Patent GB-1160702-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Touch Detecting Teaching Machines
Inventor: CLEARY ALAN
IPC: G09B7/06
Filed: 1966-07-19
Abstract: 1,160,702. Teaching machines. BEHAVIOUAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Ltd. 11 Aug., 1967 [19 July, 1966], No. 32279/66. Heading G5G. [Also in Divisions G2 and H3] A touch-detecting machine comprises a screen arranged to be touched by a student, image projecting means for displaying information on one part of the screen, and two or more further items on the other part, one of which items is related to the information, electronic registering means for determining which of the items has been selected by touch, and means for giving an audible indication only if the related item is touched and for changing the display after a predetermined interval from the instant of touching whether or not the related item has been touched. As illustrated, slides which are projected on to the screen via a system of mirrors, each include coded areas 21, 22 which condition photo-cells 56-58 and 64-66 respectively positioned above and below the screen. The screen includes three electrically conductive areas 30-32 (Fig. 4A) which correspond to three answer zones. Areas 21, 22 when clear cause associated photo-cells to be energized. In the embodiment illustrated the slide has two clear areas 21, i.e. the question posed has only two answers and photo-cells 56-57 are energized. Of the areas 22 only that corresponding to the correct answer is clear so that only the respective photo-cell 65 is energized. The photo-cells when energized charge their respective capacitors 60-62, 68-70. If a student selects the correct answer a trigger pulse applied to a diode 47 actuates the corresponding relay RLB. Circuit 54 inhibits firing of more than one diode. Switching of contacts RLA2, RLA1 result in firing of diodes 72, 74 and consequent actuation of relays RLQ, RLD and RLE. Relay RLP is energized and lamp ILPI on the teacher's control panel then indicates that the student has made a correct response. Relay contact RLE1 switches over and relay RLF is energized. A tape recorder 82 which transmits information relating to the projected slides via loud-speaker 16 is energized by switching of relay contact RLF2. When an incorrect choice is made the diode 72 is not triggered and relay RLP is not energized, relay contact RLP2 does not interconnect the tape recorder and loud-speaker and an " incorrect " lamp ILP2 on the teacher's panel is energized. The diodes 72, 74 may be operated manually by closure of switch SW6. Tape drive and the slide selector mechanism may be actuated manually by switches SW8, SW5. A second track of the tape carries signals which activate relay RLG, thus actuating slide change mechanism and energizing relay RLN. Energization of relay RLN effects resetting of the electronic elements. When all three photo-cells 56-58 are energized a relay RLH is energized and a circuit actuates a voltmeter (104) (Fig. 4C, not shown) which gives a visual indication of the level of performance i.e. a given percentage of correct answers. A circuit (106) sets a required level, and when and if this is exceeded a pulse trigger diode (108) and relate (RLK) is energized. Relay contact RLK1 switches and a lamp 1LP3 on the teacher's control panel is illuminated.