Tachistoscope and Method of Use Thereof for Teaching, Particularly of Reading and Spelling

1. Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for teaching by brief, flashed, visual presentation of information, primarily textual information. The present invention more particularly relates to (i) a computer-based tachistoscope for ordered presentation of information, including information briefly exposed to view, particularly for the purposes of teaching reading and spelling, and (ii) automated, tachistoscopic, methods for the presentation of information.

2. Background Of The Invention

The previous theory and practice of machine-based instruction, the previous teaching technique of flash cards, and prior knowledge of reading dynamics are all pertinent to the present invention.

2.1 General Characteristics of Previous Machine-Based Instruction

It is known that machines, including computer systems, can aid in delivering educational instruction to students The course of instruction, or teaching regimens, performed by machines generally exhibit certain common characteristics. The instruction is stepwise. A student-user often needs to demonstrate mastery of one piece of information before being allowed to proceed to assimilate further information. The course of instruction may be in a fixed path, with all students being presented the identical information in the identical order, but is not invariably so.

The more sophisticated machine instructional systems employ programmed learning wherein a student-user's evident mastery, or failings, in one area of information respectively result either in an immediate advancement to further related information, or else in a remedial teaching of the information which the student-user has failed to grasp. The sophistication, extent, nature, and quality of the curriculum material taught by machine instructional systems varies widely. However, teaching machines are currently most widely used for the teaching of low level information such as that occurring at the elementary school level.

The production of machine-based instructional programs, or curricula, has generally proven to be an art. Certain programs of machine instruction are vastly more successful than other programs in inducing student-user to learn the identical material. Machine instructional programs may be successful or unsuccessful in varying degrees in accordance with the pace at which materials are presented, the positive reinforcement that is provided to the student-user, and the order in which the materials are presented. A carefully constructed teaching program is necessary in order to engender student-user interest and cooperation, and in order to promote maximum learning.

Nonetheless to careful and painstaking design, machine-based instruction is generally thought to be inferior to human instruction. Part of this inferiority is attributed to lack of the spontaneity that is normally inherent in the dialogue between a human teacher and his or her student. At least part of the superior spontaneity of human dialogue is, no doubt, based on the subtle, non-verbal, interactions that transpire between a qualified teacher and his or her student. The teacher is sensitive to non-verbal or non-written clues regarding the progress of the student, and this sensitivity allows for the better tailoring and adaptation of the curriculum. Particularly, the curriculum may be presented in a unique, or spontaneous, manner for each individual student.

Part of the seeming lack of spontaneity in machine-based instruction may be, however, simply temporal. The machine often behaves somewhat "woodenly" in its presentation of material, and becomes a passive chalkboard-like device in which a rigid series of requests and responses are mandated in order to permit instruction to progress. Machine-based instruction in accordance with the present invention will be seen to require, in some instances, proper student-user responses in order that a sequence of instruction may progress. However, and substantially unlike most previous machine-based instruction, in other instances the apparatus and method in accordance with the present invention will be found to present certain information only momentarily. After the presentation of this information, the instruction will continue--substantially without any mandated interactive student-user response.

The brief and transient, tachistoscopic, visual presentation of certain information in accordance with the present invention (as hereinafter explained) will proceed, at least upon occasion, without waiting for a student-user response. This operation tends to "perk up" the course of information presentation. It challenges the student-user to pay attention to what is going on, and to assimilate the information. This is especially true when, as will be seen to be the case with the present invention, after the once-presented transitory information is removed from the student-user's view the student-user must thereafter answer questions regarding such information. The information must have been assimilated, and must be recalled, in order to allow progress of instruction.

As still another tachistoscopic instructional technique in accordance with the present invention, the successive tachistoscopic presentations of information will be seen to be spontaneously and automatically varied, normally by being speeded up, at intervals. The intervals are typically irregular, and the speed up in presentation is typically for several successive presentations and associated quantums of presented information.

Finally, the display latency time duration of the tachistoscopic presentations will be seen to be variable, and to be variably sensitive to characteristics of the information presented.

Although it is known to adjust the rate of tachistoscopic presentations, with the display latency time of each such presentation being the inverse of the rate, it is not known to automatically, and independently, adjust either or both the tachistoscopic display rate and/or the display latency time durations of the individual presentations.

