FR2635466A1 - Teaching and/or play device associated with a cathode screen (cathode ray tube) - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a teaching and/or play device of the type comprising a casing 1 which can be connected to a cathode screen (cathode ray tube) 9 and which contains a memory as well as means 11 for writing on the said screen 9. The device according to the invention is characterised in that the said casing 1 comprises at least one reader 2 of interchangeable previous recordings, such as a cassette or a program card containing a teaching and/or game program, the said casing 1 including driving means, means 10 for linking with the cathode screen (cathode ray tube) 9 and means 3-8, 14 for controlling the said writing means 11. Application to teaching and to games.

Description

Teaching and / or game device associated with a cathode-ray screen
That.

The invention relates to a teaching and / or game device associated with a cathode-ray screen.

The development of microcomputers and, in parallel with fun activities such as video games, is an important phenomenon of the present era. However, these new activities generally require the acquisition of relatively expensive equipment and, above all, a minimal development of computer knowledge, which limits their development. In addition, these games, which generally have only a very limited educational character, do not involve intellectual intervention by the player who must on the contrary adapt to programmed sequences which quickly become commonplace.

It has however been proposed to use the developments of electronics, associated with cathode screens available very commonly in the form of receivers or television monitors, for educational purposes. This is how FR-A-2.507.362 is concerned with teaching musical composition by means of electronic equipment associated with a cathode screen making it possible to write musical notes on the screen, to be informed of compliance with the rules of musical writing, to hear the score thus entered, etc.

This known device has the essential drawback of having a single application, which, given its cost, drastically limits its distribution.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a new device allowing, at a reasonable cost and without complicated learning, to practice games and / or various teachings practically to infinity.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a teaching and / or game device of the type comprising a box connectable to a cathode-ray screen and containing a memory, as well as means of writing on said screen, characterized by the fact that said box comprises at least one reader of interchangeable prior recordings such as a cassette or a program card nnt a teaching and / or game program, said box further comprising means of piloting, of connection with the cathode screen, and for controlling said writing means.

Thanks to the device according to the invention, there is an economical means of teaching and playing allowing infinite educational and / or fun activities thanks to ur. prior programming of these activities on a recording, in particular an interchangeable medium, such as a cassette or a program card, while allowing the user to intervene directly by writing on the cathode screen.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the writing means on the cathode screen consist of an optical pencil.

According to a particularly preferred and advantageous embodiment of the invention, the writing means on the cathode screen include a graphic tablet with fixed content controlled by said case, at least one member for selecting the signs contained in said tablet, the selection of one of said signs and its transfer to a writing area of said tablet ensuring its display on the cathode-ray screen by means of the link between the housing and the cathode-ray screen. It is thus possible to write remotely on the cathode ray screen thus avoiding the drawbacks of direct writing requiring immediate proximity to the screen.

The invention will be clearly understood on reading the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a schematic perspective view of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, associated with a receiver of TV.

In the example shown, the device is formed by a box 1 containing a pre-recorded cassette player 2 and provided with a graphic tablet 3 provided with fixed signs such as geometric shapes 4, alphabet characters 5, numbers 6, mathematical signs 7 or colors 8. The box 1 also contains control and monitoring electronics connected to a television receiver 9 by a cable 10 connected to the antenna socket or to the so-called "PERITEL" socket of the receiver 9. The box also carries an optical pencil It cooperates with the signs 5-8 and is electrically powered.

Reading a pre-recorded cassette in the player 2 produces on the screen of the receiver 9 the appearance of an image 12 and the emission of sounds with the appearance, permanent or temporary, of a writing area 13.

The optical pencil 11 makes it possible to select signs 5-8 and to transfer them to a writing area 14 of the graphics tablet 3, under the control of the piloting and control electronics, which simultaneously ensures the display of the signs chosen in the registration area 13 of the screen of the receiver 9. The user therefore sees on this screen the signs he has selected and can compare his response to a prerecorded response appearing later on the screen.

This device therefore lends itself perfectly to teaching as well as to games using reasoning or memory.

The shoemaker can be equipped with several light pens 11 allowing simultaneous play for several partners. With a single device such as the one just described, endless applications can be envisaged thanks to the prior recording of individual cassettes and their reading by the reader 2 and their interpretation by the electronics contained in the housing 1.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the interchangeable recording comprises a memory area available for recording responses, said area being erasable. It is thus possible to record the response made on the screen or the graphic tablet, send the cassette or the recording medium to a center for reading, correction and notation. The center, after erasing the answers, can again use the cassette or the recording medium.

Claims (5)

Claims 1. Teaching and / or game device of the type comprising a housing (l) connectable to a cathode-ray screen (9) and containing a memory, as well as writing means (11) on said screen (9), characterized by the fact that said box (1) comprises at least one reading: i of interchangeable prior recordings such as a sette or a program card containing a teaching and / or game program, said box (1) comprising means for piloting, connecting (10) with the cathode screen (9), and controlling (3-8, 14) of said writing means (11). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the writing means on the cathode screen (9) consist of an optical pencil (11). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the writing means on the cathode screen (9) comprise a graphic tablet (3) with fixed content controlled by said housing (1), at least one optical pencil (of selection of the signs (4-8) contained in said tablet (3), the selection of one of said signs (4-8) and its transfer to a writing area (14) of said tablet (3) ensuring its display on the cathode screen (9) via the link (10) between the housing (1) and the cathode screen (9). 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said graphics tablet (3) is soli say said housing (1). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the interchangeable recording comprises an available memory area for recording responses, said area being erasable.