WO1990015402A1 - A toy or educational device - Google Patents
A toy or educational device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1990015402A1 WO1990015402A1 PCT/GB1990/000893 GB9000893W WO9015402A1 WO 1990015402 A1 WO1990015402 A1 WO 1990015402A1 GB 9000893 W GB9000893 W GB 9000893W WO 9015402 A1 WO9015402 A1 WO 9015402A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- tape
- signals
- disc
- message
- track
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B17/00—Teaching reading
- G09B17/003—Teaching reading electrically operated apparatus or devices
- G09B17/006—Teaching reading electrically operated apparatus or devices with audible presentation of the material to be studied
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B5/00—Electrically-operated educational appliances
- G09B5/06—Electrically-operated educational appliances with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B5/00—Electrically-operated educational appliances
- G09B5/06—Electrically-operated educational appliances with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
- G09B5/062—Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
Definitions
- THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a toy or educational device.
- a toy or educational device comprising a data input means in the form of manually operable or manually responsive input means adapted to input data, a tape or disc drive arrangement adapted to drive a tape or disc carrying control signals and message signals and incor ⁇ porating means to red such signals, the device further comprising means to generate an audible or visible message from a first message signals and selecting means responsive to the control signals and to operation of the data input means to select a subsequent message signal from a plurality of available signals present on the tape or disc to generate a subsequent audible or visible message.
- the data input means comprises an array of proximity sensors located adjacent a surface defined by the device.
- the sensors may be capacitive proximity sen ⁇ sors, or inductive proximity sensors.
- the said data input means com- prises an array of pressure sensitive switches or the like located adjacent a surface defined by the device.
- the data input means com ⁇ prises a keyboard.
- the tape or disc drive arrangement is adapted to drive a tape or disc and read signals from a plurality of tracks present on the tape or disc.
- the tape or disc drive includes a plurality of reading heads, there being one head for each track.
- the tape or disc drive includes a single reading head, means being provided to move the position of the reading head, to align the reading head with various tracks present upon the tape.
- the tape or disc drive arrangement is adapted to read control signals and message signals which are multiplexed onto a single track.
- the selecting means are adapted to move the tape or disc to an appropriate position and, where necessary, select an appropriate track to enable the sub ⁇ sequent message signal to be read from the track.
- the device comprises a memory ad ⁇ apted to receive and store signals from the tape or disc which can be utilised to generate a subsequent audible or visible message, the selecting means being operative to select an appropriate signal from the memory to be ut ⁇ ilised to generate the subsequent audible or visible message.
- further sensor means are provided ad- jacent said surface adapted to sense markings or indicia present on an item located on the surface in order to identify that item, means being provided to pass signals from the further sensor means to the selecting means.
- a display is provided upon which said visible message may be displayed, the display com ⁇ prising a liquid crystal display or a light-emitting diode display.
- the device may be provided in combination with a tape or disc carrying control signals and message signals.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the operational parts of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a block diagrammatic view of a modified embodiment of the invention.
- Figure 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus com ⁇ prising a second embodiment of the invention.
- Figure 5 is a block diagrammatic view of the ap ⁇ paratus of Figure 4.
- an apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a housing 1 comprising an upper surface 2 on which a book or sheet of paper may rest. Underneath the surface to a plurality of proximity sensors 3 are provided, which may be in a regular array as illustrated. The proximity sensors may be capacitative or inductive, the proximity sensors act as a data input.
- the upper surface 2 may be provided with a plurality of electrical or optical sen ⁇ sors 4 adapted to identify appropriate codes formed on the rear face of a book or a sheet of paper resting upon the surface 2.
- the housing 1 is provided with one or more appro ⁇ priate control buttons 5 and is also provided with a loud-speaker 6.
- a sheet of paper or book is located upon the surface 2.
- the device is activated by utilising an appropriate button 5.
- Sound then emanates from the loudspeaker which may comprise pre ⁇ liminary instructions, and which may then comprises a question concerning information displayed upon the paper resting upon the surface 2 or the book resting upon the surface 2. If it is assumed that the paper or book dis ⁇ plays a picture of animals, the question may be "Can you put your finger on the giraffe?".
- the location of the finger can be sensed by means of the sen ⁇ sors 3.
- the location of the finger is thus input into the device as- data.
- the apparatus can provide an appropriate oral response such as "Yes that is the giraffe well done! or "No that is the chimpanzee try again” .
- the device may have a slot 7 to enable a cassette tape to be inserted into a tape drive within the housing.
- the device may have an array of pressure sensitive sensors or switches.