Resultant to all these variations, machine-based-instruction in accordance with the present invention will be seen to be "lively" and "dynamic", and not "wooden" The tachistoscopic presentations will be seen to vary, in certain temporal and visual characteristics and generally automatically, so as to appear responsive to the requirements of the student-user, and not merely capricious or inconstant. The dynamic temporal responsiveness of tachistoscopic apparatus and methods in accordance with the present invention will be found to be firmly based on learning dynamics, and, by such firm foundation, to be extremely friendly and compliant to a student-user. They elicit learning in a manner that may be favorably compared with customized human instruction.

2.2 Previous Flash Card Manual Instructional Techniques

Teaching is an old art, preceding not only machine-based instruction but civilization itself. Therefore a great deal is understood about the efficacy of prior art human-based educational techniques. One such time-honored prior art instructional technique is the use of flash cards. The information upon a flash card is momentarily presented to a student-user, either by his own actions or (as is more common) by the actions of another. The flash card is then repositioned so that the student-user may not read the information thereon, and the student-user is asked a question concerning such information. Such question may be as simple as the repetition of the information upon the flash card (such as to spell the previously exposed word, for example "democracy") or may only be related to the previously exposed information (such as to explain the meaning of "democracy"). In other words, flash cards operate at different levels. The student-user may be asked to respond substantially contemporaneously with the visually exposed information; i.e., to read the word "democracy" The student-user may be forced to a response which, by its innate length, will extend into the period wherein the information is no longer visible; i.e., to spell the word "democracy" after its transitory presentation. Finally, flash cards may be mere "ticklers" for more extensive memory stores. In this case it may not much matter how long the information is exposed to view; i.e., to explain the meaning of "democracy" The utility of the flashed presentation of information is that its assimilation, and retention, is mandated in order that questions concerning such information may be correctly answered by the student-user after the information is removed from view. Flash cards are a proven means of forcing information assimilation, and constitute a rigorous form of instruction which is generally thought to be demanding, and difficult, by student-users.

2.3 Reading Dynamics

The dynamics of reading are also well understood. The manner of the learning, and teaching, of this essential modern skill has been widely studied in all areas: from improving the reading speed comprehension and fact retention of college level readers to the earliest instruction of beginning and/or functionally impaired readers. Certain characteristics of good reading skills are applicable to a broad spectrum of readers, and to a broad range of reading speeds. One such characteristic is that a good reader does not regress in the text read. Rather, the reading progress is always forward. The good reader of any speed level exhibits no reversion of eye movement, or attention, to words, phrases, and/or sentences previously read.

Another characteristic is that a good reader does not read words individually but, upon gaining increasing visual conversance with word images, comes to read words as groups, several at a time. Indeed, the very fastest readers assimilate entire phrases of many words at each movement of the eyes, "grabbing" off large chunks of text material successively throughout the passage read. In the extreme, certain speed readers allege that they do not appreciably read side-to-side, but rather read vertically down a page assimilating entire lines of text at one time. Regardless of how numerous the words, or long the phrases, that are assimilated at one time during reading, even the youngest readers need to be early taught to desist from the reading of individual words, and to instead progress in reading text by mentally processing several words upon each successive fixation of the eyes.

The preferred reading process wherein more than one, and preferably a large number, of words are simultaneously assimilated upon each successive fixation by the text-scanning eye may be equally as well described in terms of the required behavior of the human eye as it may be described in terms of the required thought of the human brain. Mainly, the reader's eye must be taught to "leap" from one fixation point to the next across a line, and down a page, of text. The eye should rest only fleetingly at each fixation point. The text material assimilated around such point should be as broad, including as many words, as is possible. This breadth of reading vision may be called peripheral vision, or the acuity of peripheral vision. Good readers see, and assimilate, broad swaths of the text which they are reading.

Even the youngest readers are beneficially early taught to forego word-by-word progression in reading, and to attempt to read more quickly by assimilating words in groups, and by phrases. It is currently believed that readers who assimilate in broad swaths also enjoy better reading comprehension. That this comprehension variation is not merely an innate difference between individual readers may be demonstrated by the fact that even successful, high speed, readers have difficulty assimilating textual information when they are allowed to read it only but a single word at a time, no matter how slowly and leisurely the information is presented. A good reader who is forced to revert to word-by-word reading not only finds it frustrating, but actually counterproductive to his/her reading comprehension.

It is therefore desirable that a mechanical device for teaching reading should be able both to (i) preclude visual regression within the read text, and (ii) force the eye and mind to assimilate more than one word during each successive fixation of the eye that occurs during the reading of a body of text. The present invention will so function to both prevent that priorly read text should be reread, and, even more importantly, cause that the student-user's reading of the text must effectively proceed by assimilations of multiple words, and cannot effectively proceed single word by single word.

