JPH065448B2 - Cluster type CBE device having audio-visual learning function - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention combines the digital speech synthesis technology with the technology relating to a cluster-type computer, and further combines it with the image processing technology of a video device to provide a level for each learner. And a cluster-type network CB in which learning terminals are radially connected to a host computer in order to enhance the ability of individual learners according to the progress of learning.
The present invention relates to an E (Computer Based Education) device.

Conventional Technology Looking at the historical trends of educational equipment using computers, CAI (Computer Assis) was found in the early 1960s.
The term ted Instructi on) was started to be used, but at that time, it did not have a great social impact until the latter half of the 1970s due to lack of performance of the computer itself and undeveloped man-machine interface function.

In the 1980s, terminals became intelligent, and various new media were being introduced into educational devices. In particular, with the spread of personal computers, attempts have been made to add images with laser disks and audio with tape recorders and compact discs, but most examples are embodied with stand-alone personal computers, and many with cluster types. It has not been possible to convert this terminal into a network and combine video and audio for centralized control.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional stand-alone type, for example, a personal computer has 60
Taking an example of a classroom lined up with teachers, a teacher makes and distributes 60 copies of the flotspideiskets, collects these flotspideiskets at the end of learning, and separates them into lessons. It is necessary to edit while reading out the history one by one. Also, as the number of teaching materials increases, the management of Flotpi day skates becomes significantly complicated.

In addition, the conventional method of adding sound by a tape recorder or a compact disc has the following drawbacks. That is, it is difficult for the tape recorder to randomly access at a necessary speed according to the learner's condition, and the compact disc has a drawback that the recorded contents cannot be freely changed except for the expensive write-once type. Then, it is almost impossible to introduce these audio media.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the device of the present invention comprises one host computer in which a plurality of learning terminals are connected by high-speed communication interface lines via high-speed communication interfaces. It is configured as a cluster-type network-type CBE device that serves as a unit education station, and in particular, many teaching materials and long-term voice files are digitalized and stored in a mass storage device of the host computer, and a specific learner is provided by a network. Means for providing necessary character / figure images and sounds, input means such as a keyboard for learner's intention input, video output device for teaching materials such as laser video disk device and VTR device, images from such video device and Means for providing audio to each learner, such images and sounds Teaching material program means to control voice output according to learning progress, download teaching material from host computer to each learning terminal, send audio output synchronized with teaching material, receive learning history from learning terminal, etc. High-speed communication interface means, buffer and RAM memory in the host computer and learning terminal for the purpose of improving the system throughput, images from the video device, and output from the host computer via the learning terminal Such as superimposing means for superimposing and displaying the text and graphic images of the teaching materials on the same CRT screen of the learning terminal, real voice file input means for inputting from a microphone, local area network, public communication line, etc. Stay The high-speed communication interface line between the two units enables highly effective organic means such as inter-station communication interface for communication between each unit education station (classroom, school) to enhance synergistic audiovisual learning effect. It is a functionally and functionally connected combination.

Operation With the above configuration, the information input by the specific learner to the learner's learning terminal is notified as a digital signal to the host computer via the high-speed communication interface line, and the host computer centralizes the notified data. Decoded by the processor, extracted the required program image teaching material data and voice data from the data stored in the mass storage device, output to the learning terminal of the learner concerned via the high-speed communication interface line, and output the image. If the teaching material and other educational information by voice output by the listening means such as a headphone or the like is provided through the characters and figures displayed on the CRT display through the device and the voice digital / analog (D / A) conversion device. Also, if necessary, a laser video device or VT Materials and its other educational information by video and audio from a video device of the apparatus or the like is provided to superimpose the output that is downloaded from the host computer through the CRT Deisupurei and listening means.

