WO2017210311A1

WO2017210311A1 - Data analytics-mediated interactive training system

Info

Publication number: WO2017210311A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/035240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ryan VET; Cameron PERKINS; Daniel K. DAVIDIAN; Scott G. Newnam
Original assignee: Anutra Innovations LLC
Current assignee: Anutra Innovations LLC
Priority date: 2016-05-31
Filing date: 2017-05-31
Publication date: 2017-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-30

Abstract

Systems and methods for data analytics-mediated interactive training are described. An interactive training system is disclosed, including a personal digital appliance programmably arranged for training of an individual with audiovisual training content viewable by the individual on the personal digital appliance, wherein the audiovisual training content is integrated with corresponding success-contingent progressionary testing on the personal digital appliance of the individual's learning of the training content viewed by the individual on the personal digital appliance, as a requisite for advancement in the training. The testing includes input by the individual of responses to the personal digital appliance, as training data of the individual, and the personal digital appliance is programmably arranged for input of performance data by the individual in subsequent contemporaneous performance of trained action by the individual. The personal digital appliance inputted performance data may be used by the appliance to generate an assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action, and/or the inputted performance data may be downloadable from the personal digital appliance to generate and assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

Description

DATA ANALYTICS-MEDIATED INTERACTIVE TRAINING SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/343,533 filed May 31, 2016 in the names of Ryan Vet, Cameron Perkins, Daniel K. Davidian, and Scott G. Newnam for "DATA ANALYTICS-MEDIATED INTERACTIVE TRAINING SYSTEM" is hereby claimed. The disclosure of such U.S. provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, for all purposes.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a data analytics-mediated interactive training system that is usefully employed to train individuals in proper use of products, e.g., for training of dental personnel in the use of automated syringe fill systems, for training of medical technicians in the use of physiological imaging equipment, and for training of consumers in the use of consumer electronic products.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0003] In the use of equipment in many fields of endeavor, training is required for the purpose of an individual knowledgeable of the construction, features, operation, and maintenance of a product device. Frequently, where the product device is of a simple and readily understood and operated character, the training may be effectuated by correspondingly simple means, such as simple instructions of a pictorial and/or graphic character, which may be rendered in a tangible print form, or made available in online or other media.

[0004] For more complex product devices, such as medical equipment, industrial electronic monitoring and control equipment, and the like, the training process frequently involves a technical support representative of the original equipment manufacturer, or a distributor or reseller of such equipment, making a site visit to the product device location to provide training input, feedback, and support to a prospective user, to ensure complete knowledge and awareness of the product device, its features, operation of the device, maintenance of the device, etc.

[0005] Thus, manufacturers, distributors, and resellers have expended substantial resources in training their customers to install, integrate, and use new equipment, technology, and systems. This expenditure has been considered as justified to ensure proper deployment and operation of products, as crucial to long-term success and value of the customer, as well as to minimize potential liability exposure incident to faulty implementation and misuse of the product by the purchaser or user. The approach of dispatching representatives for technical support of the training in many instances is cost-prohibitive and not fully successful, since the instruction received in the training interaction may be forgotten or miscommunicated within the customer organization.

[0006] In consequence, the art continues to seek improvements in training methods and techniques for ensuring more efficient and cost-effective receipt of relevant knowledge applicable to the deployment and use of product equipment, technology, and systems, and methods and techniques for ensuring retention and reapplication of such relevant knowledge in subsequent, post-training usage of such equipment, technology, and systems.

SUMMARY

[0007] The present disclosure relates to a data analytics-mediated interactive training system providing training, testing, user feedback and real-time analytics to better train users and managers of products.

[0008] In one aspect, the disclosure relates to an interactive training system comprising a personal digital appliance programmably arranged for training of an individual with audiovisual training content viewable by the individual on the personal digital appliance, wherein the audiovisual training content is integrated with corresponding success-contingent progressionary testing on the personal digital appliance of the individual's learning of the training content viewed by the individual on the personal digital appliance, as a requisite for advancement in the training, wherein said testing comprises input by the individual of responses to the personal digital appliance, as training data of the individual, and wherein the personal digital appliance is programmably arranged for input of performance data by the individual in subsequent contemporaneous performance of trained action by the individual, wherein the personal digital appliance inputted performance data is used by the appliance to generate an assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action, and/or the inputted performance data is downloadable from the personal digital appliance to generate and assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

[0009] In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method of conducting training, comprising use of the interactive training system of the present disclosure, as variously described herein.

