GB2444793A

GB2444793A - Sound reproduction device

Info

Publication number: GB2444793A
Application number: GB0706151A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hamish Chalmers; Liesbeth Oosterwijk
Original assignee: MUMMY SAYS DADDY SAYS Ltd
Current assignee: MUMMY SAYS DADDY SAYS Ltd
Priority date: 2006-12-13
Filing date: 2007-03-29
Publication date: 2008-06-18
Also published as: GB0624877D0; GB2444747A; GB0706151D0

Abstract

A sound reproduction device for use with a plurality of books, each of which comprises a plurality of pages having graphical content. The device comprises: a sound storage means for storing speech sound data corresponding to the graphical content of each page of each book, the data for each page of each book comprising data for a plurality of languages; a book and page identification means for use in identifying a book with which the device is to be used and a page or pages at which the book is open; a plurality of user operable language controls 13,15 for association with respective different ones of the plurality of languages; a sound reproduction means for generating speech sounds using the speech sound data stored in the sound storage means; and a control means for controlling the sound reproduction means 23 to generate a speech sound in response to a user operable control being operated. The control means is arranged to control the sound reproduction means 23 to generate the speech sound in a language associated with the operated user operable language control for a page of a book that has been identified using the book and page identification means. Optionally the device may be used with posters, pictures or tiles having graphical content.

Description

Sound Reproduction Device This invention relates to a device for

reproducing speech sounds. More particularly, this invention relates to a device for use with specially designed books, wherein the device is adapted to reproduce speech sounds which correspond to the graphical content of the books.

Devices of the type described above, having user operable controls, are known. For example, US 2004/0023192 Al discloses a book having a detachable sound generator. The sound generator includes controls for setting a page and a display for indicating a page that has been set. A storage means stores sounds corresponding to the content of each page. In use, the sound generator is operable to reproduce sounds corresponding to the content of each page.

The device described in US 2004/0023192 Al provides an enhanced reading experience, and is beneficial in educational environments. However, the full potential of this technology has not yet been realised.

According to the invention, there is provided a sound reproduction device for use with a plurality of books, each book comprising a plurality of pages and each page having graphical content, the device comprising: a sound storage means for storing speech sound data corresponding to the graphical content of each page of each book, the data for each page of each book comprising data for a plurality of languages; a book and page identification means for use in identifying a book with which the device is to be used and a page or pages at which the book is open; a plurality of user operable language controls for association with respective different ones of the plurality of languages; a sound reproduction means for generating speech sounds using the speech sound data stored in the sound storage means; and a control means for controlling the sound reproduction means to generate a speech sound in response to a user operable control being operated, wherein the control means is arranged to control the sound reproduction means to generate the speech sound in a language associated with the operated user operable language control for a page of a book that has been identified using the book and page identification means.

The invention thus provides a sound reproduction device in which user operable controls are provided for controlling an electronic means to reproduce speech sounds in different languages. The sounds correspond to graphical content provided on respective pages of a book. In normal use, each user operable control is associated with one language.

The invention provides a natural learning experience for those learning a foreign language, particularly those at an early stage in the process. Moreover, the sound reproduction device of the invention may be used for the teaching of more than one language, since the speech sounds are provided in more than one language.

The sound reproduction device of the invention is considered to be particularly appropriate for multilingual families. In particular, parents that have different native languages frequently wish to teach their offspring both of their respective languages. However, the learning process is usually hindered by one of the languages becoming a "minority language" which is rarely spoken day to day, at the expense of the "majority language". The two key reasons why a language becomes a minority language are that the majority language parent does not speak the minority language, and that the majority language is the language used in the country of residence so that the minority language has no practical use day to day.

The sound reproduction device of the invention enables a majority language parent to assist in teaching the minority language to offspring, without themselves being fluent in the minority language. This results in a collaborative learning experience in which both parents can interact with their offspring in more than one language. In this way, all members of the family gradually become fluent in both languages.

The invention also allows classroom teachers to teach languages that they are not necessarily fluent in.

The device may be used with pictures, posters, tiles, etc. displaying one or more image and, for example mounted on walls around a room. In this case, the pictures, posters or tiles are considered to be equivalent to books having a single page.

In a preferred embodiment, the sound storage means comprises a non-volatile memory device. The sound storage means may be removable from the apparatus so that it can be exchanged. For example, different sound storage means may have speech sounds for different books and/or in different languages stored thereon. It is generally preferred that a single sound storage means be provided with speech sounds for a plurality of books.

The speech sound data may be stored on the sound storage means in encrypted form.

