Keeping the above factors in mind, the apparatus under the present invention provides for a method to test the computer literacy amongst the users using the icons of windows graphical user interface and to measure and assess the children's familiarity and ability to recognize and associate commonly used windows icons with their functionality.
PRIOR ART
US PATENT # 4950167 titled "VISUAL DETAIL PERCEPTION TEST KIT AND METHODS OF USE" disclose a kit which tests visual detail perception. The test sheet contains indicia forming one target icon and a number of answer icons, only one of which is identical to the target icon. The kit uses icons to test for visual detail perception and not computer literacy.
US PATENT # 6462760 titled "USER INTERFACES, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS THAT CAN CONSERVE SPACE ON A COMPUTER DISPLAY SCREEN BY ASSOCIATING AN ICON WITH A PLURALITY OF OPERATIONS" deals with the issue of conserving space on a computer system screen by associating an icon with a plurality of operations. In response to input from a user, the icon's appearance changes to indicate that the icon is now associated with an alternative operation. It is not a test designed to measure the user's ability to associate each icon with the unique functionality that it represents.
US PATENT # 2002075329 titled "PICTURE DATABASE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE UTILIZING MAP-BASED METAPHORS FOR EFFICIENT BROWSING AND RETRIEVING OF PICTURES" refers to a GUI system and method that uses picture icons for browsing and retrieving pictures captured at locations on maps. It is not a method to assess computer literacy.
US PATENT # 6088030 titled "IMPLICIT LEGEND WITH ICON OVERLAYS"
discloses mapping between objects and graph lines such that a viewer can easily associate an object, with its associated graph. It is not used as a device to test computer literacy anrtong children.
US PATENT # 20030149993 titled "METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING PROCESS INDEPENDENCE WITHIN A HETEROGENEOUS INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM" discloses a method for adapting asset delivery within a heterogeneous information distribution system based on graphics. It is not used to test computer literacy among children.
US PATENT # 20030146927 titled "USER INTERFACE FOR PRESENTING MEDIA INFORMATION" discloses a method for using a user interface to control processing of time-based media files. It does not provide a method to assess computer literacy.
US PATENT # 20030137541 titled "GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR PROJECT DATA" discloses a graphical user interface that allows the user to view, edit, and navigate project data. It does not provide a method to assess computer literacy.
US PATENT # 20030142136 titled "THREE DIMENSIONAL GRAPHICAL USER
INTERFACE" discloses a graphical user interface system for simultaneously displaying a number of windows. It does not provide a method to assess computer literacy.
US PATENT # 20030137542 titled "USER INTERFACE FOR REVIEWING AND CONTROLLING USE OF DATA OBJECTS" discloses a method to generate a media control user interface. It does not provide a method to assess computer literacy.
I
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The functionality of the PC is expressed through representations in the form of icons. Rural Indian children, often not conversant with English are able to operate computers using the symbol systems of this environment often independent of their reading/ writing literacy, or their knowledge of the English language.
This test has been devised in the context of observing children using computers at Minimally Invasive Education kiosks in India who have not formally learnt computing or computing vocabulary. The children are from the lower socio-economic strata of society and not familiar with the English language. Even so, it has been seen that children associate the icons with their functions and pick up compi'ting skills very rapidly. They form their own vocabulary for naming the icons understood and used by them. Keeping this factor in mind the inventory under the present invention has been made independent of the formal name of the icon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The GUI Icon Association Inventory is an instrument devised to measure familiarity with a Graphical User Interface environment. It is devised to measure the ability of the children to associate the icons in a Windows GUI environment with their functionality. It is an open ended test instrument.
Children are expected to give a short descrption in a language (which is comfortable to them) stating, "What they use the icon for" or "what do they associate the icon with". They are not expected or required to know the names of the icons but if they do know they can write it.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention provides for a method to test the computer literacy among the users using the icons of windows Graphical User Interface. It provides an apparatus and method to assess and measure the children's familiarity and ability to recognize and associate commonly used windows icons with their functionality This invention consists of four parts namely;
r Icon Association Inventory Test Booklet consisting of a list of m icons clustered in n board categories based on their functionality.
r- A glossary for evaluation of the answer
r A manual describing how to administer and evaluate the test
r A method for computing the test result.
