GB2376697A

GB2376697A - Collapsible portable apparatus used for studying childrens behaviour

Info

Publication number: GB2376697A
Application number: GB0112841A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anne Wood; Martin Usborne
Original assignee: Tronji Ltd
Current assignee: Tronji Ltd
Priority date: 2001-05-25
Filing date: 2001-05-25
Publication date: 2002-12-24
Also published as: GB0112841D0

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an collapsible enclosure (2), preferably an inflatable type enclosure having a collapsible floor of adjustable height, a transportable container (4), such as a vehicle, and means to erect the enclosure. Preferably monitoring means in the form of a window, or audio visual means are provided, and the monitoring means may be controlled from an external mobile enclosure (6). The apparatus may further include means to provide music, ambient light or special effects within the enclosure.

Description

APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATION The invention relates to apparatus for carrying out behavioural observation.

It is often necessary to understand the behavioral patterns of sentient beings such as humans, particularly children, and particularly when they are at play.

Thus it is often necessary and desirable to be able to understand what captures a child's imagination and/or provides motivation, particularly for play.

If it is desired to observe children spread over a wide area, it is necessary either to transport all of the children to an observation unit, or to transport the observation team and all of their equipment to the children in each of their various schools. A disadvantage of using an observation unit to observe children is that it is usually a sterile environment which is liable to make the children self-conscious so that there can be a lack of spontaneity in the children's behaviour. A disadvantage of using the various schools to observe the children is that it is difficult to control the children's environment, and there are likely to be objects such as tables and chairs which can obstruct the children's play.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for carrying out behavioral observation of a sentient being, comprising a collapsible enclosure for observing a sentient being, a transportable container for the enclosure, and means to erect the enclosure at a desired location.

Having an apparatus for carrying out observation of a sentient being comprising a collapsible enclosure which can be transported in a container

means that it is possible to transport the observation team and all of their equipment to the children at a desired location. In addition, because the collapsible enclosure is specially intended for observing sentient beings it means that the enclosure can be designed so that it is less sterile and more appealing to children, whilst also being a controlled environment that is free from obstructions.

The enclosure may comprise an inflatable body. This helps provide for an enclosure which can be stored in one condition, and erected for use.

The inflatable body may comprise one or more stations for observing a sentient being. This provides scope for observing several individuals or groups of individuals in a specific location. There may be four stations.

The inflatable body may be inflatable by compressed air. This is a particularly simple yet effective construction.

The inflatable body may be relatively rigid when inflated and may be ribbed. body. This provides for stability in use.

The enclosure may comprise a collapsible floor. This helps provide for an enclosure which can be stored in one condition, and erected for use.

The collapsible floor may comprise legs, the length of which is adjustable. This means that the floor can be assembled on surfaces which are not level.

The collapsible floor may have a firm, substantially flat surface. This provides a safe surface on which the children can play.

The container may comprise a vehicle. This provides a relatively simple means by which the enclosure may be transportable.

There may be means to monitor the behaviour of a sentient being in the enclosure. This provides for the desired observation, particularly when the monitoring means may comprise a television means, or audio or audio/visual means.

There may be a control enclosure for the monitoring means. This provides for controlled observation.

The control enclosure may be situated externally of the enclosure. This provides for flexibility in use, and operation, particularly when the control enclosure may comprise a mobile control enclosure.

The control enclosure may comprise means to record observations monitored by the monitoring means.

There may be means to provide selectable atmospheric environments in the enclosure, which in a preferred embodiment may be projectable onto the internal boundary surface of the enclosure and/or station (s).

Apparatus for carrying out behavioral observation of a sentient being is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The apparatus of the present invention may be used with the entertainment device, display system and pen of the applicant's three co-pending applications and the disclosure of those applications is included by reference.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the invention in an erected position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of part of the interior of apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 4 is another perspective view of apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a station interiorly of apparatus according to the invention; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of part of apparatus according to the invention.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the interior of apparatus according to the invention during assembly.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the interior of the application according to the invention after assembly.

Fig. 9 is a side view of apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 10 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings there is shown apparatus 1 for carrying out observation of a sentient being, comprising a collapsible enclosure for

observing a sentient being, a transportable container 4 for the enclosure and means to erect the enclosure at a desired location. In the embodiment, the apparatus is used to observe children.

The enclosure comprises an inflatable body 2 made from suitable rigidifie material having a plurality of separate elongate chambers and which is erectable by inflation on ingress of a compressed gas, suitably compressed air.

The inflatable body of generally dome-like configuration when erected with an entrance door 5 and, in the embodiment four distinct symmetrically arranged stations 3 for observing children in a specific location.

There is an additional mobile container 6 also in the form of a lorry, which comprises a control means and monitoring means.