[0010] Other aspects, features and embodiments of the disclosure will be more fully apparent from the ensuing description and appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic process sequence involving a personal digital appliance utilized in the data analytics-mediated interactive training system of the present disclosure, in one embodiment thereof.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of operative steps involved in one implementation of the data analytics-mediated interactive training system of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a transactional process sequence for user management of the data analytics-mediated interactive training process by a customer, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of sequence events of a data analytics-mediated interactive training process conducted with a personal digital appliance and seller server, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 5 is an image of a personal digital appliance displaying an initial screen of a sequentially displayed training sequence, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 6 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a subsequent orientation program output.

[0017] FIG. 7 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a completion screen of the orientation program.

[0018] FIG. 8 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a questionnaire sequence.

[0019] FIG. 9 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying an answer sequence to the questionnaire.

[0020] FIG. 10 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a final screen image of the answer sequence denoting the completion of the personal digital appliance training program.

[0021] FIG. 11 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a dashboard screen subsequent to completion of the personal digital appliance training program, including identification of completed patient evaluations, capability of accessing sourcing of additional training video content, and operational prompts.

[0022] FIG. 12 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a patient evaluations screen, including a timer and input capability for inputting of patient information.

[0023] FIG. 13 is an image of the video gallery accessible from the screen of FIG. 11, for specific training aspects of the training program.

[0024] FIG. 14 is a screen display exhibited by a personal digital appliance on which a training software program in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure has been loaded. [0025] FIG. 15 is a screen display exhibited by the personal digital appliance of one screen of the set up sequence for the training software program being functionalized on the appliance.

[0026] FIG. 16 is a screen display exhibited by the personal digital appliance of another screen of the set up sequence for the training software program being functionalized on the appliance.

[0027] FIG. 17 is a screen display exhibited by a user server installation that is utilized for personnel and data management of a customer base engaged in training activities.

[0028] FIGS. 18-22 are pictorial depictions of screen displays that may be variously presented on output displays of digital computational devices utilized in the training systems and methods of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The present disclosure relates to interactive training systems and associated training methods for imparting to users or others involved with use of products, e.g., medical devices, manufacturing machinery, industrial or consumer appliances, etc.

[0030] As used herein, the term "success-contingent progressionary testing" refers to testing involving sequential testing steps, in which advancement to a next step in the sequential testing steps requires success in an immediately prior testing step in the sequence.

[0031] In one aspect, the disclosure relates to an interactive training system comprising a personal digital appliance programmably arranged for training of an individual with audiovisual training content viewable by the individual on the personal digital appliance, wherein the audiovisual training content is integrated with corresponding success-contingent progressionary testing on the personal digital appliance of the individual's learning of the training content viewed by the individual on the personal digital appliance, as a requisite for advancement in the training, wherein said testing comprises input by the individual of responses to the personal digital appliance, as training data of the individual, and wherein the personal digital appliance is programmably arranged for input of performance data by the individual in subsequent contemporaneous performance of trained action by the individual.

[0032] The personal digital appliance inputted performance data may be used by the appliance to generate an assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action, and/or the inputted performance data may be downloadable from the personal digital appliance for assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

[0033] The interactive training system may comprise a remote computational unit, which is operatively linked in interactive communications relationship to the personal digital appliance, or otherwise arranged, to receive the inputted performance data and to responsively generate the assessment of proficiency of the individual in the trained action and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

[0034] For such purpose, the personal digital appliance may be configured to transmit the training data via an associated interactive communications network to the remote computational unit for entry in a training database of the user therein, for the generation of the assessment of the proficiency of the individual in the trained action and/or to otherwise generate feedback to the individual in the trained action.

[0035] Additionally, or alternatively, the interactive training system may comprise a remote computational unit operatively linked in interactive communications relationship to the personal digital appliance, to enable the remote computational unit to transmit to the personal digital appliance information related to the assessment of the proficiency of the individual in the trained action, e.g., the assessment itself, or information derived therefrom and/or requisite thereto.

