instructional message.