Internally of the enclosure, there are means such as television cameras, audio and/or audio visual means and windows for directly or indirectly monitoring the behavioral actions of children throughout the enclosure, as well as in the stations 3. The television cameras are mounted on extendable frames for ease of monitoring. Each station has a console or other play station 7. There are also means for projecting environmental ! atmospheric changes onto the interior of the enclosure, and of the stations, which is white, for example night time, day time, dawn, dusk, spring, summer, autumn and winter, sunshine, rain storms, hail storms, blizzards etc. , as well as means for providing music, ambient light and special effects.

In the lorry 6 there is a control room including computer (s), keyboards, viewing screens, control panels etc. whereby the environment within the enclosure and stations can be changed as desired and the monitoring means

can be controlled whereby to observe the behaviour of children within the enclosure. There are the necessary control links between the control room in the lorry 6 where the keyboard is shown at 8 and a monitor at 9.

The enclosure comprises a collapsible floor 10 comprising a collapsible metal grid 11 on which are placed composite floor panels 12 and an underlit floor panel 13, the composite floor panel 12 being covered by mats 14. The metal grid 11 includes alignment beams 15 to hold the composite panels 12 in place, and cross beams 16 and firming ribs 17 to provide lateral support for the walls of the inflatable body 2. The metal grid 11 is supported by foot posts 17, the length of which is adjustable. The adjustable foot posts 17 allow the floor 10 to be assembled on surfaces which are not level.

The collapsed body 2 and floor 10 are housed in the container 4 which is a lorry which includes a reservoir of compressed air and suitable valve means and connections whereby the compressed air can be released to inflate the enclosure.

Once the enclosure has been inflated, the lorry 4 is used as a reception room for receiving the children before they enter the enclosure, and as a de-briefing room for de-briefing the children when they leave the enclosure.

In use, the apparatus is transported by driving the lorries 4 and 6 to a desired location, the enclosure being in a collapsed state and housed within the lorry 4. At the desired location, a side of the lorry 4 is opened up, and the means to erect the enclosure are activated to erect the enclosure as shown in Fig. 1.

The lorry 6 is positioned and connected up. The children are received in the lorry 4, and then either individually or in groups enter the enclosure and are observed and their reactions to different games in each station or to the

environment or both are monitored. The observations are monitored from the lorry 6 and recorded either as an individual or as groups of children, there usually being a plurality, in the embodiment, four observation/monitoring sessions per day. All the observations are recorded and saved, the daily highlights are then edited, and then at the end of every single day the edited highlights are sent usually by courier to child valuators. The recording, usually a video, is destroyed.

The child valuators investigate various forms of play and develop different forms of play whether it is tactile, environmental, interactive or the like, the control lorry or module 6 and the programmes used to control the environment and games within the enclosure being fully integrated for evaluation.

It will be understood that the inflatable body 2 and stations 3 are integral, and, when erected, provide a light but strong and rigid structure, in the embodiment about 8 metres high.

It will also be understood that when an interactive game is being played at each station, the child or a group of children may themselves control how the game they play is developed. The children may wear"intelligent"jackets or other clothing, and will be equipped with microphones. Using the apparatus, an Internet kind of situation can be simulated.

Using the observation data provided, games can be developed for use by children who may be in the age group 4-8 years old.

When the observation is complete, the children leave the enclosure and are de-briefed in the lorry 4.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for carrying out behavioral observation of a sentient body, comprising a collapsible enclosure for observing a sentient being, a transportable container for the enclosure and means to erect the enclosure at a desired location.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the enclosure comprising an inflatable body.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the inflatable body comprising one or more stations for observing a sentient being in a specific location.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, there being four stations.
5. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 4, the inflatable body being inflatable by compressed air.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, inflatable body being relatively rigid when inflated and being ribbed.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the enclosure comprising a collapsible floor.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, the collapsible floor comprising legs, the length of which is adjustable.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, the collapsible floor having a firm, substantially flat, surface.

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10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the container comprising a vehicle.
11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means to directly or indirectly monitor the behaviour of a sentient being in the enclosure.
12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, the monitoring means comprising a television means.
13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, the monitoring means comprising audio or audio/visual means.
14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, the monitoring means comprising a window.
15. Apparatus according to any of Claims 11 to 14, there being a control enclosure for the monitoring means.
16. Apparatus according to Claim 15, the control enclosure being situated externally of the enclosure.
17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, the control enclosure comprising a mobile control enclosure.
18. Apparatus according to Claim 17, the control enclosure comprising means to record observations monitored by the monitoring means.
19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means to

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provide selectable atmospheric environments in the enclosure.
20. Apparatus according to Claim 19, the selectable atmospheric environment being projectable onto the internal boundary surface of the enclosure and/or station (s).
21. Apparatus for carrying out behavioral observation of a sentient being, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.