[0036] The interactive training system in various embodiments may be adapted and configured for training of the trained action, as comprising a medical or healthcare procedure, e.g., a dental procedure, such as administering anesthesia to a dental patient.

[0037] In other embodiments, the interactive training system may be adapted and configured for training of the trained action, as comprising the setup, installation, operation, and/or maintenance of a product apparatus or device. In still other embodiments, the trained action may comprise performance of an activity, a behavioral course of conduct, or other sequence of active steps directed to a goal or result.

[0038] The disclosure relates in another aspect to a method of conducting training comprising the interactive training system of the present disclosure, as variously described herein.

[0039] In such method, the personal digital appliance programmably configured for the training may be supplied to the individual by a product manufacturer, seller, or distributor, for training use by the individual, and return by the individual to the supplier at the conclusion of the training.

[0040] The returned personal digital appliance then may be refurbished or otherwise reconstituted for subsequent training use by a second individual, e.g., as part of a product support effort by the supplier.

[0041] Other system and method aspects of the present disclosure will be apparent from the ensuing disclosure.

[0042] Although the ensuing disclosure is directed to the use of an Apple iPad® as an illustrative personal digital appliance, it will be recognized that the disclosure is not correspondingly limited, and that the systems and methods of the present disclosure may utilize any of various other personal digital appliances, including computers of any suitable type and character that are programmably adapted or adaptable for use in the system and method of the present disclosure, as for example desktop computers, notebook computers, sub-notebook computers, tablet computers, wearable computers, smart phones, smart watches, and any other digital interface devices by which a trainee or group of trainees, can be trained in accordance with the present disclosure. It will also be recognized that the servers and other computational apparatus employed in connection with global communications networks such as the Internet to effectuate the systems and methods of the present disclosure may likewise be of any suitable type, as adapted for and useful in the interactive training systems and methods of the disclosure. It will further be recognized that the training systems and methods of the present disclosure may be embodied in Web-based applications that are selectively accessible or downloadable by a user, to effectuate the training methods of the present disclosure.

[0043] In like manner, although the disclosure is illustratively directed to training of customers in the setup, use, operation, and maintenance of a syringe fill system for filling of syringes with buffered anesthetic media for use in patients undergoing dental procedures requiring anesthesia, it will be recognized that the training methods and systems of the present disclosure are equally applicable to training of persons involving numerous other products, systems, technologies, and capabilities.

[0044] For ease of reference in the subsequent discussion of the systems and methods of the disclosure, the term "seller" will be used to denote a party offering the training, and the term "customer" will be used to identify a party receiving the training.

[0045] In the illustrative system, the iPad® personal digital appliance is utilized as an implementation tool to implement user knowledge and skills in a fast and efficient manner. This tool is utilized to train a customer, e.g., a dentist and his/her associated dental staff, and to modify activity and behavior related to administration of anesthesia to dental patients. By filling out patient evaluations and iPad® personal digital appliance reminders, such personnel are trained to remain with their patients and are able to utilize the training system to retrain themselves and/or new staff.

[0046] The use of the iPad® personal digital appliance, as herein described, enables training of large numbers of people in a short amount of time. In an illustrative implementation, the customers are shipped an iPad® device and ancillary documentation with their initial order for the training system. Once the training is completed, the iPad® device is returned to the seller, e.g., by the same packaging as the initial shipment, provided in the first instance with return shipping label. In the initial shipment package, the iPad® device is provided with an instruction card containing information on turning on the device, general controls, enabling Wi-Fi and return shipping. The seller as a server installation including an administrative portal at which customers' use of their iPad® devices can be tracked. At the seller portal, the quiz results of customers can be accessed, as well as information concerning the number of quizzes taken and patient evaluations that have been made by customers.

[0047] The seller's server installation administrative portal processes information concerning patient evaluations (user surveys) by a customer, and if an evaluation raises concern, as deviating from predetermined evaluation criteria, e.g., if a customer is not remaining with a patient, then the server installation can push remedial information and queries to the customer, or alternatively provide an alert output to the seller, so that the seller then can contact the customer for interactive communication concerning status of the customer's operation, including satisfaction, questions, etc., in connection with the customer's use of the training system, and with the seller providing verbal guidance and response to customer concerns and questions. For example, if the patient evaluations indicate that the customer is not remaining with patients, a reminder can be committed by the seller to the customer concerning such maintained presence with the customer's patients.