The present invention contemplates the tachistoscopic presentation of information, particularly successive groups of words constituting text, at (i) a presentation rate that is automatically varied--typically by being intermittently accelerated up to 10% for two or more, and typically many, successively presented groups of words--and/or at (ii) a presentation latency time duration that is automatically varied--typically by being temporally extended up to 50% for the presentation of as few as one single group of words.

The tachistoscopic presentation of information in accordance with the present invention innately tends to force a student-user into paced, non-regressive, learning. Intermittent accelerations in the tachistoscopic presentations tend to force the student-user to "sprint", extending his or her skills. Extensions in the latency time duration of individual presentations are preferably conditioned on any of the (i) significance, (ii) length, and/or (iii) punctuation of a particular quantum of textual information that is being presented. These presentation latency time duration extensions better focus the paced learning that is resultant from the tachistoscopic presentations, and make such learning easier and more natural.

Although tachistoscopes and tachistoscopic methods in accordance with the present invention perform according to rules, the rules implemented are in strong accord with modern knowledge of learning, and particularly reading, dynamics. Tachistoscopic machines and methods in accordance with the present invention present information, and particularly groups of words constituting text, at such (i) exact spatial locations, (ii) granularities of size and (iii) temporal junctures as would be preferred by a skilled learner of the information, or reader of the text. Accordingly, the machines and methods simultaneously (i) show a student-user superior patterns of information assimilation and, to the extent of the student-user's cooperation, (ii) force him or her to adapt these superior patterns.

The instruction implemented by tachistoscopic machines and methods in accordance with the present invention shows good reading and spelling skills in order to inculcate their development. A student-user of the tachistoscopic machines is not placed in a position of having to surmount, or master, the machine and its rigid curriculum. Instead, the tachistoscopic displays induce fusion in the student-user, inducing a growing recognition of just how reading, and other cognition, is desirably achieved.

Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are as a tachistoscope, and a method of tachistoscopic presentation of information, directed to successively presenting visual stimuli (i) at some particular presentation rate between successive presentations, and (ii) at some particular presentation latency time during which each visual stimuli is viewable. The tachistoscope, and tachistoscopic method, (i) automatically varies the particular presentation rate of the successively presenting during the course of the successive presentations, and/or (ii) automatically varies the particular presentation latency time of the successively presenting during the course of the successive presentations.

In the tachistoscope and tachistoscopic method the automatic variation in the presentation rate preferably increases the presentation rate for at least two, and normally for many, selective successive presentations of visual stimuli over that presentation rate, or rates, that the visual stimuli are presented both before, and after, those presentations which transpire more quickly. Similarly, the automatic variation in the latency time preferably increases the latency time of the presentation of as few as one, and normally one single, selective presentation(s) of visual stimuli over that presentation latency time, or times, that the visual stimuli are presented both before, and after, that presentation(s) that is (are) extended.

Still furthermore, the present invention is embodied in an instructional method for teaching reading. In the method of the invention a body of text is organized into lines each containing a multiplicity of words. The multiplicity of words upon each line are divided into successive groups of words, each group containing a plurality of words. The successive groups of words are transitorily successively presented, one group at a time top to bottom down the body of text. Each successive group of words occupies a position during its transitory presentation that is equivalent to the actual position occupied by that group of words within the text line, and also within the body of text.

This manner of presentation requires a student-user who views the presenting to read each successive group of words at and upon, and only at and only upon, the time of their transitory presentation This requirement results because both before, and after, their transitory presentation each group of words is not visible to the student-user.

These and other aspects and attributes of the present invention will become increasingly clear upon reference to the following drawings and accompanying specification.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the computerized tachistoscope in accordance with the present invention in operational use.

FIGS. 2-7 respectively show first through sixth message screens presented by a preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching reading.

FIGS. 8-10 respectively show three successive screens of text presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching reading.

FIG. 11 shows a seventh message screen presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching reading.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show two screens of questions presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching reading.

FIGS. 14-16 respectively show three final, eighth through tenth, message screens presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching reading.

