Teaching device having means producing a self-generated program

Abstract

A novel teaching machine having an indicia display means, random signal generator means for actuating said display means, a keyboard and a means for electronically determining a functional interrelationship between the displayed indicia and comparing it with an input keyed into the keyboard by a student viewing the display in order to develop the student's skill in evaluating the relationship between the displayed indicia as well as utilizing the keyboard.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A teaching device comprising: a random signal generator means for generating at least two random output signals in response to a control signal;   display means responsive to said output signals and operative to provide a display of indicia commensurate with said output signals, said display means further displaying indicia commensurate with a particular relationship concerning the output signal indicia;   signal computer means responsive to said output signals and operative to provide a computed signal in accordance with said particular relationship;   response insertion means into which a proposed solution to said particular relationship can be entered by an observer thereof, said insertion means providing a response signal in accordance with the entered solution; and   comparator means for comparing said computed signal and said response signal and operative to provide a comparison signal.   
     
     
       2. A teaching device as recited in claim 1 wherein said comparison signal is utilized to trigger said random signal generator means to generate new random output signals. 
     
     
       3. A teaching device as recited in claim 2 which further includes a timer means to disable said teaching device after a predetermined period of time has elapsed following the application of said control signal. 
     
     
       4. A teaching device as recited in claim 3 which further includes counter means for indicating the number of comparison signals provided during said predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       5. A teaching device as recited in claim 1 including a relationship generator means for generating a relationship signal, said display means being responsive to said relationship signal and operative to display indicia commensurate therewith and said signal computer means also being responsive to said relationship signal and operative to provide a computed signal in accordance with the relationship between said relationship signal and said output signals. 
     
     
       6. A teaching device as recited in claim 5 wherein said relationship generator means is a generator of random relationship signals. 
     
     
       7. A teaching device as recited in claim 6 wherein the output of said comparator means is utilized to trigger said random signal generator means to generate new random output signals and said relationship generator means to generate a new random relationship signal. 
     
     
       8. A teaching device as recited in claim 7 further including a timer means to disable said teaching device after a predetermined period of time has elapsed following the application of said control signal. 
     
     
       9. A teaching device as recited in claim 8 further including a counting means for indicating the number of responses completed during said predetermined period of times. 
     
     
       10. A teaching device as recited in claim 2 wherein said output signal indicia are in the form of numerical digits and said relationship indicia is in the form of an arithmetic operator symbol and wherein said signal computer means operates in accordance with an arithmetic operator selected from the group consisting of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 further including a random relationship generator means for supplying an arithmetic relationship signal to said display means commensurate with a further arithmetic relationship and to said signal computer means to provide a computed signal in accordance with further arithmetic relationship. 
     
     
       12. A teaching device as recited in claim 5 wherein said indicia are in the form of numerical digits and arithmetic operator symbols and wherein said signal computer means is in arithmetic computing device operating in accordance with an arithmetic operator selected from the group consisting of one or more of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. 
     
     
       13. A teaching device comprising: random signal generating means for generating a plurality of independent random signals;   indicator means responsive to said random signals and operative to display indicia commensurate therewith;   computing means responsive to said random signals and operative to provide a computed signal commensurate with a selected interrelationship between said random signals;   response insertion means into which a mentally computed input can be entered by an observer in response to an inspection of said indicator means, said insertion means producing a response signal; and   comparator means responsive to said computed signal and said response signal and operative to provide a predetermined indication upon coincidence therebetween.   
     
     
       14. A teaching device as recited in claim 13 wherein said indicia include digital characters commensurate with said random signals and an arithmetic operator commensurate with said selected interrelationship disposed between said digital characters. 
     
     
       15. A teaching device as recited in claim .[.12.]. .Iadd.13 .Iaddend.wherein said random signal generating means generates a new plurality of random signals in response to the occurrence of said predetermined indication. 
     
     
       16. A teaching device comprising: a random signal generating means for generating random outputs; display means operatively coupled to said generating means and displaying indicia responsive to said random outputs; .Iadd.   computing means responsive to said random outputs and operative to provide a computed signal commensurate with a selected interrelationship between said random outputs; .Iaddend.   response insertion means into which an observer may insert his responses to the indicia displayed by said display means; and   comparator means for comparing said .[.random outputs.]. .Iadd.computed signal .Iaddend.with said responses and for producing an indication of correspondence therebetween.   
     
     
       17. A teaching device as recited in claim 16 wherein said comparator means includes an analyzer means for analyzing said random outputs and producing resultant indications which can be directly compared with said responses. .Iadd. 18. A teaching device comprising: a random signal generator means for generating at least two random output signals in response to a control signal;   display means responsive to said output signals and operative to provide a display of indicia of at least two decimal numbers commensuate with said output signals, said display means further displaying indicia commensurate with a particular reltionship concerning the output signal indicia, which is an indicia located in association with said displayed decimal numbers, of a specific arithmetic function to be performed thereon;   signal computer means responsive to said output signals and operative to provide a computed signal in accordance with said arithmetic function;   response insertion means including a keyboard having keys thereon numbered with separate, single digit decimal integers, with which a proposed solution to the performance of said specified arithmetic function upon said displayed decimal numbers can be entered by an observer thereof, said insertion means providing a response signal in accordance with the entered solution;   comparator means for comparing said computed signal and said response signal and operative to provide a comparison signal; and   a unitary housing containing all of the aforesaid means, and said keys of said keyboard are positioned to be manipulatable from externally of said housing and said display means is positioned to be visible from externally   
     
     
        of said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19.  A teaching device according to claim 18 further characterized in that said display is positioned above said keyboard which is located on the face of said housing. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A teaching device according to claim 18 further characterized in that said random signal generator means comprises recycling counting means for providing at least one of said output signals,   high frequency signal generating means coupled to advance said recycling counting means, to repetitiously recycle at the end of a recycle period,   gating means interposed between said recycling counting means and said high frequency signal generating means, and   gating control means coupled to operate said gating means and having an output timing ambiguity greater than said recycle period. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A teaching device according to claim 20 further characterized in that said high frequency signal generating means is a high frequency oscillator. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A teaching device according to claim 20 further characterized in that said gating control means includes a 60 cycle dither as a driving output. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 23. A teaching device according to claim 20 further characterized in that said gating control means includes a delay means. .Iaddend.