[0048] The shipment and customer retention of the iPad® personal digital appliance may be structured so that the appliance is only held by the customer for a predetermined period of time demarcated by a reasonable training period of time, e.g., 30 days, 60 days, or other temporal duration.

[0049] The shipment, setup, and operation of the iPad® device may be supported by the seller with the customer by appropriate technical service and sales support personnel of the seller, who may provide additional input, services, and information to the customer, and/or the iPad® device may be provided with frequently asked questions (FAQs) addressing likely or frequently experienced issues of customers with the device or training system generally.

[0050] The features and advantages of the training system and methods of the present disclosure will be more fully apparent from the ensuing description of illustrative embodiments of the disclosure.

[0051] FIG. 1 is a schematic process sequence involving a personal digital appliance utilized in the data analytics-mediated interactive training system of the present disclosure, in one embodiment thereof. As illustrated in the pictorial sequence, the personal digital appliance ("Device") may be of a generally available consumer type, so that it is of a character familiar to customers, but which may be modified by the seller so that it is locked to restrict its use and operation to the training software application ("Locked for app"). The training software application in the Device may be specifically modified for a particular customer ("Custom input to customer"), following which the Device may be packaged and shipped to the customer ("Ship to customer").

[0052] Upon receipt by the customer of the Device, the customer training is initiated ("Customer Training"), with the training information generated by the customer ("Results") being transmitted via a network, e.g., a global communications network such as the Internet, to the seller's data center ("Data Center"). The seller's data center may include servers, central computers, processors, and the like, operatively coupled by the network with the customer's Device, so that based on the customer training Results transmitted to the seller's data center, the data center infrastructure can provide appropriate programmatic information ("Intelligent Training Modules") to the customer ("Customer Alert") for operational progression through the training process, to a point of completion of the training ("Training Complete"), whereupon the Device is returned by shipment to the seller ("Ship back to Anutra"). The returned Device then can be used in a succeeding training by another customer of the seller, as appropriately programed for such subsequent using party.

[0053] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of operative steps involved in one implementation of the data analytics-mediated interactive training system of the present disclosure. The personal digital appliance ("Device") may be programmatically personalized for use by a specific customer ("Device Personalization"), and may be customized so that it is utilizable only for the training program ("Restrict user access utilize training application exclusively"). The Device then is utilized by the customer to impart to such user knowledge and capability related to the training activity ("Personalized training comprehension for specific user"). If the user satisfactorily progresses through the training sequence ("Successfully the training"), then the user advances to a post-completion screen display on the Device ("Personalized user page"). If the user does not satisfactorily progress through the training sequence, then the user is redirected to the training sequence for retraining until satisfactory progress is achieved ("Retrain until completion").

[0054] Upon successful completion of the training sequence, either initially, or via retraining, the customer's access of the Personalized user page then provides access capability by which the training system furnishes the user with additional programmatic content ("Additional trigger alert generates additional training videos for user") that can be selectively accessed by the customer to achieve mastery of the subject of the training ("Complete utilize training application").

[0055] FIG. 3 is a transactional process sequence for user management of the data analytics-mediated interactive training process by a customer, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The transactional sequence begins with shipment by the seller of the personal digital appliance device to the customer ("User shipment"), accompanied by ancillary informational materials that may optionally be particularized for a specific customer ("Custom user device packages with start-up materials and instructions for use").

[0056] The device then is received by the customer ("Arrives to the customer"). The device may be pre-programmed for communicational interaction with the seller's server or other components of the seller's data center, to send arrival information for the device to the seller's data center, and to initiate a sequence of monitoring of the initiation of the training by the customer ("Did they start training application"). If the training is not initiated within a predetermined time, the server at the seller's data center may transmit a prompting message to the device ("Trigger alert to start training"). Alternatively, the server at the seller's data center may provide an alert to the seller or in other manner provide inadequate intake of non- initiation of the training by the customer. Once initiated by the customer, the training process is conducted using the device ("Proceed through training videos and comprehension quiz") until the conclusion of the training process is achieved ("Complete Training").

