GB2150730A

GB2150730A - "Learn to write" instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2150730A
Application number: GB08332340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rosemary Coates
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-12-03
Filing date: 1983-12-03
Publication date: 1985-07-03
Also published as: GB8332340D0; GB2150730B

Abstract

A battery-operated pocket-sized learning aid, which teaches the method of correctly forming letters and numbers by means of a series of dots flashed up on a liquid-crystal display screen, comprises four basic function buttons (san serif, cursive, capitals or upper case letters and numerals), twenty six alphabet buttons, nine number buttons, an on/off switch and a clear button. The function is selected first, then the letter/number to be practised. When the exercise is completed the screen is cleared and the last function is cleared by depressing the clear button. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION "Learn to write" an instrument to aid the aquision of writing skills THIS INVENTION, HEREAFTER TO BE RE FERRED TO AS THE 'INSTRUMENT' CAN BE USED BY PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN LEARN ING TO WRITE.

With the advent of an individualised approach to teaching in Primary Schools, plus a reduction in the number of teachers in employment in schools which were designed and built around madern teaching methods, many pupils are failing to achieve a satisfactory standard of written English. As an example, Infant classrooms built during the last decade have not always included the provision of a blackboard. It is extremely difficult for teachers to ensure that each child learns the correct way to form letters and numbers.

The "instrument" is designed to teach individuals of all ages and would prove most useful to older pupils and those for whom English is not a 'first' language.

ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL FEATURES The Instrument is based on the pocketcalculator concept and is battery-powered with a Liquid-Crystal Display Screen.

There are twenty-six letter-buttons, one for each letter of the alphabet; Nine numeral-buttons comprising the numbers one to nine; An On/Off button; A CLEAR button; Four FUNCTION buttons as follows: a. SANS SERIF b. CURSIVE c. CAPITALS d. NUMER ALS.

SANS SERIF refers to 'LOWER CASE' letters written without 'tails' or 'strokes'.

CURSIVE letters refer to letters with serifs or 'tails'.

CAPITALS refers to upper-case letters.

NUMBERS FEFERS TO THE NUMERALS ONE TO NINE.

The Liquid-Crystal Display Screen has two sets of 'tram-lines' on which the letters are placed. The wider of the two will be known as the Principal lines and the narrower known as the secondary lines.

A series of dots (or very short lines) will form the letter or number selected for practise, a larger dot indicating the starting point.

The dots will appear on the Principal lines and teach the direction of the letters (and shape).

Meanwhile, the letter being taught will be shown in its completed form and repeated, on the Secondary lines.... Ideally the letters would be moving from left to right, in the reading direction; this movement is restricted to the secondary lines, where the letters will be smaller, and is not a feature of the Principal lines.

THE FOUR FUNCTIONS ARE ILLUSTRATED AS FOLLOWS: Figure 1 SANSERIF. This Function teaches the first stage in learning to write. The letter selected for practise, by means of depressing correct button and Function a. button. The Function is selected first, e.g. S/S and then the letter.

Figure 2 CURSIVE. This Function teaches the second stage in learning to write. The screen must be cleared by means of depressing the CLEAR button, the new Function selected in this case (b) CURSIVE, then the letter to be practised, and the large dot will appear, followed by the series of smaller dots indicating the writing direction.

Figure 3 CAPITALS... OR UPPER-CASE letters. The last Function has to be Cleared and the new Function selected, in this case (c) CAPITALS. As before the large dot appears to indicate the starting position and a series of dots complete the shape/writing direction, of letter.

Figure 4 NUMERALS. The last Function is Cleared and the new Function is selected, in this case (d) Numbers and the large dot appears followed by the series showing the writing direction, of the selected number.

PROCEDURE IN BRIEF 1. Instrument switched on.

2. FUNCTION selected.

3. LETTER or NUMBER for Practise selected.

4. CLEAR button depressed when exercise completed.

IN ALL CASES THE SECONDARY 'TRAM LINES' WILL DISPLAY THE COMPLETED LET TER OR NUMBER WHICH HAS BEEN SE LECTED FOR PRACTISE. IT IS HOPED THAT THESE LINES WOULD MOVE OR 'RUN' FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.

THE ANTICIPATED SIZE OF THE INSTRU MENT IS FOURTEEN CENTIMETRES LONG BY TEN CENTIMETRES WIDE, BY TWO CEN TIMETRES DEEP. 14 x 10 X 2 cms.

IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE INSTRU MENT WILL BE MADE OF LIGHT WEIGHT PLASTIC AND BE POWERED BY SMALL BAT TERIES IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS A STANDARD POCKET-CALCULATOR.

On the illustrations the numbers refer to the order in which the dots will move in the direction of the arrows. This is merely a method of conveying the general idea on paper and will not appear on the Instrument.

IT IS CONSIDERED THAT IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT THAT SHOULD THE SECON DARY TRAM-LINES NOT BE FEASIBLE, THEN A STATIC DISPLAY OF THE COMPLETED LETTERS/NUMBERS WOULD SUFFICE.

A further development of the Instrument would be to write short words e.g. cat, hat, man, pot etc. using the CURSIVE Function to complete the teaching process.

Initially the Instrument would be developed to teach English script, but could also be developed to teach Greek, Russian and other European alphabets, provided these alphabets do not contain too many letters. Japanese HIRAGANA and KATAKANA are of a managable number.. . Language students of the major European languages and particularly those Self-taught might find such an Instrument very useful.

Claims

1. A battery-operated pocket-sized learning aid based on the 'calculator' concept hereafter called the INSTRUMENT, comprising forty-one finger-touch buttons, a liquid chrystal display screen on which the letters of the alphabet are shown as a series of dots.

2. An instrument as claimed in Claim one, which is contained in a light-weight plastic casing.

3. An instrument as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, wherein twenty-six letter buttons represent the alphabet.

4. An instrument as claimed in Claims 1, 2, a 3 wherein nine buttons represent the numbers one to nine.

5. An instrument as claimed in Claims 1, 2, 3 a 4 wherein four buttons determine the function of the instrument.

6. An instrument as claimed in Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, a 5 wherein one button is designed to Clear the display.

7. An instrument as previously claimed in Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 which includes the provision of an ON/OFF button.

8. An instrument as claimed in Claims 1 to 7 inclusive wherein a Liquid Crystal Display Screen contains two sets of "tram-lines" one set being the Principal lines on which the shape of the selected letter is indicated by a series of dots, the narrower set of "tramlines" or Secondary lines showing the completed letter.

9. An instrument as claimed in Claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8 wherein the Secondary "tram-lines" move from left to right.

10. An instrument as claimed in Claims 1 to 8 inclusively, wherein the Cursive Function as described in Fig. 2 has the potential to display short (three-letter) words.

11. An instrument as previously claimed in Claims 1 to 10 inclusive, in which the alphabet buttons, Upper case and Lower case letters can potentially be developed to teach the other major European alphabets.

1 2. An instrument as previously claimed in Claim 1. in which the casing is pocketsized, and therefore is not expected to excede the following measurements: 1 4cms. X 1 Ocms X 2cms. Fourteen centimetres by ten centimetres by two centimetres.