The book and page identification means may comprise electrically conductive contacts for making an electrical connection with respective electrically conductive contacts of a book. The book may be identified by measuring a resistance between the electrically conductive contacts, to thereby identify a unique combination of contact interconnections. The pages at which the book is open may be identified using a separate page identification means arranged within the book, the electrically conductive contacts providing a means of connection to the page identification means in the book.

The book and page identification means may alternatively comprise, or further comprise, a wireless signal receiver for receiving wireless signals from a wireless signal transmitter arranged in the book, such as an RFID tag. The wireless signal receiver may be a radio frequency receiver. Pages may be identified using REID tags arranged in each page.

The book and page identification means may alternatively comprise, or further comprise, user operable identification controls for manually setting the identity of a book and/or a page. In this way, the identity of the book and/or the page at which the book is open would be manually set by a user.

The book and page identification means may comprise, or further comprise, a display means, and the control means may then be arranged to control the display means to indicate the identity of a page and/or a book that has been determined using the book and page identification means. The display means may comprise a liquid crystal display.

A display means may also be provided for displaying text corresponding to the graphical content of each page (and the speech sounds generated). A single display device may, of course, be provided for displaying this text and for indicating the identity of a page and/or a book.

The control means is preferably arranged to control the sound reproduction means to generate a speech sound indicating the identity of a page and/or a book identified using the book and page identification means.

The user operable language controls may comprise push button electrical switches, or photosensors for detecting the presence of a user's finger.

The sound reproduction means may comprise a loudspeaker and a decoder for decoding speech sound data.

The control means may comprise a microcontroller.

The device may further comprise a communication means for use in writing and/or rewriting speech sound data to the sound storage means. In this way, the device can be updated with speech sounds for different books and/or different languages. The communication means may comprise a Universal Serial Bus interface.

The device may further comprise a means for attaching language representing indicia adjacent to or on the user operable language controls. For example, the indicia could be national flags representative of the language with which the controls have been associated. In this way, a user can readily identify the function of each user operable control.

The device may further comprise user operable language selection controls for use in associating each of the user operable language controls with different ones of the plurality of languages. In this way, the device can, for example, be configured to provide speech sounds in two languages selected from a greater number of languages.

The control means may be arranged to control the sound reproduction means to generate a speech sound indicating the identity of a language associated with a user operable language control. For example, the sound reproduction means may generate word "English" to indicate that the English language has been selected.

The device may further comprise an elongate two-part housing, wherein ends of the parts are hingedly connected, and the housing has open and closed configurations. In this way, the hinge connection can be aligned with the spine of a book so that the open housing parts are aligned under respective pages of the open book. The user operable controls may only be accessible when the housing is in the open configuration. A length of the housing parts, as measured from their hinged connection, may be adjustable, for example by means of a sliding telescopic mechanism.

The components of the device which include electrical connections may be contained within both parts of a two-part hinged housing. However, it is also possible that all of these components could be contained within one of the two parts, so as to avoid the need to take electrical connections across the hinge.

The device may further comprise attachment means for attaching the device to a book, such as a magnet, a ferromagnetic material for attachment to a magnet and hooks or loops of hook and loop fasteners, etc. The device may be battery powered and may additionally or alternatively have a solar cell for powering the device.

The invention also provides a sound reproduction arrangement comprising: a book comprising a plurality of pages and each page having graphical content; and a sound reproduction device as described above.

The book may further comprises a sensing means for determining a page or pair of pages at which the book is open, the sensing means of the book being arranged to communicate with the book and page sensing means of the sound reproduction device. The sensing means may comprise photosensors, magnetic sensors or capacitive coupling means arranged to detect the positions of the pages of the book.

The book may further comprise electrically conductive contacts for making an electrical connection with respective electrically conductive contacts of the sound reproduction device and/or a wireless signal transmitter for transmitting wireless signals to a wireless signal receiver of the sound reproduction device.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view a sound reproduction device according to the invention in a closed configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sound reproduction device shown in Figure 1 in an open configuration; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the sound reproduction device shown in Figure 1 for use in explaining its operation; and Figure 4 shows a sound reproduction arrangement according to the invention comprising a book and the sound reproduction device shown in Figure 1.

The sound reproduction device according to the invention is an educational aid for use in teaching foreign, or second, languages. The invention provides an effective combination of visual and aural stimuli which results in a more natural learning experience than is the case with conventional educational aids. By making the device suitable for use with more than one book, the invention provides a cost effective solution.