- the device can be considered to comprise a sensor which comprises the combination of the sensor elements 3 and 4, which is connected to a micro ⁇ processor 11 or other device capable of effecting the necessary control of the apparatus.
- the microprocessor is adapted to control a tape disc or tape streamer 12 which is, of course, adapted to utilise the cassettes mentioned above.
- These cassettes may be of an individual design so that only authorised cassettes may be utilised with the machine.
- the cassette provided for use with the machine will be a multi-track cassette, having, for example four tracks.
- the microprocessor thus effects control of a track selecting mechanism 13 which may select one of a plurality of reading heads or which may mechanically move a single reading moving head to have an appropriate pos ⁇ ition.
- the microprocessor also controls a tape drive mechanism 14 which drives the tape.
- One output 15 which carries digital information is con ⁇ nected directly to the microprocessor 11.
- the other out ⁇ put 16 is connected to an audio output 17 which comprises an appropriate amplifier and, of course, the loudspeaker 6.
- the optical or electrical sensors 4 will generate a signal identifying the page or book which can be fed to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor may then be caused to actuate the tape drive until a pre-selected area of tape is in the region of the tape heads. While the tape is being driven digital signals will be provided through the lead 15 to the microprocessor, so the microprocessor can stop the tape drive at an appropriate moment. Then, when the ap ⁇ intestinalte button 5 is operated to initiate operation of the device, the microprocessor will cause the tape drive to operate and will select one of the tracks upon which are signals corresponding to the oral instructions and the preliminary question. While the oral instructions and the preliminary questions are being read from the tape and being passed to the audio oputput, simul ⁇ taneously digital information is being passed to the microprocessor through the output 15. This information is stored. temporarily within the microprocessor.
- the microprocessor determines how to cause the tape streamer to operate so that the appropriate comment or subseuquent command is provided at the audio output.
- the microprocessor determines precisely where, on the tape, the appropriate answer is to be found.
- the appropriate track is then selected and the tape drive is then driven to locate the tape in the correct position.
- the tape drive is then again driven to drive the tape at the appropriate speed past the reading head, so the appropriate signals are fed to the audio output.
- the digital information fed to the microprocessor enables the microprocessor to determine precisely what action should be taken with regard to the tape drive 14 and the track select 13 re ⁇ gardless of which of the sensors 3 is activated.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention in which the tape streamer 12 is provided with a further output 18 which is fed to a memory 19 which is controlled by means of a control lead 20 by the microprocessor 11.
- the tape drive is operated initially, so that signals are fed to the audio output in the form of an oral instruction and a preliminary question.
- signals are fed to the memory representative of all the various res- ponses that may be made. These signals may be present on the remaining tracks of the multi-track tape, provided that a multi-track reading head is utilised.
- the memory (which can be considered to be a voice compression chip) can only store digital information.
- the tape may thus carry the information in a digital form, but if the tape carries the information in an analog form the signals from the tape pass an analog to digital connector before being stored in the memory. Signals from the memory pass a digital to analog con ⁇ verter before being passed to the audio output.
- a modified embodiment of the invention may utilise a voice synthesiser controlled by digital information carried on the tape and/or stored in a memory.
- the signals to be passed to the memory may be multiplexed on a single track tape, together with a signal representative of the question to be asked.
- the microprocessor in each em ⁇ bodiment digital control signals from the tape are fed to the microprocessor, so that the microprocessor is able to determine precisely which signal, from many signals available to be selected, is to be selected in response to operation of any particular sensor on the sensor array.
- a further device in accordance with the invention comprising a housing 30 which presents a manually operable keyboard 31 (which may be an ordinary keyboard with separate keys or a membrane keyboard) and a visible display 32, which may be a liquid crystal display or a light-emitting diode display.
- the display may have any appropriate size.
- the device presents control buttons 33 and a loudspeaker 34, and a slot 35 for a cassette.
- the device when the appropriate button 33 is activated, the device will initiailly ask an audible question which will require an answer to be entered by means of the keyboard 31.
- the keyboard may, for example, be a standard "type ⁇ writer” keyboard, and the question may ask for a part ⁇ icular word to be spelled correctly using the keyboard. The person will then use the keyboard to "type" in the spelling that is thought to be correct. This spelling may appear on the display 32. Depending upon whether the spelling is correct or not the response to this may be either an audible message confirming that the spelling is correct, or an audible message indicating that the spelling is incorrect and for example, inviting the person using the machine to have another attempt.
- the machine may be adapted to cause one letter, or more than one letter, to "flash" in and on-and-off manner to identify a particular letter, particularly if the audible message -is such as "Can you see the flashing letter -this letter is not correct".
