Computerized information and display apparatus

Computer readable apparatus configured to aid a user in locating an organization or business entity, the apparatus being part of a computerized information system, the apparatus comprising a storage medium having at least one computer program configured to run on at least one processor, the at least one program configured to, when executed on the at least one processor:

• obtain a representation of a first speech input from the user, the first speech input received via at least one microphone of the computerized information system and relating to at least part of a name of a desired organization or business entity;
• cause use of at least a speech recognition apparatus to process the representation to identify at least one word therein;
• cause use at least the identified at least one word to identify a plurality of possible matches for the at least part of the name;
• receive a subsequent input from the user in order to identify of one of the plurality of possible matches which best correlates to the desired organization or business entity;
• and
• cause presentation of a visual representation of a location associated with the identified one of the plurality of possible matches, as well as at least immediate surroundings of the location and one or more other organizations or business entities proximate to the location, on a display device in communication with the computerized information system and viewable by the user.

Computerized information apparatus configured to aid a user in locating an organization or business entity, the apparatus comprising:

• a microphone;
• a display device;
• a data processing apparatus in data communication with the display device;
• speech digitization apparatus in signal communication with the microphone and the data processing apparatus;
• at least one audio speaker;
• speech synthesis apparatus in signal communication with the at least one audio speaker;
• and
• a storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program configured to run on at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the at least one program configured to, when executed:
• obtain a representation of a first speech input from the user, the first speech input relating to a name of a desired organization or business entity;
• cause use of at least a speech recognition algorithm to process the representation to identify at least one word therein;
• cause use of the identified at least one word as part of a search of at least one database or data file, the search identifying a plurality of possible matches for the desired organization or business entity;
• prompt the user for a subsequent input, the subsequent input to identify one of the plurality of possible matches which best correlates to the desired organization or business entity;
• receive the subsequent user input;
• and
• cause, based at least in part on the subsequent input, display of a visual representation of the identified one organization or business entity, as well as at least an area immediately proximate thereto, on the display device, the visual representation further showing one or more other organizations or business entities proximate to the identified one organization or business entity.

Smart computerized apparatus capable of interactive information exchange with a human user, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of digital processors;
• a display device in communication with at least one of the plurality of digital processors;
• speech synthesis apparatus and at least one audio speaker in signal communication therewith, the speech synthesis apparatus in communication with at least one of the digital processors;
• input apparatus configured to cause the computerized apparatus to enter a mode whereby a user can speak at least part of a name of an entity into a microphone in signal communication with the computerized apparatus, the entity being an entity which the user wishes to find;
• and
• at least one computer program operative to run on at least one of the digital processors and configured to engage the user in an interactive interchange, the interchange comprising:
• digitization of the user's speech received via the microphone to produce a digital representation thereof;
• causation of use of the digitized representation to identify a plurality of entities which match the at least portion of the name;
• causation of generation of an audible communication to the user via the speech synthesis apparatus in order to at least inform the user of the identification of the plurality of matching entities;
• receipt of a subsequent speech input provided by the user;
• digitization of the subsequent speech input to produce a digital representation thereof;
• causation of utilization of at least the digital representation of the subsequent input to identify one of the plurality of entities which correlates to the entity which the user wishes to find;
• and
• causation of provision of a visually perceptible representation of the one of the plurality of entities which correlates to the entity which the user wishes to find, including at least a portion of the immediate surroundings thereof, and at least one other entity proximate to the entity.