FIGS. 17-20 respectively show four, first through fourth, message screens presented by a preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 21 shows a fifth message screen in combination with a first static word screen presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 22 shows a second static word screen presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 23 shows a screen presenting a six message in accordance with the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 24 shows a screen presenting a flashed first word in accordance with the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 25 shows a screen of a test of the first flashed word, plus a definition of that first flashed word, presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 26 shows a screen of a second flashed word presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 27 shows a screen of a test of the second flashed word, and of the definition of such word, presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method of the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 28 shows a screen of a seventh message presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 29 shows a screen of a second flashed presentation of a first word presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 30 shows a screen of a test of the second flashed first word presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIGS. 31-33 respectively show screens of eighth through tenth messages presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIGS. 34 and 35 show screens respectively of a vocabulary test of a first, and of a second, word presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIGS. 36-38 respectively show screens of eleventh through thirteenth messages presented by the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

FIG. 39 shows a computer program flow chart of the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching reading.

FIG. 40 shows a computer program flow chart of the preferred embodiment of a programmed method in accordance with the present invention for teaching spelling.

The present invention is embodied in a tachistoscope, or apparatus for the brief exposure of visual stimuli. The tachistoscope is preferably implemented by a computer, and more preferably by a personal computer, system. The visual stimuli displayed on the tachistoscope are either single or multiple words. The words are flashed upon the screen of a monitor for a predetermined display latency time and at a predetermined, preferably at a user-selected, base rate. The displayed words accord educational instruction, preferably in reading or spelling but potentially in diverse disciplines. The user interacts with the system to control the sequence and extent of staged presentations by the tachistoscope, but cannot prevent that some presentations will be only momentary.

One preferred instructional method in accordance with the present invention uses the computer-based tachistoscope for the teaching of reading. A body of text, typically stored in the computer memory, is organized into lines, each of which contains a multiplicity of words. The multiplicity of words upon each line are divided into successive groups of words, each such group containing a preselected number of words, and typically containing three words. Each successive groups of words is transitorily successively presented on the monitor screen to the student-user, one word group at a time. If the student-user viewing the presenting is to successfully read the flashed text then it is necessary that the student-user should read the entirety of each successive word group at and upon, and only at and only upon, the single instance of its transitory presentation. It is obviously impossible for a student-user to regress in the text material read because each word group is no longer visually apparent upon the monitor screen after its single transitory, flashed, presentation. At a certain pace of presenting the successive word groups it becomes essentially impossible that a student-user should be able to keep reading pace unless the entire word group is visually fixated, and mentally assimilated, as a multi-word entity, and not individual word by individual word. By such a forced presentation certain fundamentals of good reading are induced in the student-user. To repeat, not merely speed but also a multi-word granularity of reading is induced in the student-user.

Further in accordance with the preferred method of the present invention for teaching reading, the transitory presentations of successive word groups transpires positionally across each text line; each successive group of words occupying a position during its transitory presentation which is equivalent to that actual position occupied by the group of words within the actual text line. The transitory successive presentations may also, optionally, positionally proceed from top to bottom down the body of the text. In this case each successive group of words occupies a position during its transitory presentation that is equivalent to the actual position occupied by the group of words within the entire body of the text. The natural movement left to right and top to bottom which would be undergone by the eye in normal reading of a block of text is thusly replicated when the student- o user follows the sequentially staged, transitory, flashed, presentations upon the tachistoscope.

Further in accordance with the preferred method in accordance with the present invention for teaching reading, the rate of the transitory presentations of successive word groups will increase slightly, typically ten percent (10%), from pre-set levels intermittently or periodically, typically approximately every three (3) minutes, during the course of the tachistoscope's presentation of an entire block of text. This slight rate variation has several advantages. The student-user of the tachistoscope cannot assume an absolutely regular and invariant rate of successive eye fixations, but must accommodate slight, almost imperceptible, rate changes. These slight changes help to maintain attention and reduce monotony. Furthermore, the student-user will, at least periodically, "sprint" through the test at an increase, typically one hundred and ten percent (110%), over the pre-set presentation rate. Satisfactory performance during the modestly accelerated presentations builds student-user confidence, and accelerates both willingness to attempt faster pre-set rates and attainment of those faster rates. It is as if the tachistoscope prods greater reading performance.

Further in accordance with the preferred method of the present invention for teaching reading, an automated testing of reading comprehension preferably transpires subsequent to the reading exercise. This test of reading comprehension consists of questions preferably directed to information which was within each successive group of words presented, and the questions are preferably in the same relative order as the word groups were presented. By such correlation between testing and presentation certain systematic problems in student-user comprehension--such as problems related to rate of presentation, location of textual material, and/or content of phrases--may be isolated and displayed. The predetermined rate of the transitory successive presentation of the word groups is determined by the individual student-user. Selectable rates range between those suitable for beginning readers to those challenging the most advanced speed readers.