The test is administered to children who are free to write in the language, which is comfortable to them. The test is then evaluated by the system by matching the response with a glossary or checking otherwise for correctness. The scores are tabulated and analyzed in graphical representation of data and result.
In Figure 1, (12) represents the test manual, which describes how to administer the test to the children. The 'Icon Association Inventory - Manual for Test Administrators' (12) consists of Do's and Don'ts during test administration. (12) is required to be studied and followed by the test administrator (11). Once (12) is read by the test administrator (11), the test administrator (11) needs to describe the parameters of the population from which a sample will be taken for testing (13). The population may have used computers before or never used computers, before.
Once the population parameters are described, the test administrator (11) based on the test manual (12) and parameters for test population (13) selects a relevant sample population (14) for measurement. Test administrator (11) decides to take a sample population, minimum 30 respondents if results for a group are to be derived (14A). If individual results are to be obtained the test may be administered on any number of respondents (14B).
Once the sample population for the test is decided upon based on (14), (14A) and (14B), the test administrator (11) administer the test (15) to the selected sample population (14). Each test taker is supplied with a copy of the Icon Association Inventory Booklet (21). The time taken for the test is open ended. Test takers are recommended to take a half-hour to attempt all items in the test. The objective of the test is to describe the functionality of each icon - "describe v/hat each icon does". All test takers need to write their name, age, date, location, organization/school in the relevant portion of the Icon Association Inventory Booklet (21). Once the test is over the test administrator (11) collects (16) the answered sheet (21) and verifies the examinee's personal data on each answer sheet or inventory booklet (21) is verified. After the test is over the test administrator (11) refers to and understand (17) the Glossary for Evaluation (22). The Glossary for evaluation (22) contains a number of possible answers describing the functionality of each icon.
The test administrator (11) then grades the answered (18) Icon Association Inventory Booklets (21) based on the Glossary for Evaluation (22). They will look up the answers for item 1 of the Icon Association Inventory Booklets (21) against the description for that icon provided in Glossary for evaluation (22). If the answer given by the examinee is present in or conceptually close to what is present in the Glossary for evaluation (22) for that item then 1 mark is awarded for that item. If the answer for an item is not present in the Glossary for evaluation (22) ror that item or bears no resemblance whatsoever to the functionality of the icon then a score of '0 is awarded. Test administrator (11) is to fill in category-wise total marks in the section "For Examiners Only" at the end of the Icon Association Inventory Booklets (21).
Once the marking of the answered Icon Association Inventory Bookbts (21) is over by the test administrator (11), they are engaged in the process of evaluation (19). Based on the sample population selected (14A, 14B) for the measurement, evaluation may be done for individual examinee (19A) or for the entire group (19B).
(19A) prescribes the method for evaluation of an individual test as follows.
Calculate the percentage of all the icons attempted correctly by the examinee using this formula:
(Formula Removed ) 19B) prescribes the method for calculating results for a Group as follows. Calculate the average percentage score for the group using this formula:
(Formula Removed ) lculate the cumulative percentage score for each category for the group using this formula:(Formula Removed )

WE CLAIM
An apparatus and method providing for measurement and assessment of familiarity and ability of people to recognize and associate the icons of a Graphical User Environment to the purposes and functions.
An apparatus and method as claimed in claim 1 comprising Icon Association Inventory Test Booklet consisting of a list of m icons clustered in n board categories based on their functionality.
An apparatus and method as claimed in claim 1 providing for a glossary for evaluation of the answer.
An apparatus and method as claimed in claim 1 providing for a manual describing how to administer and evaluate the test
A method for computing the test result.
An Icon Association Inventory Test Booklet as claimed in cla;m 2 providing freedom to the people to describe the functionality of the icons in the language they are comfortable to.
An Icon Association Inventory Test Booklet as claimed in claim 2 providing for varying the number of icons depending on the technology environment.
An Icon Association Inventory Test Booklet as claimed in claim 2 providing for multiple choice answers or an open ended answer.
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 providing for deriving the test for individuals or a groups; for categories of icons for individuals or group;
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 providing for representing the results graphical; comparing and contrasting the same.