The device is essentially capable of reproducing speech sounds in a number of different languages. Each speech sound corresponds to the content of a respective page of a book and is intended to be reproduced at the same time that a user observes the page. The device is designed to reproduce speech sounds in different languages for the pages of a number of different books, so that only one device is required. Furthermore, the device is preferably arranged to be updateable to provide speech sounds in languages different from, and for books different from, those for which it was initially configured.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that the sound reproduction device 1 of the invention includes a moulded plastics housing. The housing is provided as two elongate parts 3, 5 which are hinged together at one of their ends in a book-like arrangement. Thus, the device 1 has a closed configuration as shown in Figure 1 and an open configuration as shown in Figure 2. In the open configuration, the device I is intended to be aligned with an open book, so that the parts 3, 5 are directly below respective open pages of the book.

Each of the parts 3, 5 has a flat upper and lower surface, with the upper surfaces only being visible when the device 1 is in the open configuration. With particular reference to Figure 2, it can be seen that a number of features are visible on the exposed upper surfaces of the parts 3, 5 when the device 1 is in the open configuration. These features will be described in detail below.

The housing also contains a number of components which are not visible in Figures 1 and 2, but are instead shown in schematic form in Figure 3.

Specifically, the housing contains a sound storage means in the form of a memory card 7. The memory card is a non-volatile memory having a storage capacity of, for example, 1 gigabyte. Speech sounds are stored on the memory card 7 in a standard format, for example as MP3 files. Each stored speech sound corresponds to the graphical content of a page of a book. For example, speech sounds for a page having a picture of a dog may include the spoken In this example, speech sounds in each of twenty languages are provided for each page of a series of five different books. Each of the books has a standard contents of ten pages, and there is therefore a total of a thousand MP3 speech sound files stored on the memory card (20 languages x 5 books x 10 pages).

The memory card 7 is removable so that it can be replaced with cards for alternative series of books and/or languages. The memory card is received within a socket (not shown) in a rear surface of the device 1. New speech sounds can also be written to the memory card via a Universal Serial Bus port (not shown).

The housing also contains a book and page identification means comprising a radio frequency receiver 9 for use in identifying a book with which the device 1 is to be used and a pair of pages at which the book is open. The radio frequency receiver 9 is arranged to receive radio frequency signals from a book with which the device is being used, the received signals identifying the book and the page at which it is open.

The book and page identification means also comprises a liquid crystal display 11 arranged to provide a visual indication of the page which has been identified. The display 11 is provided in the upper surface of one of the housing parts 5 so that it is clearly visible during use of the device 1.

A number of user operable language controls in the form of push button electrical switches 13, 15 are also provided on the upper surfaces of the two parts 3, 5 of the housing. In particular, a pair of switches 13, 15 are provided on each part 3, 5, for alignment with each page of an open book. One switch of each pair is associable with one language, for example English, and the other switch of each pair is associable with another, different language, for example French.

The housing is also provided with user operable language selection controls (not shown), again in the form of push button electrical switches. The language selection controls are provided for use in associating the pairs of language controls 13, 15 with desired ones of the languages. In this way, the language controls 13, 15 may be associated with specific ones of the languages in which the speech sounds are stored in the memory card 7.

Portions 17, 19 of the upper surfaces of the housing parts 3, 5 are provided adjacent the switches 13, 15 for attaching indicia representing the languages that have been associated with the switches 13, 15. The portions 17, 19 are recessed for adhesive labels to be applied, for example.

The housing also contains a sound reproduction means comprising an MP3 decoder 21 and a loudspeaker 23 for generating speech sounds using the speech sounds stored in the memory card 7. The structure of a decoder 21 suitable for decoding the speech sounds into a form suitable for driving the loudspeaker 23 will be known to those skilled in the art, and a detailed description will therefore be omitted. A battery compartment (not shown) is also provided within the housing for receiving a battery 25 for powering the sound reproduction means, as well as the other elements of the device 1.

The housing also contains a control means in the form of a microprocessor 27.

The main function of the microprocessor 27 is to control the MP3 decoder 21 and loudspeaker 23 to generate a speech sound in response to a language control 13, 15 being operated. However, the microprocessor 27 is also arranged to perform other functions such as associating the language controls 13, 15 with selected ones of the languages in' which the speech sounds have been stored.

The lower surface of the housing is provided with a magnetic surface (not shown) for use in attaching the device to a specially designed book.

In use, the device 1 is opened by hinging open the parts 3, 5 of the housing.

The lower surfaces of the device 1 are then attached to a specially designed book 101 which has been opened at any page, as shown in Figure 4. The device 1 is attached to the front and back covers 103, 105 of the book 101, which covers 103, 105 extend beyond the pages, by means of magnets provided on the lower surfaces of the device 1 and the covers 103, 105.