Another, second, preferred instructional method in accordance with the present invention is directed to the use of the tachistoscope, and to the flashed presentation of information, for the teaching of spelling. In accordance with this second method certain basic skills, including keystroking, which permit a student-user to respond correctly in a spelling quiz are nurtured and developed at a time before the student-user needs to use these skills in responding to an actual spelling quiz. The actual spelling quiz is on transitorily presented information. Consequently, it permits little opportunity for the student-user to assimilate required basic skills.

Particularly, a word is continuously statically presented upon a monitor while the student-user is preliminarily tested to spell the word correctly by act of keystroking it upon a computer keyboard. The student-user is accorded as many tries as are required to develop not only the mental knowledge of the word's letters, but also the important motor skills which will allow translation of this mental knowledge into a correctly keystroked word. After, and only after, the student-user has been statically presented a plurality of words, and has evidenced his ability to spell each one during the static preliminary testing, is a transitory presentation of information, and a testing of spelling, then conducted. In the actual spelling test the previously mastered words are dynamically momentarily presented word by word to the student-user. After each word is no longer visible then the student- o user is challenged to spell the word. If the student- o user cannot remember, or cannot successfully keystroke the word, then it is momentarily displayed for as many times as are required until the student-user is able to carry over the mental image of he word from the time of its transitory display to the time of its required entry, and to successfully keystroke the word. Very often this technique highlights certain letter groups of the word regarding which letter groups the student- o user's spelling knowledge, and/or his/her motor skills to replicate, are erroneous.

Further, in accordance with the second preferred method, a successful spelling of each word that has been momentarily presented is rewarded with a static display of the word's definition. At such time as the student-user has evidenced capability to reliably spell all the plurality of words, then the student-user may be further, statically, tested to both (i) use and (ii) spell each of the plurality of words, one at a time, appropriately to the use of the word within a textural context in accordance with the word's definition.

Both the preferred method of instructing in reading, and the preferred method of instructing in spelling, by use of the computerized tachistoscope in accordance with the present invention may be observed to be similar. Particularly, in that the student-user is forced, at least at certain temporal junctures, to assimilate information which is only but momentarily presented so that he/she may later successfully respond to inquiries regarding such information. This manner of instruction has a clear effect of "forcing the brain into gear" There is no way that programmed, flashed presentation, educational exercises in accordance with the present invention can be successfully passed by any individual--no matter how educated or intelligent, or no matter that the individual is already possessed of high skills in reading and/or spelling--unless due attention is paid to the material as and when presented. This is simply to say that no one can successfully answer a question regarding material when such material is no longer visible save that the person has mentally assimilated the material. In the case of a person learning the material for the first time, this forced attentiveness means that the person must assimilate the material as and when it is presented. This is the fundamental nature of learning, which nature is obviously fostered by the tachistoscope apparatus and instructional methods in accordance with the present invention.

The present invention is directed to flashed presentations of information for teaching, particularly for teaching reading and spelling. In accordance with the present invention, a computer system including a computer, monitor and keyboard is programmed to function as a tachistoscope. The computerized tachistoscope is programmed to flash single or multiple combinations of words on the monitor screen at a user- o selected speed. The programmed presentations to the student-user of the computerized tachistoscope also consist of messages, additional non-flashed instructional information, quizzes and summaries of student-user performance.

The present invention functions during either and both the teaching of reading and spelling to force the student-user to mentally acquire, and to at least momentarily retain, transitorily presented information so that the student-user may, subsequently to the momentary presentation of the information, correctly answer questions posited concerning such information. Because the student-user must become actively involved with information acquisition in order that such information may later be used, learning is facilitated. Particularly in accordance with the present invention, the student-user is prohibited from regressing in the presented information, and from shifting his/her attention back and forth between the information and the question in order to answer the question by only superficial transposition of information, and without any true mental understanding, absorption, and retention of such information. In this regard the teaching method and tachistoscope apparatus in accordance with the present invention are substantially unlike prior art learning exercises, including quizzes, which are substantially written on paper.