[0057] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of sequence events of a data analytics-mediated interactive training process conducted with a personal digital appliance and seller server, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] In the FIG. 4 flowchart, the seller server's input of training program content to the personal digital appliance used by the customer is denoted as "Artificial Intelligence." The training program content may comprise video content ("Watch Videos") that are viewed by the customer on the personal digital appliance, followed by a training comprehension quiz that is displayed on the device ("Complete Training Comprehension Quiz"). If the training comprehension quiz is satisfactorily completed, a corresponding affirmation ("Positive Reinforcement") is communicated by the device to the customer, and it the comprehension quiz indicates deficits in the training process, then the personal digital appliance generates additional training program content to achieve successful completion of the training program ("Auto generated additional training until behavior corrected").

[0059] The purchaser upon completion of the aforementioned content ("Finish Training Module") then completes a response indicative of such status ("Complete User Checklist"), to which the training system responsively generates additional training content relative to the response ("Auto generate training based on data collected by user checklist"). Such additional training content may include behavioral prompts ("Triggers alert that changes behavior") or may initiate an update of video content viewable by the customer ("Triggers alert that updates video library"), thereby permitting an assessment of whether training has successfully taken place ("Assess Training Mastery"). In the event that behavioral prompts are displayed, the training software can successively assess the customer's proficiency and display further prompts as necessary in a feedback loop. When the system has verified that all proficiency has been achieved, the system will communicate on the device a corresponding message to the customer ("Complete Training").

[0060] The training process flowchart shown in FIG. 4 may variously include interactive communication steps between the personal digital appliance and a server, processor, or other component of a seller's data center, involving bidirectional communication between the data center and the personal digital appliance, implementing the operational sequence. [0061] FIGS. 5-13 depict the content that is successively displayed on the screen of the personal digital appliance in the training sequence.

[0062] FIG. 5 is an image of a personal digital appliance displaying an initial screen of a sequentially displayed training sequence, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is the so-called "landing screen" that is displayed when the purchaser first opens the training application software on the device. Such initial screen display may include a salutation, such as that illustrated: "Welcome, Dr. Dentist. Thank you for leveraging Anutra Medical's iTraining. With this simple tool, we will navigate you through how to set-up and utilize the Anutra Local Anesthetic Delivery System." The initial screen display may also include a prompt for actuating the training sequence on the device ("START TRAINING").

[0063] FIG. 6 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a subsequent orientation program output. FIG. 6 presents content entitled "An Overview of Your System" and such content may include a series of videos that orient the customer to the features and set-up of the product.

[0064] FIG. 7 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a completion screen of the orientation program. The displayed image includes a confirmation that the orientation video has been completed ("Video Complete!") and includes a prompt ("PROCEED TO QUESTIONS") that can be activated by the customer to display a questionnaire. Alternatively, the system may auto transition to the next display page after a predetermined period of time, e.g., five seconds.

[0065] FIG. 8 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a questionnaire sequence. This questionnaire, titled "An Overview of Your System", will correspond with the preceding orientation video, and present selection buttons for answers to various questions of the questionnaire. The responses included by the customer will be saved in the database under the customer's name. Each display page will include a submission selection ("SUBMIT") for that page.

[0066] FIG. 9 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying an answer sequence to the questionnaire. The FIG. 9 screen display will be actuated upon selection of the SUBMIT function on the display page, so that there is immediate identification to the customer of the correct answer to the questions displayed on the questionnaire page. Thus, in the example, the FIG. 9 screen image shows the correct answers to the questions posed on the displayed screen image of FIG. 8.

[0067] FIG. 10 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a final screen image of the answer sequence denoting the completion of the personal digital appliance training program. The final screen image as depicted includes a "COMPLETE TRAINING" selection box that when clicked on will take the user to a dashboard screen of the program displays. [0068] FIG. 1 1 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a dashboard screen subsequent to completion of the personal digital appliance training program, including identification of completed patient evaluations, capability of accessing sourcing of additional training video content, and operational prompts. The dashboard display screen shows the patient evaluation progress ("Patient Evaluation Forms"), and the prompts are shown under a heading, "THINGS TO REMEMBER" with a hyperlink to buffered anesthetic dosage information to assist in the subsequent use of the product anesthetic delivery system. The dashboard display screen also includes a link to a digital user guide for the product. The dashboard screen may also include displays of incentive program information, as motivation for a customer to successfully utilize the product. The dashboard display screen may also include a name that can be actuated by a customer to access a patient evaluation that is utilized at the time of use of the product, which in this illustrative example is a dental anesthetic delivery system.