The hinging axis of the pages of the book 101 is offset from that of the covers 103, 105. This is achieved in the example through the use of retaining rings for binding the pages (ring binding). With such an arrangement, the covers 103, of the book 101 can be closed with the device 1 still in position. In this case, the hinging axis of the device 1 aligns with the hinging axis of the pages, notthat of the covers 103, 105.

The device 1 is then switched on using an on/off switch (not shown). Upon being switched on, electrical power is provided to the various components of the device 1, and the microprocessor 27 executes a process which controls the operation of the device 1.

Firstly, radio frequency signals transmitted by a transmitter (not shown) in the book 101 and received by the radio frequency receiver 9 in the device 1 are decoded to identify the book 101 to which the device 1 has been attached and the pair of pages at which the book 101 is open.

Upon operation of one of the user operable language controls 13, 15, the microprocessor 27 controls the MP3 decoder 21 and loudspeaker 23 to reproduce a speech sound in the language with which the operated control 13,15 has been associated. The particular speech sound that is reproduced is determined using the book and page identity decoded from the radio frequency signals received by the receiver 9. In this way, a speech sound that specifically corresponds to the page above the operated control is reproduced. The same sound in different languages can be reproduced in turn by operating each of the controls 13, 15 associated with the page in turn.

As described above, the languages associated with the user operable controls 13, 15 can be changed using the language selection controls. When the language with which a user operable control 13, 15 is associated has been changed in this way, the microprocessor 27 is arranged to control the MP3 decoder 21 and loudspeaker 23 to reproduce a speech sound identifying the newly selected language, for example "English" or "French".

As noted above, the book 101 contains a transmitter for transmitting radio frequency signals identifying the book and a pair of pages at which the book is open. The book 101 is identified by a unique code assigned to the book, which code is then transmitted by the transmitter. The pair of pages at which the book 101 is open is also represented as a code for transmission by the transmitter, but the book 101 additionally comprises a sensing means for use in determining the pages at which the book has been opened.

The sensing means in the book 101 comprises a plurality of photosensors for determining the pages at which the book 101 is open. The photosensors are integrated into the surface of each page of the book 101 and are connected to the radio frequency transmitter which is arranged to generate a code representing the pages at which the book 101 is open and to send the code as a radio frequency signal.

In use, the user will usually operate the control 13, 15 associated with a language being learnt. For example, if the user's native language is English and they are learning French, they will usually operate a control 13, 15 associated with the French language. However, if desired for comparison purposes, the user can operate the other control 11, 13 associated with the English language.

In an alternative mode of use, the device I may be used with posters, pictures or tiles, etc, which are provided with graphical images. In this case, the posters, pictures or tiles are equivalent to a single page book and are provided with a radio frequency transmitter, such as an RFID tag, for use with a book and page identification means of the device 1. In this mode of use, the device 1 does not need to be attached to the poster, picture or tile, and the two-part housing does not even need to be opened. Instead, the device 1 is simply held in close proximity to the poster, picture or tile and the device 1 reproduces a speech sound corresponding to the graphical image of the poster, picture or tile. If user operable controls are accessible, then the language in which the speech sound is reproduced may also be selected.

The device 1 according to the invention can be used by a user learning either or both of the languages associated with the controls 13, 15. When new languages are to be learnt, the controls 13, 15 can be reconfigured so that they are associated with the new languages, for example, Spanish and German.

Other ways in which the device 1 may be used will be apparent to the skilled person.

A specific, preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above with reference to the drawings. However, it will be apparent to the skilled person that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims.

For example, the book and page identification means of the device could take other forms, such as user operable book and/or page setting controls, with which the user would manually set the identity of the book and/or pages. The microprocessor could be arranged to control the MP3 decoder and loudspeaker to provide an aural confirmation of the identity of the book and pages that have been set (in addition to information provided by the liquid crystal display).

In the embodiment described above, the user operable controls are push button electrical switches. However other user operable controls are suitable, including those based on photosensors.

In the embodiment described above, the parts of the housing are of a fixed size. However, the parts may have a telescopic mechanism so that the device could be placed below different sized books and always have its user operable controls aligned with the centre of the opened pages.

The embodiment described above is battery powered. A solar cell may alternatively or additionally be provided.

In the book described above, a sensing means comprising photosensors is used for detecting pages at which the book is open. Alternative embodiments may comprise alternative means for sensing pages, including magnetic sensing means and capacitive coupling means.

The embodiment described above has pairs of user operable language controls for association with two languages. In alternative embodiments, the language controls may be provided in groups of three or more for association with three or more languages. Any languages may be used.