Furthermore, in its preferred embodiment for teaching reading, the present invention exhibits still other attributes than the forcing of the student-user's attention and learning (significant as that is). In particular, during the teaching of reading certain textual information is presented in a manner so that (i) irreversibly unidirectional reading only in a forward direction, (ii) reading at a forced pace and, most importantly, (iii) reading by multi-word word groups as opposed to by individual words, are facilitated. In particular, the present invention differs from even prior art reading machines in that words (or letters) are not individually sequentially exposed to view (for reading), but are instead momentarily exposed to view in successive word groups each consisting of two or more words. The "clippety-clop" presentation of successive word groups, and not the mere word rate speed of the presentation, mandates that the student-user must fixate and read multi-word word groups (including with full use of his/her peripheral vision) and cannot successfully read the presented text single word image by single word image.

Furthermore in its preferred embodiment for teaching spelling, the present invention again exhibits still other attributes than the forcing of the student-user's attention and learning (significant as that is). Particularly, during the teaching of spelling, the student-user's transliteration and motor skills in replicating by keystroking those words to be spelled is fully developed priorly that the student-user is later quizzed (by transitory word image presentations) to produce the correct spelling of such words. The student-user is effectively given a full rehearsal in developing all skills necessary for his/her response priorly to being forced, in accordance with the present invention, to use these skills in a true learning experience.

A correct response to the transitory word image presentations of a spelling quiz in accordance with the present invention will not be possible by superficial transposition of information, but will require the student-user's true mental understanding, absorption and retention of information. A student-user cannot copy that word that he/she can no longer see. A correct spelling cannot be rendered in response to the quiz save that the subject "know" the spelling. Moreover, having once "forced the channel open" in a student-user's mind for receipt (and response) of information regarding word spelling, the preferred embodiment of the present invention seizes the opportunity of student-user attentiveness to impart additional information regarding words, definitions. Later the student-user's assimilation of this information is also tested, although not by transitory, flashed, presentations.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention thusly demonstrate not only the flashed presentation of information for teaching purposes, but also demonstrate the distinct tailoring and adaptation of such presentations in combination with other teaching techniques in order to achieve optimal learning results. It is effectively impossible to successfully engage in any of the various instructional regimens in accordance with the present invention without paying close attention, and without actually learning the information presented if such is not already known. Conversely, close attention and diligent learning produces good results. Neither of these statements can invariably be made about prior art instructional methods, including by machine-based programmed learning.

The preferred embodiment computerized tachistoscope in accordance with the present invention is diagrammatically illustrated in its preferred operational environment within FIG. 1. The tachistoscope includes a computer 10, typically a personal computer, having an input/output device, typically disk drives 11, 12. The computer 10 connects to a monitor console 20 and a keyboard 30. The computer 10 is loaded with programs in accordance with the present invention that are typically on disks 40 (not visible, housed in disk drives 11, 12). When the programs are run then messages 21 will appear to the student-user 50 (not part of the present invention) on monitor 20, and the student-user 50 will respond to queries via keyboard 30.

Certain typical displays appearing on monitor 20 (shown in FIG. 1) during a first preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention for the teaching of reading are illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 16. These screens are exactly those which are generated by that first program that is contained within Appendix 1 to this specification. The program is written in the BASIC programming language, and operates under a BASIC compiler typically running on an IBM personal computer or compatible type. In particular, the program preferably operates under GW BASIC available from Microsoft Corporation. During initiation of the program prior to its execution upon computer 10 (shown in FIG. 1) the computer operating system, typically MS-DOS, is first loaded and then the GW-BASIC program is loaded. While operating within GW-BASIC the program within appendix 1 of this specification is caused to be loaded, and then it is run.

Upon the running of the preferred embodiment of the program for the flashed presentation of information for teaching reading, the initial screen appearing on monitor 20 (shown in FIG. 1) will be substantially as appears in FIG. 2. The copyright notice appearing therein is exemplary only, and is not intended to preclude full and free copying of FIG. 2 (and all remaining Figures) during replication of this patent specification. No rights in copyright are claimed within this patent specification, the copyright notice only appearing in order that the actual lead screen to the preferred embodiment program, called "Flash Reading 1" may be more authentically presented.

Continuing in the preferred embodiment program in accordance with the present invention for teaching reading, a second message screen for the "Flash Reading" program, called SCREEN: FR MESSAGES 2, appears in FIG. 3. Within FIG. 3 and following Figures certain sample information as may be entered by student-user 50 appears in bold face type, whereas information generated by operation of the program within the computerized tachistoscope system appears in normal type.