- the machine may display the correct spelling of the word, and given audible message such as "You were unable to spell that word, better luck next time".
- the arrangement includes a tape streamer 40 which is again intended to receive specific cassettes.
- the taper streamer incldues a tape drive mechanism 41 and a track select mechanism 42 to which both control by microprocessor 43.
- the microprocessor 43 receives digital information from an output 44 of the tape streamer.
- the tape streamer has another output 45 which is connected to a memory 46 and a further output 47 which is connected to an audio output arrangement 48 com ⁇ prising an appropriate amplifier and an appropriate loudspeaker, such as the loudspeaker 34.
- the micro ⁇ processor is also connected to the keyboard 31 and to the display 32.
- the tape drive when operation of the device is initiated, the tape drive is operated. Whilst the initial portion of the tape is passing the reading head, an appropriate signal is generated and passed through the audio output, comprising the first message which invites the person utilising the device to enter the spelling of a word via the keyboard. Simultaneously digital information is supplied to the microprocessor and further digital information is stored within the memory 46. The microprocessor is programmed to compare the attempt to spell the word with the correct spelling of the word, this comprising part of the information supplied to the microprocessor from the output 44 and from the memory 46. Depending upon the accuracy or in ⁇ accuracy of the attempt, the microprocessor passes through routines to cause the apparatus to operate gen ⁇ erally as described above. During these routines the tape drive may be caused to move the tape to a pre ⁇ selected position and also the track selector may be caused to select an appropriate track if the micro ⁇ processor requires information stored at a further point on the tape.
- the tape advances to the next word.
- the tape may contain many questions relating to almost any topic of academic edu ⁇ cation, requiring a student to type in answers.
- the questions may be so constructed that the student may have to type in a word selected from a number of options as an answer, or even just code letters as an answer.
- Such an embodiment may especially be useful in connection with the teaching of languages.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1019910701812A KR920701934A (en) | 1989-06-09 | 1990-06-08 | Toys or educational devices |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB898913331A GB8913331D0 (en) | 1989-06-09 | 1989-06-09 | Improvements in or relating to a toy or educational device |
GB8913331.8 | 1989-06-09 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1990015402A1 true WO1990015402A1 (en) | 1990-12-13 |
Family
ID=10658197
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1990/000893 WO1990015402A1 (en) | 1989-06-09 | 1990-06-08 | A toy or educational device |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0477215A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH04507150A (en) |
KR (1) | KR920701934A (en) |
AU (1) | AU5737690A (en) |
GB (1) | GB8913331D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1990015402A1 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1992015077A1 (en) * | 1991-02-22 | 1992-09-03 | Reginald Alfred King | Document interpreting systems |
WO1992018965A1 (en) * | 1991-04-12 | 1992-10-29 | Frazer Concepts Limited | Audio entertainment/learning system |
WO1992022049A1 (en) * | 1991-06-06 | 1992-12-10 | Ruault Jean Paul Marie Victor | Process for programmed inter-active control of an audio-visual peripheral, a data processing system and a video monitor, processing unit and video medium specific for putting into effect said process and video medium manufacturing plant |
DE4143257A1 (en) * | 1991-01-01 | 1993-02-04 | Roman Koller | Audiovisual learning system |
EP0543118A1 (en) * | 1991-11-21 | 1993-05-26 | Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | Information display system for electronically reading a book |
US5739814A (en) * | 1992-09-28 | 1998-04-14 | Sega Enterprises | Information storage system and book device for providing information in response to the user specification |
US5868581A (en) * | 1993-10-26 | 1999-02-09 | Scanna Technology Limited | Document interpreting systems |
EP0629987B1 (en) * | 1993-06-18 | 1999-10-27 | Reader's Digest Children's Publishing, Inc. | Interactive book |
EP1221335A2 (en) * | 2001-01-03 | 2002-07-10 | Thinking Technology Inc. | Interactive toy teapot |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0027364A1 (en) * | 1979-10-11 | 1981-04-22 | Video Education, Incorporated | Interactive system and method for the control of video playback devices |
