GB2439591A

GB2439591A - Sound book apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2439591A
Application number: GB0613091A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Liesbeth Oosterwijk; Hamish Chalmers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-30
Filing date: 2006-06-30
Publication date: 2008-01-02
Also published as: GB0613091D0

Abstract

A sound book apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of bound leaves 3 each constituting at least one page. Each page or pair of adjacent pages is provided with textual matter in different languages, the textual matter in one of the languages representing a translation of the textual matter in another of the languages. The apparatus 1 also comprises an integrated electronic circuit 9 for reproducing a plurality of speech sounds and user operable controls 11, 13 each associated with textual matter in a different language, for controlling the electronic circuit to reproduce a speech sound in that language. Preferably there are sensors (27, Fig 3), such as photosensors integrated in the pages to detect which page, or pair of pages, of the book is open. The user operable controls may be switches or photodetectors.

Description

1 2439591 Sound Book Apparatus This invention relates to a book having

integrated electronics adapted to provide sounds. Such books are commonly referred to as "sound books".

More particularly, the invention relates to an educational sound book in which sounds are provided in response to the operation of user operable controls.

Sound books of the type described above, having user operable controls, are well known. For example, CN 2649343 Y discloses a sound book comprising a plurality of pages bound between front and back covers. Electronic devices are integrated within the back cover, which devices include a battery, an integrated circuit, switches and a loudspeaker. The electronic devices are arranged so that the switches can be operated by a user at the same time as pictures and textual matter printed on the individual pages are observed.

Typically, a separate control switch is provided for each page. The sounds provided by sound books are usually speech sounds, i.e. voices.

One application of sound books is in the teaching of languages. For infants, sound books may assist in learning to talk. In this case, the pages of the book allow an infant to relate the sound of new words to images with which they are already familiar. For older children, sound books may assist in the learning of pronunciation. In this case, the sounds are related to textual matter printed on the pages.

It is also known to use sound books in the teaching of a foreign language. In this case, the pages of the book are printed with the text of words or phrases in two languages, one of which is the foreign language. The sounds are provided to teach the pronunciation of the words or phrases in the foreign language. In this case, the user associates the sounds of the foreign language words or phrases with the textual matter on the pages.

While known sound books are useful in the teaching of a foreign language, they still do not provide a particularly natural learning experience. Moreover, unlike traditional bi-lingual books, known sound books for teaching a foreign language can only be used for teaching a single language, i.e. the language in which the sounds are provided.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a sound book apparatus comprising a plurality of bound leaves each constituting at least one page, wherein each page or pair of adjacent pages is provided with textual matter in different languages, the textual matter in one of the languages representing a translation of the textual matter in another other of the languages, the apparatus further comprising an integrated electronic means for reproducing a plurality of speech sounds and user operable controls, each associated with textual matter in a different language, for controlling the electronic means to reproduce a speech sound in that language.

The invention thus provides a sound book apparatus in which user operable controls are provided for controlling an electronic means to reproduce speech sounds in different languages. The sounds correspond to textual matter provided on pages of the apparatus in the different languages, which are preferably sentences, or at least phrases.

The invention provides a more natural learning experience for those learning a foreign language, particularly at an early stage in the process. Moreover, the sound book apparatus 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 book apparatus 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 majority language is the language used in the country of residence so that the minority has no practical use dayto day.

The sound book apparatus of the invention enables a majority language parent to assist in teach the minority language to offspring, without themselves being fluent in the minority language. This results in a collaborative 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.

In the same way, the invention also allows classroom teachers to teach languages that they are not necessarily fluent in.

In preferred embodiments, the leaves of the apparatus, which constitute pages, are permanently bound together. The electronic means can then be adapted for a particular set of pages and does not require the additional functionality of being reprogrammable. In this way, a low cost apparatus can be provided. In other embodiments, however, the leaves may be exchangeable and a reprogrammable electronic means may then be provided.

Preferably, each page or pair of adjacent pages additionally has an image representative of the textual matter on the page or pair of pages. Providing an image, such as a picture or a photograph, is thought to improve the learning experience, particularly for younger children.

The user operable controls are preferably arranged to be operable with the apparatus open at any page or pair of pages. For example, the user operable controls may be arranged on a portion of a front and/or a back cover of the apparatus that overlaps the leaves of the apparatus. With this arrangement, only one control for each language is required.

The user operable controls may comprise push button electrical switches or photosensors, each of which may be operated by the user's finger. Switches advantageously provide tactile feedback to the user, whereas photosensors do not include moving parts and may therefore be more appropriate in certain environments.

The electronic means preferably comprises an integrated circuit on which are recorded the speech sounds corresponding to the textual matter on each page or pair of pages and in each language. A single integrated circuit device is preferably provided for all of the pages and languages, so as to minimise the number of components. In preferred embodiments, the sounds are recorded as individual words which are then concatenated into whole sentences or phrases for each page. Alternatively, the sounds may be recorded as whole sentences. The sounds are preferably recorded as real voices, although a synthesised voice could conceivably be used.

