Printed Computer Training Device

This invention relates to a training device, and more particularly, to a training device to aid instrucion of students learning to become computer operators.

It is an object of the invention to simulate a computer terminal with a screeen and keyboard in an inexpensive and portable manner to eliminate the need to provide each student with his own expensive hardware during the initial period of instruction and to permit each student to study the procedure to be learned outside of the classroom.

The training device of the invention includes leaves hingedly connected together. The leaves may be paper or paperboard with indicia printed thereon and the hinges may be plastic or metal spirals, rings or other conventional book leaf connecting hinge means.

The leaves of the training device, when in use, are of three types. A plurality of first leaves having screen display simulation indicia on a first side thereof and keyboard action simulation indicia on a second side thereof. A second leaf, attached along its upper margin to the lower margin of the plurality of first leaves by a first common hinge means, has keyboard action simulation indicia on a first side thereof. A plurality of third leaves has operating instruction indicia on a first side thereof and keyboard action simulating indicia on a second side thereof. The plurality of third leaves are attached along their upper margins to the lower margin of the second leaf. Each of the keyboard action simulation indicia of the second leaf and the second sides of the plurality of first leaves and the plurality of third leaves corresponds to one of the screen display simulation indicia on the first side of one of the plurality of first leaves.

The plurality of first leaves and plurality of third leaves may be hingedly rotated in register with the second leaf and each other to produce a folded and closed portable and convenient training device capable of easily being carried from the classroom by the students for outside study and use.

The details of the invention will become more apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and its use to follow.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the training device of the invention in a folded and closed condition for carrying.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the simulated screen display, simulated keyboard action and operating instructions for the introductory mode of the training device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the simulated screen display, simulated keyboard action and operating instructions for the "Sequence 1" mode of the training device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the simulated screen display, simulated keyboard action and operating instructions for the "Sequence 2" mode of the training device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the simulated screen display, simulated keyboard action and operating instructions for the start of the "Sequence 3" mode of the training device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the simulated screen display simulated keyboard action and operating instructions for an intermediate stage of completion of the "Sequence 3" mode of the training device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the simulated screen display, simulated keyboard action and operating instructions for the completion of the "Sequence 3" mode of the training device.

The numeral 10 generally designates a training device of the invention which is illustrated in a folded and closed condition in FIG. 1. The FIGS. 2-7 are in chronological order and illustrate the introduction and three simulated operating sequences.

The training device includes three types of leaves, 1L, 2L, and 3L and are so labelled in FIGS. 2-7. The leaves 1L, 2L, and 3L may be of paper, paperboard or plastic and the indicia is preferably printed thereon. For ease of printing, paper leaves are preferred.

A plurality of first leaves 1L as seen in FIGS. 2-7 each have screen display simulation indicia on a first side S1 and keyboard action simulation indicia on a second side S2. The leaves 1L are distinguished from each other in FIGS. 2-7 by their order of apperance during use and are sequentially numbered in the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2-7 1L1 through 1L5. Each of the five leaves have a first side S1 and a second side S2. Accordingly, the first leaf side can be identified 1L1S1 and the last of its type may be identified 1L5S2.

A second leaf is labelled 2L1, for like reasons, and is attached along its upper margin to the lower margin of the plurality of first leaves by a first common hinge 12. The second leaf, or more specifically, second leaf side 2L1S1 in FIG. 2 has keyboard simulation indicia on the upper or exposed side thereof.

A plurality of third and for folding convenience somewhat narrower leaves 3L1 in FIGS. 2-5 through 3L2 in FIGS. 5-7 are attached along their upper margins to the lower margin of the second leaf 2L1. The keyboard action simulation indicia of the second leaf 2L1, the second sides 1L1S2 through 1L4S2 of the plurality of first leaves 1L1 through 1L4, and the second side 3L1S2 of the first leaf 3L1 of the plurality of third leaves corresponds to one of the screen display indicia on the first side S1 of one of the plurality of first leaves 1L1 through 1L5.

Hinges 12 and 14 between the types of leaves as shown in FIGS. 1-7 are preferably constructed of plastic and of a shape shown in the drawings. Metal or plastic rings or other conventional book leaf connecting hinge means also may be used.

The training device 10 is used as described below in connection with the drawings. Like notations indicate like leaf sides in the several views of FIGS. 1-7.

In FIG. 2, the introductory operating instructions on 3L1S1 is followed and screen simulation indicia 1L1S1 and keyboard action simulation indicia 2L1S1 are correspondingly visible. The circled keys are those depressed according to the 3L1S1 instruction. The screen display simulation 1L1S1 shows what would be on an actual screen if actual hardware were used with those keys depressed.

To indicate changed keyboard and screen conditions the leaves are flipped to positions shown in FIGS. 2-7 in accordance with arrow symbols in the instructions. After the introduction as shown in FIG. 2, the instructions order the commencement of "Sequence 1".

"Sequence 1 in FIG. 3" teaches the operator to access sales order processing.

"Sequence 2 in FIGS. 4 and 5" teaches the operator to make a sales service inquiry.

"Sequence 3 in FIGS. 5-7" teaches the operator to make an item inquiry.

Other training sequences can be included, for example, to accomplish the following:

to inquire about a customer;

to enter a sales order into the system;

to release the order to the warehouse.

Thus, it will be seen that a novel, computer simulating training device which eliminates the need for expensive hardware and permits study out of the classroom is provided.