PC peripheral interactive doll

An interactive doll, comprising:

• a microcontroller coupled to digital memory;
• a sound circuitry coupled to the microcontroller and connected to a microphone and a speaker, the sound circuit adapted for converting audio data to analog audio output at the speaker and for converting analog audio input at the microphone to audio data;
• and
• a (bidirectional communication interface) peripheral port coupled to the microcontroller, for connection to a host computer;
• wherein the interactive doll operates as a peripheral device through the peripheral port, and wherein analog audio input at the microphone is converted into audio data by the sound circuitry and transmitted at the peripheral port, and wherein audio data received at the peripheral port is converted by the sound circuitry and provided as analog audio output at the speaker.

An interactive personal article comprising:

• a microcontroller coupled to digital memory;
• sound circuitry coupled to the microcontroller and connected to a microphone and a speaker, the sound circuitry adapted for converting audio data to analog audio output at the speaker and for converting analog audio input at the microphone to audio data;
• and
• a peripheral port coupled to the microcontroller, for connection to a host computer;
• wherein the interactive personal article operates as a peripheral device through the peripheral port, and wherein analog audio input at the microphone is converted into audio data by the sound circuitry and transmitted at the peripheral port, and wherein audio data received at the peripheral port is converted by the sound circuitry and provided as analog audio output at the speaker.

A method for teaching, comprising steps of:

• (a) retrieving audio selections from digital memory associated with a computer as primary digital audio data;
• (b) sending the audio data to a first peripheral port in the environment of the computer and thence over a communication link to an electronic doll adapted as a peripheral device to the computer, the electronic doll in proximity to a child;
• (c) receiving the audio data at a second peripheral port in the electronic doll and converting the audio data to analog audio output at a speaker incorporated in the electronic doll;
• (d) receiving speech from the child at a microphone associated with the electronic doll;
• (e) converting the child's speech to return audio data;
• (f) transmitting the return audio data via the second peripheral port over the communication link from the doll to the computer;
• and
• (g) using the return audio data in the computer as criteria for selecting further audio data for transmission to the doll.