Preferably, the electronic means further comprises a sensing means for determining a page or pair of pages at which the apparatus is open, i.e. page recognition technology. This information can be used by the electronic means to determine which speech sound should be provided. This is particularly important when a single user operable control is provided for each language.

The sensing means may, for example, comprise photosensors or magnetic sensors arranged to detect the positions of the leaves. The sensors may be embedded in the leaves of the apparatus. In detecting the positions of the leaves, the sensors are selectively covered by adjacent leaves. Alternatively, the sensors may be embedded in a single leaf or a cover of the apparatus, in which case they are selectively covered by tab portions of the leaves.

Preferably, the electronic means is arranged, upon operation of a user operable control, to reproduce a speech sound corresponding to the textual matter on the page or pair of pages at which the apparatus is determined to be open.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operation of a sound book apparatus, the apparatus comprising a plurality of bound leaves each constituting at least one page, wherein each page or pair of adjacent pages is provided with textual matter in different languages, the textual matter in one of the languages representing a translation of the textual matter in another other of the languages, the apparatus further comprising an integrated electronic means for reproducing a plurality of speech sounds and user operable controls, each associated with textual matter in a different language, for controlling the electronic means to reproduce a speech sound in that language, the method comprising: determining a page or pair of pages at which the apparatus is open; and in response to operation of a user operable control by a user, reproducing a speech sound corresponding to the textual matter on the determined page or pair of pages.

The method enables the apparatus described above to provide the correct sound for the textual matter that is being observed by the user.

In the method, the page or pair of pages at which the apparatus is open is preferably determined using a sensing means arranged to detect the positions of the leaves.

A preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sound book apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an example of a page of the sound book apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an electronic means of the sound book apparatus shown in Figure 1.

The sound book apparatus 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.

Referring to Figure 1, the sound book apparatus 1 according to the invention has a generally "book-like" form, with a plurality of leaves 3 being permanently bound together between front and back covers 5, 7. In the preferred example, the leaves 3 are printed on one side only, and each leaf therefore constitutes one page. The content of each page will be described later with reference to Figure 2.

The leaves 3 of the apparatus are formed from a thick paper or cardboard material having a plastic coating. The plastic coating improves the durability of the apparatus 1, so that it is suitable for use by young children.

The front and back covers 5, 7 of the apparatus 1 cover a larger area than that of the leaves 3, and in particular extend below the leaves 3, as shown in the Figure. The lower portions of the front and back covers 5, 7 are not therefore covered by the leaves 3 when the apparatus I is open, i.e. when pages are observed.

The sound book apparatus 1 also comprises an electronic means 9 integrated within the front cover 5 and user operable controls 11, 13 integrated within the back cover 7. The electronic means 9 and the user operable controls 11, 13 are arranged so that they face a user during use of the apparatus 1. The user operable controls 11, 13 can be operated by the user when the apparatus 1 is open at any page.

In the embodiment shown, two user operable controls 11, 13 are provided in the form of push button electrical switches. The switches are spatially separated and can be operated independently of each other by pressing with a finger.

The electronic means 9 includes a loudspeaker 15 and is arranged to reproduce speech sounds in different languages in response to the operation of the user operable controls 11, 13. The structure and operation of the electronic means 9 will be described later with reference to Figure 3.

Figure 2 shows an example of a page of the sound book apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 also shows the position of the user operable controls 11, 13 in relation to the page.

Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that two captions 17, 19 are printed on the page. The first caption 17 is the English phrase "THE DOG LOVES TO PLAY" and the second caption 19 is the French phrase "LE CHIEN AIME JOUER", which is a translation of the English phrase. The first caption 17 is provided directly above one user operable control 11 and the second caption 19 is provided directly above the other user operable control 13. Thus, the captions 17, 19 are clearly associated with respective controls 11, 13.

A picture 21 is also printed on the page shown in Figure 2. The picture 21 is representative of the meaning of the captions 17, 19. In this example, the picture 21 is an illustration of a dog.

The other pages of the apparatus 1 are provided with similar captions in English and French, and with similar pictures that are representative of the captions.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the electronic means 9 of the sound book apparatus shown in Figure 1. As mentioned above, the electronic means 9 includes a loudspeaker 15 through which speech sounds are provided. The electronic means 9 also includes a power supply in the form of a replaceable battery 25 for driving the electronic means 9 to produce the sounds.

The speech sounds for the captions in each language on each page are stored as individual words on a memory provided within an integrated circuit 25. The sounds are recorded on the integrated circuit 25 in digital form. The words are indexed so that they can be retrieved in isolation from the integrated circuit and concatenated in response to operation of the user operated controls Ii, 13.