EP0048835A2 (en) * | 1980-10-01 | 1982-04-07 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Electronic teaching apparatus |
GB2087631A (en) * | 1980-11-18 | 1982-05-26 | Sony Corp | Methods and apparatus for recording and reproducing information signals |
DE2952856C2 (en) * | 1978-01-26 | 1982-06-24 | Shinano Kikaku Co.Ltd., Tokyo | Audiovisual learning device |
GB2110455A (en) * | 1981-10-29 | 1983-06-15 | Rjp Electronic Ltd | Educational device and memory means |
US4681548A (en) * | 1986-02-05 | 1987-07-21 | Lemelson Jerome H | Audio visual apparatus and method |
WO1987006752A1 (en) * | 1986-05-01 | 1987-11-05 | Trevor Gwilym Lloyd | Language teaching apparatus |
-
1989
- 1989-06-09 GB GB898913331A patent/GB8913331D0/en active Pending
-
1990
- 1990-06-08 KR KR1019910701812A patent/KR920701934A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1990-06-08 EP EP90908605A patent/EP0477215A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1990-06-08 JP JP2508059A patent/JPH04507150A/en active Pending
- 1990-06-08 WO PCT/GB1990/000893 patent/WO1990015402A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1990-06-08 AU AU57376/90A patent/AU5737690A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2952856C2 (en) * | 1978-01-26 | 1982-06-24 | Shinano Kikaku Co.Ltd., Tokyo | Audiovisual learning device |
EP0027364A1 (en) * | 1979-10-11 | 1981-04-22 | Video Education, Incorporated | Interactive system and method for the control of video playback devices |
EP0048835A2 (en) * | 1980-10-01 | 1982-04-07 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Electronic teaching apparatus |
GB2087631A (en) * | 1980-11-18 | 1982-05-26 | Sony Corp | Methods and apparatus for recording and reproducing information signals |
GB2110455A (en) * | 1981-10-29 | 1983-06-15 | Rjp Electronic Ltd | Educational device and memory means |
US4681548A (en) * | 1986-02-05 | 1987-07-21 | Lemelson Jerome H | Audio visual apparatus and method |
WO1987006752A1 (en) * | 1986-05-01 | 1987-11-05 | Trevor Gwilym Lloyd | Language teaching apparatus |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4143257C2 (en) * | 1991-01-01 | 2001-04-19 | Roman Koller | Procedure for adjusting the phase or frequency of a rhythmic process |
DE4143257A1 (en) * | 1991-01-01 | 1993-02-04 | Roman Koller | Audiovisual learning system |
WO1992015077A1 (en) * | 1991-02-22 | 1992-09-03 | Reginald Alfred King | Document interpreting systems |
GB2268307A (en) * | 1991-02-22 | 1994-01-05 | Reginald Alfred King | Document interpreting systems |
GB2268307B (en) * | 1991-02-22 | 1995-01-25 | Reginald Alfred King | Document interpreting systems |
AU662125B2 (en) * | 1991-02-22 | 1995-08-24 | Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc. | Document interpreting systems |
US5575659A (en) * | 1991-02-22 | 1996-11-19 | Scanna Technology Limited | Document interpreting systems |
WO1992018965A1 (en) * | 1991-04-12 | 1992-10-29 | Frazer Concepts Limited | Audio entertainment/learning system |
WO1992022049A1 (en) * | 1991-06-06 | 1992-12-10 | Ruault Jean Paul Marie Victor | Process for programmed inter-active control of an audio-visual peripheral, a data processing system and a video monitor, processing unit and video medium specific for putting into effect said process and video medium manufacturing plant |
EP0543118A1 (en) * | 1991-11-21 | 1993-05-26 | Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | Information display system for electronically reading a book |
US6052117A (en) * | 1991-11-21 | 2000-04-18 | Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | Information display system for electronically reading a book |
US6297812B1 (en) | 1991-11-21 | 2001-10-02 | Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | Information display system for electronically reading a book |
US5739814A (en) * | 1992-09-28 | 1998-04-14 | Sega Enterprises | Information storage system and book device for providing information in response to the user specification |
EP0629987B1 (en) * | 1993-06-18 | 1999-10-27 | Reader's Digest Children's Publishing, Inc. | Interactive book |
US5868581A (en) * | 1993-10-26 | 1999-02-09 | Scanna Technology Limited | Document interpreting systems |
EP1221335A2 (en) * | 2001-01-03 | 2002-07-10 | Thinking Technology Inc. | Interactive toy teapot |
EP1221335A3 (en) * | 2001-01-03 | 2003-05-02 | Thinking Technology Inc. | Interactive toy teapot |
US6648725B2 (en) | 2001-01-03 | 2003-11-18 | Thinking Technology, Inc. | Interactive toy teapot |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8913331D0 (en) | 1989-07-26 |
KR920701934A (en) | 1992-08-12 |
AU5737690A (en) | 1991-01-07 |
JPH04507150A (en) | 1992-12-10 |
EP0477215A1 (en) | 1992-04-01 |
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