A typical interaction of the computerized instructional system with the student-user is visible in screen FR MESSAGES 3 shown in FIG. 4. The program has picked up the student-user's name previously entered during the presentation of screen FR MESSAGES 2 shown in FIG. 3, and is using this name in order to be more familiar and friendly with the student-user while querying his/her responses regarding further program progress. If the selected response to the query presented in screen FR MESSAGES 3 (shown in FIG. 4) where to be "2", as illustrated, then the screen FR MESSAGES 4 shown in FIG. 5 would next appear. The message contained therein is self-explanatory, and describes the preferred embodiment operation of the program wherein groups of words will be flashed upon the monitor screen.

A further operator entry with the program, which would have been directly entered from screen FR MESSAGES 3 (shown in FIG. 4) should a selection of "1" have been made in response to the question of that screen, is shown as screen FR MESSAGES 5 within FIG. 6. As indicated therein the student-user is able to make a numerical selection "0" through "5" for the speed at which greeting material will subsequently be presented. The speed selection "5" for "new reader" corresponds to a presentation speed of approximately 47 groups of three words each per minute, or a total speed of 141 words per minute. Speed selection "4" for "junior high student-user" corresponds to an approximate presentation speed of 158 words per minute, speed selection "3" for "high school student-user" corresponds to a presentation speed of approximately 185 words per minute, speed selection "2" for "university student-user" corresponds to a presentation speed of approximately 210 words per minute; speed selection "1" for "speed reader" corresponds to a presentation speed of approximately 300 words per minute; and speed selection "0" for "super fast speed reader" corresponds to a presentation speed of approximately 425 words per minute. These presentation speeds are controlled by the internal clock speed of the operating personal computer, which clock speed is typically 4.77 MHz. If the computer employs a faster, or slower, master clock then the speed of presentation will be correspondingly proportionately changed. The program, may of course, be readily modified by a competent programmer to establish any desired degree of rapidity or slowness in the presentation of reading materials.

Screen FR MESSAGES 6 shown in FIG. 7 is a small message screen whereat the student-user may pause prior to entering into the attempted reading of the text, which text will be presented by flashed presentation of successive word groups. Screen FR TEXT 1 through FR TEXT 3 appearing in FIG. 8-10 should be considered illustrative of the sequential, flashed, presentation of information to be read, as and when presented, by the student-user. It should be understood that each of the typical screen FR TEXT 1 through FR TEXT 3 will only be presented momentarily, and for a time duration, one screen and one word group to the next, which is in accordance with the speed selection made in response to screen FR MESSAGES 5 shown in FIG. 6. The monitor screen may be considered to be exhibiting a narrow but adjustable window that permits the student-user to view text by successive groups of words in the sequence as they appear in the text.

Obviously the partial line which is presented in FIGS. 8-10 reads, as a complete phrase, "When a 13 year old Virginia girl started sneezing, her parents . . . ". This is but the beginning phrase, and beginning of the first line, of a short story that typically includes about three hundred (300) 3-word word groups. In fact, this line is from an article titled "Anatomy of a Sneeze" appearing in the Reader's Digest. The story is typical of the type of interesting material, substantially uniform in word difficulty, that is beneficially presented to student readers.

When this partial textual line is presented, in accordance with the preferred method of the present invention, the phrase is first broken into three successive groups of three words each. The word groups are then displayed in the sequential order illustrated in FIGS. 8-10. The word groups for each successive transitory presentation may be maintained a the same position upon the monitor screen or, as is preferable, may be moved across the screen from left to right as is the illustrated case in FIGS. 8-10. Likewise, each line may be presented at the same relative vertical position upon the monitor screen. Optionally, the presentation of word groups from subsequent lines may proceed from top to bottom equivalently as if actual lines were being read from a body of text. As soon as sufficient text has been displayed upon the monitor screen so as to constitute an entire page, then subsequent word group presentations, and reading, may resume at the upper left hand corner equivalently as if a page of actual text had been completely read by the scanning eye. The particular program of Appendix 1 does not employ this optimal presentation, but such presentation is readily implemented by one skilled in the art of computer programming.

Careful consideration should be given to the nature of teaching, and the concomitant effect on learning, of the staged "flashed" mode of presentation illustrated in FIGS. 8-10. Each group of words, typically 3 to 5 in number, is flashed upon the screen for a specific and consistent period of time, thereafter disappearing. There is only one group of words on the screen at any one time. The tachistoscopic effect of the program causes the student-user reader's eye to take in the entire group of words and to move across the screen, following the movement of the "window" to the text and not the individual words of the text. In this manner the computerized tachistoscope in accordance with the present invention is superior to a mechanical device which selectively occludes all but a portion, or moving window, of printed text because the window is not subject to progressively overlap individual words. Rather, the window "snaps", or "jumps", from one word group to the next, forcing that the eye should ultimately proceed likewise.