Sound compression technology is used for storing the sounds, and such technology will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

The integrated circuit 25, together with driving electronics that include a digital to analogue converter (not shown), is connected to the battery 23 and the loudspeaker 15. The driving electronics, suitable structure for which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are also connected to the user operable controls 11, 13. Outputs of the user operable controls 11, 13 are used by the driving electronics in determining the timing and identity of a speech sound to be retrieved from the integrated circuit 25 and provided through the loudspeaker 15.

The electronic means 9 also comprises a sensing means 27 in the form of a plurality of photosensors for determining a page at which the apparatus 1 is open. The photosensors are integrated into the surface of each leaf 3 of the apparatus, on the side which is not printed. The photosensors are connected to the driving electronics by flexible metallic tracks provided within the leaves 3 and the spine of the apparatus 1.

Outputs of the sensing means 27 are used, together with the outputs of the user operated controls 11, 13, by the driving electronics to determine the identity of a speech sound to be retrieved from the integrated circuit 25 and provided through the loudspeaker 15. In particular, with the apparatus 1 open at a particular page, all of the photosensors are covered except for the one on the leaf 3 preceding the open page. This particular photosensor is the only one that is not covered, and it therefore provides a unique output which is detected by the driving electronics to determine at which page the apparatus 1 is open (and thus which sound should be retrieved from the integrated circuit 25).

In use, with the apparatus 1 open at the page shown in Figure 2, the user observes the captions 17, 19 and the picture 21. The speech sound corresponding to either of the captions 17, 19 can be heard by pressing the respective user operated control 11, 13, i.e. the control that is positioned directly below the desired caption.

When one of the user operated controls 11, 13 is pressed, the driving electronics determine which of the controls 11, 13 has been operated and determine at which page the book is open using the sensing means 27, as described above. With this information, the driving electronics retrieves the appropriate sound from the integrated circuit 25 using its index position, and reproduces the sound through the loudspeaker 15.

The user will usually press the control for the caption in the language being learnt. For example, if the user's native language is English and they are learning French, they will usually press the right hand control 13 in the present embodiment. However, if desired for comparison purposes, the user can press each of the user operated controls 11, 13 in turn, to produce speech sounds corresponding to each of the captions 17, 19.

The apparatus I according to the invention can be used by a user learning either of the languages in which the captions are printed, that is English or French in the present case. The apparatus 1 can also be used for learning both of the languages. Other ways in which the apparatus 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 apparatus could have pages with captions in three or more languages, and a corresponding number of user operable controls. Any languages may be used, including those that do not use the roman alphabet.

Claims

Claims 1. A sound book apparatus comprising a plurality of bound leaves

each constituting at least one page, wherein each page or pair of adjacent pages is provided with textual matter in different languages, the textual matter in one of the languages representing a translation of the textual matter in another other of the languages, the apparatus further comprising an integrated electronic means for reproducing a plurality of speech sounds and user operable controls, each associated with textual matter in a different language, for controlling the electronic means to reproduce a speech sound in that language.

2. A sound book apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leaves are permanently bound together.

3. A sound book apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each page or pair of adjacent pages is further provided with an image representative of the textual matter on the page or pair of pages.

4. A sound book apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user operable controls are arranged to be operable with the apparatus open at any page or pair of pages.

5. A sound book apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user operable controls are arranged on a portion of a front and/or a back cover of the apparatus.

6. A sound book apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user operable controls comprise push button electrical switches.

7. A sound book apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the user operable controls comprise photosensors.

8. A sound book apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic means comprises an integrated circuit on which are stored speech sounds corresponding to the textual matter on each page or pair of pages and in each language.

9. A sound book apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electronic means further comprises a sensing means for determining a page or pair of pages at which the apparatus is open.

10. A sound book apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensing means comprises photosensors arranged to detect the positions of the leaves.

11. A sound book apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the photosensors are integrated in the surfaces of the leaves.

12. A sound book apparatus as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein, in response to operation of a user operable control, the electronic means is arranged to reproduce a speech sound corresponding to the textual matter on the page or pair of pages at which the apparatus is determined to be open.

13. A method of operation of a sound book apparatus, the apparatus comprising a plurality of bound leaves each constituting at least one page, wherein each page or pair of adjacent pages is provided with textual matter in different languages, the textual matter in one of the languages representing a translation of the textual matter in another other of the languages, the apparatus further comprising an integrated electronic means for reproducing a plurality of speech sounds and user operable controls, each associated with textual matter in a different language, for controlling the electronic means to reproduce a speech sound in that language, the method comprising: determining a page or pair of pages at which the apparatus is open; and in response to operation of a user operable control by a user, reproducing a speech sound corresponding to the textual matter on the determined page or pair of pages.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the page or pair of pages at which the apparatus is open is determined using a sensing means comprising photosensors arranged to detect the positions of the leaves.

15. A sound book apparatus or a method substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the drawings.