[0069] FIG. 12 is an image of the personal digital appliance displaying a patient evaluation screen, including a timer and input capability for inputting of patient information. At the time of initial interaction with the patient, the timer is activated, so that the time spent by the dentist is monitored. In this example, the display screen includes the direction, "Never Leave Your Patient's Side! " On the display screen is a bidirectionally translatable cursor- actuated slider on a scale, which in this industry example is a dentist-imputted comfort level of a patient reflecting the dentist's identification of the patient experience, which may be based on patient answers to questions from the dentist concerning comfort of the dental procedure, which are assessed by the dentist to allocate a specific ranking of the level of comfort of the specific patient for that performed dental procedure. The FIG. 12 image also includes the first of a series of questions to the dentist, which in the example shown is "2. Which of the following did you use for topical?" followed by the alternative selectable answers of "Traditional Topical only", "C02 Microbubble Drip Only", "Both Traditional and Direct", and "Neither/Other". The dentist after answering the question, subsequent to inputting the comfort level of the patient experience, then clicks on the "SUBMIT" box to input the answer and to record the stopwatch timer reading in the database of the training software. Subsequent questionnaire pages for the patient evaluation may be generated successively prior to submission by the dentist, or each specific page may be submitted as a prerequisite to generation of a succeeding page of the questionnaire. Ultimately, all patient evaluation information is included as a part of the training record of the dentist with actual patients, and evaluations input into the database may be processed by the overall training system, either in the personal digital appliance, or in the seller's data center, or in both, to generate feedback and information useful to the dentist in the training process. [0070] FIG. 13 is an image of the video gallery accessible from the dashboard screen of FIG. 11, for specific training aspects of the training program. In the example given, the customer may access product information ("SYSTEM INTRODUCTION") for instruction relating to the product features operation, and videos relating to specific operational sequences of product operation ("PRIMING YOUR CASSETTE", "LOADING CASSETTE", and "DISPENSING ANESTHETIC"). The video gallery thus provides an assemblage of instructional components and information related to the product that can be repetitively viewed as necessary by a dentist, in order to gain proficiency in the operation of the product.

[0071] Initial setup by the seller of the training software on the personal digital appliance will now be described in greater detail.

[0072] FIG. 14 is a screen display exhibited by a personal digital appliance on which a training software program in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure has been loaded. In this example, the personal digital appliance software has been loaded on an iPad® device by download from the Apple Computer, Inc. iTunes-accessed App Store, with all existing applications of the device segregated in a folder labeled "Extras" that is shown in the upper left-hand corner of the screen display, and the training software application ("Anutra") and the "Settings" and "Safari" Internet access functions of the iPad® device are displayed at the bottom portion of the display screen.

[0073] Next, the seller will set up the email function of the personal digital appliance, e.g., by establishing a Google email account, or email account from another email service provider, with an appropriate password. Once email is set up, the personal digital appliance is set to only allow email, and the rest of the preferences of the device, such as Calendar, Contacts, Notes, etc., are all deactivated. Once this sequence is completed, an initial email message can be loaded on the device by the seller. Wallpaper on the device then may be changed by the seller to a generalized or proprietary background image. In the [Settings> General> About] settings sequence, the name of the personal digital appliance is changed to a serial code or other identifier for the specific appliance device, for identification of that device and the associated customer. In the [Settings> General] settings sequence, a landscape view may be selected and locked on the device. This is shown in FIG. 15, in which the "Lock Rotation" selection has been chosen.

[0074] Next, in the [Settings> Display & Brightness] settings sequence of the device, the brightness of the device display is maximally adjusted, and the passcode is set to the seller's password selection.

[0075] In the [Settings> Notifications] settings sequence of the device, the "Include" notifications setting is moved to the "Do Not Include" setting by clicking on "Edit" at the top right-hand portion of the display screen, so that all notifications are not included, as shown in the screen display illustrated in FIG. 16.