The response of each learner provided with the teaching material is transmitted to the host computer through the high-speed communication interface by the input means of letters and symbols such as the keyboard of the learning terminal,
By decoding the response in the central processor, the teaching material and other educational information from the host computer are immediately responded to and provided to the learning terminal of the learner. In addition, the teacher inputs the educational information in advance in a memory device in the host computer by using a real voice input device such as a microphone, and outputs it as described above according to the request and response from each learner, that is, the learning progress. You can

Furthermore, the inter-station communication interface for communication between each unit education station enables communication between each unit education station (classroom, school).

Embodiment One embodiment of the device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

This embodiment is intended in particular to be used by up to 64 learners simultaneously, ie 64 learning terminals can be connected. Therefore, the numerical values and details of the configuration used in the description of the present embodiment can be appropriately changed if the number of connectable learning terminals changes.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device of the present invention comprises a host computer 20 and a plurality of learning terminals 30 connected thereto.
It is composed of a unit education station 10 consisting of.

(1) Explanation of communication between unit education stations FIG. 1 shows that communication between unit education stations 10 composed of one host computer 20 and a plurality of learning terminals 30 connected to the host computer 20 is performed by a communication interface line 50 between stations. Shows where they are connected.

A local area network (LAN) or a public communication line can be used as the communication interface 50 between the stations.
Communication interface between stations 2
2 (FIG. 2).

By using the LAN function between the education stations, it is possible to easily transfer the teaching material and the learning history of each learner from the education station A installed in one classroom to the education station B installed in another classroom. , The teaching material database can be standardized. Furthermore, by connecting the educational stations using public communication lines,
It is possible to communicate with remote areas, and thus school communication.

(2) Description of Unit Education Sustainability As described above, the education station 10 is composed of the host computer 20 and a plurality of, in this embodiment, 64 learning terminals 30 connected to the host computer 20.

(a) Description of Host Computer FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the host computer 20. The configuration and operation of the host computer 20 will be described below with reference to FIG. The central processor 21 is composed of a 32-bit microprocessor LSI, and
It is a central processing mechanism for controlling storage and peripheral devices.

The large-capacity magnetic disk storage device 25 is composed of one or more winch-ester type fixed disk devices, has a total storage capacity of at least 300 megabytes, and has an average access time of about 15 milliseconds. The disk storage device digitally stores a large number of programmed image teaching material data including re-response to individual learner's responses and a large amount of audio data. Other mass storage devices can be used in place of the magnetic disk.

In the present embodiment, “a large number of teaching materials” means that the maximum of 64 learners are required in order to proceed with the learning individually using the learning terminals 30 in response to the requests from the learners. It is read from the disk device and passed through the buffer memory 24 by the high-speed communication interface 23,
It is a programmed teaching material downloaded to the learning terminal 30 through the high-speed communication interface line 40.

In addition, in this embodiment, "a large amount of voice data" means
When a plurality of learners each proceed with individual learning by using the program teaching material, not only the viewing information on the CRT screen but also the learning information by voice is synchronized with the progress of the character / graphic teaching material being studied. It is learning data used for the purpose of enhancing the learning effect by giving it to the learner.

In the case of the above-mentioned program teaching material, the voice data is stored in the large-capacity magnetic disk storage device 25 by replacing the analog signal of the real voice with the digital signal in advance, and the voice messages necessary for a plurality of learners are individually read out. Similarly to the above, the high-speed communication interface line 4 is used by the high-speed communication interface 23 through the buffer memory 24.
It is sent to the learning terminal 30 at a communication speed of about 4 megabit seconds through 0. In the present embodiment, the voice message has a voice data of about 30 seconds as a unit, and voice data of 10 hours or more is stored in the mass storage device 25.

The buffer memory 24 efficiently learns teaching materials and voice data stored in the mass storage device 25 from the learning terminal 30.
Is a high-speed random access memory for sending to
In this embodiment, a capacity of 4 megabytes or more, 150
It has an access time of nanosecond or less.

The inter-station communication interface 22 is for performing communication between unit education stations through the inter-station communication interface line 50 such as a local area network or a public communication line.