In the embodiment described above, the components of the device which include electrical connections are contained within one part of a two-part hinged housing. All of these components may alternatively be contained within one of the parts, so as to avoid the need to take electrical connections across the hinge.

In the embodiment described above, a liquid crystal display provides a visual indication of the page which has been identified. The display may alternatively or additionally provide a visual indication of the book which has been identified and/or may display text corresponding to the graphical content of the page (and the speech sound reproduced).

Claims

Claims 1. A sound reproduction device for use with a plurality of

books, each book comprising a plurality of pages and each page having graphical content, the device comprising: a sound storage means for storing speech sound data corresponding to the graphical content of each page of each book, the data for each page of each book comprising data for a plurality of languages; a book and page identification means for use in identifying a book with which the device is to be used and a page or pages at which the book is open; a plurality of user operable language controls for association with respective different ones of the plurality of languages; a sound reproduction means for generating speech sounds using the speech sound data stored in the sound storage means; and a control means for controlling the sound reproduction means to generate a speech sound in response to a user operable control being operated, wherein the control means is arranged to control the sound reproduction means to generate the speech sound in a language associated with the operated user operable language control for a page of a book that has been identified using the book and page identification means.
2. A sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sound storage means comprises a non-volatile memory device.
3. A sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sound storage means is removable from the apparatus.
4. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sound storage means has encrypted speech sound data stored therein.
5. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the book and page identification means comprises electrically conductive contacts for making an electrical connection with respective electrically conductive contacts of a book.
6. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the book and page identification means comprises, or further comprises, a wireless signal receiver for receiving wireless signals from a wireless signal transmitter of a book.
7. A sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wireless signal receiver is a radio frequency receiver.
8. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the book and page identification means comprises, or further comprises, user operable identification controls for setting the identity of a book and/or a page.
9. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the book and page identification means comprises, or further comprises, a display means, wherein the control means is arranged to control the display means to indicate the identity of a page and/or a book identified using the book and page identification means.
10. A sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display means comprises a liquid crystal display.
11. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control means is arranged to control the sound reproduction means to generate a speech sound indicating the identity of a page and/or a book identified using the book and page identification means.
12. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user operable language controls comprise push button leCtrical switches.
13. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the user operable language controls comprise photosensors.
14. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sound reproduction means comprises a loudspeaker.
15. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sound reproduction means comprises a decoder for decoding speech sound data.
16. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control means comprises a microcontroller.
17. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a communication means for use in writing and/or rewriting speech sound data to the sound storage means.
18. A sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the communication means comprises a Universal Serial Bus port.
19. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising means for attaching language representing indicia adjacent to the user operable language controls.
20. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising user operable language selection controls for use in associating each of the user operable language controls with different ones of the plurality of languages.
21. A sound reproduction device as claimed claim 20, wherein the control means is arranged to control the sound reproduction means to generate a speech sound indicating the identity of a language associated with a user operable language control.
22. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a two-part housing, wherein ends of the parts are hingedly connected and have open and closed configurations.
23. A sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the user operable controls are only accessible when the housing is in the open configuration.
24. A sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein a length of the parts, as measured from their hinged connection, is adjustable.
25. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising attachment means for attaching the device to a book.
26 A sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the attachment means comprises a magnet.
27. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any of claims 22 to 26, wherein all electrical components of the device are provided in one part of the two-part housing.
28. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a display means for displaying text corresponding to the graphical content of each page of each book at the same time as the sound reproduction means generates the speech sounds.
29. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, further for use with posters, pictures or tiles having graphical content.
30. A battery powered sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim.
31. A sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a solar cell arranged to convert solar energy into electrical energy for powering the device.
32. A sound reproduction arrangement comprising: a book comprising a plurality of pages and each page having graphical content; and a sound reproduction device as claimed in any preceding claim.
33. A sound reproduction arrangement as claimed in claim 32, wherein the book further comprises a sensing means for determining a page or pair of pages at which the book is open, the sensing means of the book being arranged to communicate with the book and page sensing means of the sound reproduction device.
34. A sound reproduction arrangement as claimed in claim 33, wherein the sensing means comprises photosensors, magnetic sensors or capacitive coupling means arranged to detect the positions of the pages of the book.
35. A sound reproduction arrangement as claimed in any of claims 32 to 34, wherein the book further comprises electrically conductive contacts for making an electrical connection with respective electrically conductive contacts of the sound reproduction device and/or a wireless signal transmitter for transmitting wireless signals to a wireless signal receiver of the sound reproduction device.
36. A sound reproduction device or arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the drawings.