[0076] Next, in the [Settings> General> Restrictions> Enable Restrictions> Websites] settings sequence of the device, the personal digital appliance device is set so that only the seller's website is able to be displayed on the device.

[0077] In addition to the above-described set up of the personal digital appliance device for use in the training of the customer, a customer code is set out in the administrative portal of the seller's server, processor, or other component of the seller's data center. In the example given, a doctor's code is generated for the specific dentist and then the server, processor, or other component of the seller's data center is included with the information for the specific dentist, and the dentist's code and the seller's internal code are used to reset the personal digital appliance device for use.

[0078] FIG. 17 is a screen display exhibited by a user server installation that is utilized for personnel and data management of a customer base engaged in training activities. Information for a specific customer may be accessed from a customer list, by a drop-down menu as shown, and a listing of sales representatives associated with specific customers may be accessed from a sales representatives list.

[0079] By the foregoing set up sequences of operations, bidirectional communications capability is established between the personal digital appliance device in the hands of a dentist, and a seller's data center, to facilitate "push" notifications to the dentist as warranted or otherwise appropriate to the training program, and to provide adjunctive content to the dentist, feedback concerning the training, etc.

[0080] FIGS. 18-22 are pictorial depictions of screen displays that may be variously presented on output displays of digital computational devices utilized in the training systems and methods of the present disclosure. The training process may involve a manager of the selling party who is responsible for the training of an individual trainee, or a group of individual trainees, of the customer party. The manager may be located at a physical location of a customer, or alternatively may be remotely situated in relation to the customer's physical location, and such manager may be operationally situated with a digital computational device equipped with one or more screen displays, enabling the manager to manage and control the training process, and to provide feedback to the individual trainee(s). Each of FIGS. 18-22 at the upper left-hand portion of the screen depicts an indicator of whether the display is on the Dashboard screen of the manager on the display device of the manager's computer device, or whether the display is on the digital display device of the trainee.

[0081] FIG. 18 depicts a manager dashboard screen, which provides a manager an overview of a customer's current progress, including: average success factor, which may be displayed as a percentage (0%-100%) identifying the success of the training groups of the customer, actions that need to be taken for the training groups of the customer, and a history of the actions previously taken in the training process.

[0082] FIG. 19 depicts a training group dashboard screen, which provides a general overview of a specific training group's progress as well as a group's basic office information. This dashboard page may include display of a training SuccessFactor, SmartAlerts providing feedback to the training group, evaluation completion progress, the time that the digital appliance of the trainee has been used in the training, and identification of the trainees and their training status, as well has alerts that recommend action to be taken by the trainees.

[0083] FIG. 20 is an individual trainee display screen, depicting how well an individual trainee performed on quizzes testing the knowledge of the trainee of the information imparted to the trainee in the training process. The display screen depicts the percentage completion by the individual trainee, as well as the individual trainee's success percentage (0%-100%).

[0084] FIG. 21 depicts an alerts screen, listing new alerts that require action, as well as alerts that have been handled and/or archived.

[0085] FIG. 22 is a Results screen that displays Quiz Results, including the number of responses and number answered correctly, for quizzes taken by the trainee in the training process. This screen also includes Evaluation Results, including appertaining dates, and a quality score for each individual evaluation.

[0086] The methods of the present disclosure, as variously described herein, may be carried out wherein the training system is embodied as a Web-enabled application that is programmably arranged for access by an individual on the personal digital appliance.

[0087] It will be apparent from the foregoing that the training systems and methods of the present disclosure enable a readily implemented training program to be conducted in a customer facility, to avoid the time, effort, and expenditure of resources that are typically entailed in training of personnel in the operation, installation, use, and maintenance of products, and that enable training in other non-product applications, such as in performance of taskings, resolution of prioritization conflicts, personal interaction training, management training, modeling and modulation of behavioral activities, and many other endeavors in which structured training is essential to the achievement of desired results.

