Patent GB-975201-A (GB)
Title: Method of and apparatus for audio-visual instruction
IPC: G11B27/00
Filed: 1962-02-19
Abstract: 975,201. Educational appliances. LINGUATRONICS Inc. Feb. 19, 1962 [Oct. 31, 1961], No. 6359/62. Heading G5G. A method of audio-visual instruction in the packing of languages or phonetics comprises the steps of projection onto a translux screen 58, in Fig. 3, of a picture or a sound motion film 26, the picture being a representation of the manner of formation of a particular sound, orally or mechanically produced and, synchronized therewith, playing back the recorded sound on the film, rerecording the sound on an endless tape 100, recording a student's repetition of the sound, and playing back and comparing the student's recording and the said rerecording of the sound. An apparatus to carry out the method of audio-visual instruction described comprises a supply red 22, driven by a fast reverse drive motor M-2, Fig. 3, selectively operated by a control button 6, take-up reel 24, driven by a normal forward and fast forward drive motor M-3, selectively operated by control buttons 1 and 5, respectively, with the reels adapted to receive a film 26, having a series of sprocket openings on either side of a series of picture frames and an optical or magnetic sound track, the film being adapted to pass under or through a tension idler 28, (Fig. 1 not shown) playback head 30, including a photo-electric cell 32, a magnetic playback head 34, a sprocket wheel 36, a picture projection system 38, including a lamp and condenser assembly 40 and optical scanner 42 and a tension idler 44 (Fig. 1 not shown). The apparatus also includes an electronic voice repeater unit 92 (Fig. 3) driven by a synchronous motor M-1, through a clutch assembly 110, 86, and gears 94 and the repeater unit comprises a driven spool 96, idler spool 98, there being an endless recording tape 100, passed over the spools and the tape 100 is adapted to carry a pair of parallel magnetic sound tracks (not shown) and co-operating therewith are an instructor recording and playback head 102, and instructor erase head 104 for one of the tracks, a student recording and playback head 106 and a student erase head 108 for the other of the tracks. Operating the push button 1, switches 1A to 1F, Fig. 4, are closed and the motors M-1, M-2, M-3, together with the clutch assembly 110, 86 energized, so that the film is projected at the normal operating speed of 32 frames per second, a picture is projected on the translux screen 58, which may be viewed by the student, who, at the same time hears the voice played from the record track on the film, through a sound reproducer 72. Simultaneously a recording is being made on one of the tracks of the endless tape 100 by the instructor recording and playback head 102. On depression of button 2, switches 2B to 2E are closed, whereby the film is stopped by a frame centering solenoid 173, and a still frame is projected on the screen 58, while the rerecorded instructor's voice is reproduced from the tape 100. Control button 3 enables the student to record the student's own repetition of the instructor's playback on the second sound track of the tape 100,by the student's recording and playback head 106, whilst an oscillator 90 effects an erasure of any previous recording through energisation of the erase head 108. On depression of button 4 the student may playback his own recorded sound by the sound reproducer 72 and head 106, to compare his sound with the instructor's rerecorded sound, while the still frame is still projected on the screen 58. Depressing buttons 5 or 6, feeds full line voltage across the windings of the forward drive motor M-3 or reverse drive motor M2, respectively, and the takeup reel 24 or supply reel 22, are caused to operate at high speed, respectively. Depressing button 7 brings the film to a stop by applying direct current to the appropriate motors, causing dynamic braking to take place. The length of the endless tape 100 determines the length of a word or sentence that can be played back or recorded in one revolution of the endless tape. Interchangeable endless tapes of varying lengths may be used for longer or shorter sentences. Specification 973, 974 is referred to.