(b) Description of the learning terminal FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the learning terminal 30. The configuration and operation of the learning terminal will be described below with reference to FIG.

The central processor 31 is a central processing mechanism of the learning terminal 30 composed of a 16-bit microprocessor.

The RAM memory 32 has a sufficient capacity (at least 1 megabyte in this embodiment) to store the teaching material program and audio data downloaded from the host computer 20.
Is a random access memory with. The teaching material program stored in the RAM memory 32 is written in the language for the central processor 31, and is sent from the host computer 20 in the form of a program that can be executed as it is. The voice data stored in the RAM memory 32 is sent to the voice digital / analog (D / A) converter 34 in synchronization with the execution of the teaching material program, and the learner as a voice is given to the learner by the listening device including the headphone 34-1. To be heard.

The voice input device and the analog / digital (A / D) converter 38 for voice, which are microphons 38-1,
The learning terminal 30 is designed so that it can also be used as a teacher terminal, and is used by the teacher to input a real voice and register the voice data in the mass storage device 25 in the host computer 20. In this embodiment, the digitized voice information registered in the mass storage device 25 is PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) data of at least 6,000 sample seconds and one sample of 4 bits or more, and at least 10 hours of voice data. Must be able to register at once. Voice input device (microphone)
The analog voice signal input from 38-1 is converted into a PCM signal by the voice analog / digital conversion device 38 and stored in the RAM memory 32 in units of sentences or phrases for about 30 seconds. The digital audio signal stored in the RAM memory 32 passes through the high speed communication interface 33 under the control of the central processor 31 and then passes through the high speed communication interface 40 to the mass storage device 25 in the host computer 20. It is stored in the location specified in.

The video interface 37 is connected to a laser video disk device or V by a video interface line 39.
In response to a video signal from a video device 51 such as a TR device, a video screen synchronized with the teaching material program on the CRT display 36 of the learning terminal 30 or a character downloaded from the host computer and output through the image output device 36-1. , Superimpose the graphic image and video image on the surface of the screen.

The video device 51 such as the laser disk device or the VTR device is used for each learning terminal 3 in the educational station 10.
0 can be connected to each independently, or
At all learning terminals within the Education Station 10,
Alternatively, these learning terminals can be divided into several blocks and commonly connected to each block.

The interaction between the learning terminal 30 and the learner is performed by inputting the learner's response and intention using the keyboard 35 provided in the learning terminal, characters, figures from the host computer 20 by the CRT display 36, images from the video device, or The display is performed by superimposing the former and the latter, and listening to audio from the host computer or the video device by the headphone 34-1.

Regarding the learning situation of the learner, the high-speed communication interface 33 and the high-speed communication interface line 40 are sequentially learned from the learning terminal at the request of the host computer 20.
Can be sent to the host computer without any further action by the learner.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the device of the present invention, a large number of learning terminals connected to a single host computer by a large number of learners can output different teaching materials, sounds, images, etc. according to a call from the learners. Since it can be provided to individual learners at the same time, they can learn at the same place and time at the same time and according to the learning content and learning progress of each learner.
In a sense, it is possible to achieve full automation of learning and computerization. This means that teachers in the field of education are not needed or their labor is significantly reduced, and there are serious problems such as the current lack of teachers and the difference in ability and progress among learners. It is a solution at once.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, not only the characters and figures, but also the audio and video images and sounds of the teacher are used to synchronize teaching materials and other educational information according to the learning content and learning progress of each learner. It can be provided as an interposer if necessary and the learner and learning terminal can instantly interact with each other regarding such teaching materials and other educational information, which can greatly save the learning time and the learner. Never get tired of. In addition, compared with education by reading and writing only letters, it can provide teacher's voice, computer graphics, and video images and voice in a comprehensive and synchronized manner, which gives the learner's interest, excitement, understanding and motivation. Since the amount of information is greatly increased and the information amount is multifaceted compared to the case of only text information, the learner can obtain a permanent and deep understanding. Furthermore, by connecting the unit education stations, the above learning can be simultaneously performed in a plurality of different learning places (classrooms, schools).