[0088] By the use of training systems and methods according to the present disclosure, a simple and effective approach is taken to recurrent training issues. By using a personal digital appliance device that is "locked down" and opens only with the sellers specific training application, with the application generating sequential displays that walk the customer through setup and use, with the requirement of answering successive questions correctly, and in the event of incorrect answers being redirected to the question until a correct answer is given, the training is rapidly carried out. The data generated by the customer is included in the personal digital appliance device and that the data is provided to the seller, to conduct data analysis and analytics that identify whether the customer is using the product correctly, so that the seller can proactively intervene with the customer, or otherwise appropriately respond to customer inquiry concerning product, so that the training is able to be carried out for a short period of time in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

[0089] While the disclosure has been set forth herein in reference to specific aspects, features and illustrative embodiments, it will be appreciated that the utility of the disclosure is not thus limited, but rather extends to and encompasses numerous other variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, as will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the field of the present disclosure, based on the description herein. Correspondingly, the disclosure as hereinafter claimed is intended to be broadly construed and interpreted, as including all such variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, within its spirit and scope.

Claims

THE CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An interactive training system comprising a personal digital appliance programmably arranged for training of an individual with audiovisual training content viewable by the individual on the personal digital appliance, wherein the audiovisual training content is integrated with corresponding success-contingent progressionary testing on the personal digital appliance of the individual's learning of the training content viewed by the individual on the personal digital appliance, as a requisite for advancement in the training, wherein said testing comprises input by the individual of responses to the personal digital appliance, as training data of the individual, and wherein the personal digital appliance is programmably arranged for input of performance data by the individual in subsequent contemporaneous performance of trained action by the individual, wherein the personal digital appliance inputted performance data is used by the appliance to generate an assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action, and/or the inputted performance data is downloadable from the personal digital appliance to generate an assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

2. The interactive training system of claim 1, wherein the personal digital appliance inputted performance data is used by the appliance to generate an assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

3. The interactive training system of claim 1, wherein the inputted performance data is downloadable from the personal digital appliance for assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

4. The interactive training system of claim 2, wherein the inputted performance data is downloadable from the personal digital appliance for assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

5. The interactive training system of claim 1, further comprising a remote computational unit configured to receive the inputted performance data and to responsively generate said assessment of proficiency of the individual and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

6. The interactive training system of claim 5, wherein the remote occupational unit is operatively linked in interactive communications relationship to the personal digital appliance.

7. The interactive training system of claim 1, further comprising a remote computational unit configured to transmit the training data via an associated interactive communications network to the remote computational unit for entry in a training database of the user therein, for the generation of the assessment of the proficiency of the individual in the trained action and/or to generate other feedback to the individual in the trained action.

8. The interactive training system of claim 1, as adapted and configured for training of a medical or healthcare procedure.

9. The interactive training system of claim 1, as adapted and figured for training of a dental procedure.

10. The interactive training system of claim 9, wherein the dental procedure comprises the administration of anesthesia to a dental patient.

11. The interactive training system of claim 1, as adapted and configured for training of setup, installation, operation, and/or maintenance of a product, apparatus, or device.

12. The interactive training system of claim 1, as adapted and configured for training of performance of an activity.

13. The interactive training system of claim 1, as adapted and configured for training of a behavioral course of conduct.

14. The interactive training system of claim 1, as adapted and configured for training of a sequence of active steps directed to a goal or result.

15. A method of conducting training, comprising use of the interactive training system of claim 1.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the personal digital appliance is supplied to the individual by a product manufacturer, seller, or distributor, for training use by the individual, as a supplier of the personal digital appliance, and return by the individual to the supplier at the conclusion of the training.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein the returned personal digital appliance is refurbished or otherwise reconstituted by the supplier for subsequent training use by a second individual, as part of a product support effort by the supplier.

18. The method of claim 15, as conducted for training of a medical or healthcare procedure.

19. The method of claim 15, as conducted for training of a dental procedure.

20. The method of claim 15, as conducted for training of administration of anesthesia to a dental patient.

21. The method of claim 15, as conducted for training of setup, installation, operation, and/or maintenance of a product, apparatus, or device.

22. The method of claim 15, as conducted for training of performance of an activity.

23. The method of claim 15, as conducted for training of a behavioral course of conduct.

24. The method of claim 15, as conducted for training of a sequence of active steps directed to a goal or result.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the training system is embodied as a Web-enabled application that is programmably arranged for access by an individual on the personal digital appliance.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the personal digital appliance comprises a computer that is selected from the group consisting of desktop computers, notebook computers, sub- notebook computers, tablet computers, wearable computers, smart phones, smart watches, and digital interface devices.