One of the extremely important effects of the present invention is that the use of the video device can provide the learner with a powerful and realistic sound and image. The ability to provide only synthetic speech and computer graphics in an educational device using a computer has been a fatal drawback especially in learning foreign languages and art. In this respect, according to the present invention, the application range and effects of CBE are dramatically expanded.

The content and form of the teaching material and other educational information by the device of the present invention can be created and adapted extremely freely according to the target learner and the learning content.
It can be used not only in high school, but also in a wide range of areas such as vocational schools, vocational schools, adult education, and corporate education.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic structure of a unit education station of the present invention composed of one host computer and a plurality of learning terminals connected thereto, and a structure in which a plurality of such unit education stations are connected. It is a figure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration and operation of the host computer of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration and operation of the educational terminal of the present invention. 10 ... Unit education station, 20 ... Host computer, 21 ... Central processor (for host computer), 22 ... Communication interface between stations, 2
3 ... High-speed communication interface, 24 ... Buffer memory, 25 ... Large-capacity magnetic disk storage device (large-capacity storage device), 30 ... Learning terminal, 31 ... Central processor (for learning terminal), 32 ... RAM memory, 33
High-speed communication interface, 34 ... Digital / analog (D / A) converter for voice, 34-1, Headphone (listening device), 35 ... Keyboard, 36 ... CRT display, 36-1 ... Image output device 37 ... Video Interface, 38 ... Voice analog / digital (A / D)
Conversion device, 38-1 ... Microphone (real voice input device), 39 ... Video interface line, 40 ... High-speed communication interface line, 50 ... Education inter-station communication interface line, 51 ... Video device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A CBE device having a unit education station, which is composed of one host computer and a plurality of learning terminals connected to the host computer, as a unit, wherein: (1) the host computer comprises (a) An inter-station communication interface for connecting to other unit education stations of the CBE device for communication between a plurality of unit education stations, (b) for storing a large number of programmed image teaching material data and a large amount of audio data A mass storage device having a required capacity of (c) a buffer memory having a required capacity and an access time, (d) a high-speed communication interface for communicating with each of the learning terminals, and (f) a central processor. (2) Each of the learning terminals includes (a) the host computer High-speed communication interface for communication (b) real voice input device, (c) voice analog for converting the real voice input into a digital signal and registering it in the mass storage device of the host computer via the high-speed communication interface A digital (A / D) converter, (d) a voice digital / analog (D / A) converter having a PCM demodulation function for voice-synthesizing and outputting the digitized synthesized voice information registered in the mass storage device. Device, (e) listening device for listening to the voice output, (f) CRT display, (g) image output device to the CRT display, (h) individually for each learning terminal, or common to a plurality of learning terminals Laser video disk device or V
Connect a video output device such as a TR device to display teaching material on the CRT display of the learning terminal,
And a video interface for outputting sound to the listening device, (i) the video device connected to a learning terminal via the video interface, (j) RAM memory having a required capacity, (k) input means, (L) a central processor, and (3) the host computer and each of the learning terminals are connected by a high-speed communication interface line via each of the high-speed communication interfaces, and learning by a specific learner. The information input to the person's learning terminal is notified to the host computer as a digital signal via the high-speed communication interface line, and the host computer decodes the notified data by the central processor and stores it in the mass storage device. Required by the data The program teaching material and voice data are extracted, output to the learning terminal of the learner via the high-speed communication interface line, accumulated in the RAM memory of the learning terminal, and the image data is displayed on the CRT display via the image output device. , The voice data is output from the listening device via the voice digital / analog (D / A) converter, and the video and voice from the video device are output to the learning terminal of the learner as necessary. Further, the image data downloaded from the host computer and output via the image output device and the image from the video device can be superimposed on the CRT display. Other unit education stations via high speed communication interface Characterized in that can communicate, cluster system CBE apparatus having the audio-visual learning function.