Especially at the more rapid reading speeds it is fundamentally impossible to follow the sequential, flashed, presentation of the tachistoscope in accordance with the present invention by reading a single word at a time. The student-user, or reader, develops effective use of his peripheral vision in reading, and is paced by the program. The reader comes to read entire groups of words, as opposed to individual words, and gradually increases the speed of his/her reading. As each individual student-user comes to master reading at any given speed level (and comprehends the reading, the testing of which will be hereinafter explained) then higher reading speed levels may selected. The highest reading speed levels are very challenging even to accomplished speed readers, who must sweep their eyes regularly and consistently in order to assimilate the text material at its enhanced rate of presentation.

In accordance with the present invention, the speed of flashed presentations of the successive word groups is not invariably and precisely constant, but optionally increases during certain intervals from the student-user-selected speed level. This optional speed variation, which is implemented by the particular software program attached as Appendix 1, is typically on the order of 10% over three-minute intervals during which interval many successive word groups are normally presented. For example, the program will run, and the tachistoscope presentations will proceed, for 3 minutes at the originally selected speed. Then the speed will increase very slowly until the speed has increased by ten percent. The more rapid speed will be maintained for 3 minutes and then the speed will be reduced to the original speed. This interval training will be repeated until the program has been read in its entirety. The magnitude of the speed variation about the preset speed is, in any case, recommended to be less than twenty-five percent (25%). The time interval durations of ramping the preset speed up and down, and the time interval durations of holding the speed at the same level are not as important as the occurrence of the slight speed variation itself. Mainly, the slight speed variation eliminates any stupefying effects of invariant periodicity, and prevents monotony. The slight speed variation aids the student-user in "bootstrapping" his/her performance to the next preset level. If the student-user's performance in either (i) reading speed or (ii) comprehension is marginal because of presentation rate sensitive difficulties (i.e., the words go by too fast) then the intervals of enhanced rate presentation help to identify this marginal performance. Conversely, if a particular student-user feels no strain nor incurs any comprehension impact in text sections presented at an enhanced rate, then that student-user is a good candidate to attempt reading of faster preset presentation rates.

Still further in accordance with the present invention, the latency time duration of flashed presentations of the successive word groups is not invariably and precisely constant, but increases during the presence of certain conditions from the base latency, which latency is itself dependent on a student-user-selected presentation speed level. This latency time duration variation, which is implemented by the particular software program attached as Appendix 1, is typically on the order of 50%.

In its preferred operational mode the computerized instructional system, or tachistoscope, projects a group of three words from a given text on the screen of a computer monitor. Each group of words remains on the screen for a brief period of time. The user selects the exposure time prior to reading the material on the screen.

The period of exposure is extended by a factor of 1.5 whenever the program encounters one of three characteristics of the words comprising the group. The characteristics of the word groups that may increase the exposure period of the groups are preferably threefold.

First, if the word group contains a period designating the end of a sentence, then the display latency time duration will be extended.

Second, if the word group contains greater than 26 characters then the display latency time will also be extended.

Third, if the word group contains a previously assigned vocabulary study word then the display latency time duration is extended.

If any of the three characteristics listed above is satisfied, the system will extend the display latency time duration by 1.5.times.(the selected user time). The computer will optionally generate an auditory alarm as well as highlight the study vocabulary word in the group.

As an example of timing considerations using a vocabulary study word, consider that the study vocabulary word is "the" and the flash speed is 100 milliseconds. For the following successive word groups, constituting a text, the display latency time duration will be as indicated:

Word groups 1, 6 and 9 are held on the screen for 1.5 times the user selected time because the vocabulary study word "the" is found in the group. Because word group 5 contains 27 characters it will also remain on the screen for an extended time. Finally, word group 10 is also held on the screen for an extended time in response to the period at the end of the sentence.

As a still further aspect of the present invention certain words may be shown to the student-user in boldface type, or otherwise highlighted. In the sample word groups just shown, the emphasized word is again the word "the" The emphasis helps the student-user recognize, and learn, the vocabulary word.

Variations and the mode and manner of presentation are obviously possible. The number of words presented within each group need not be identical, but can be modified in consideration of individual word lengths and/or textual punctuation. Indeed, as explained in the background of the invention section to this specification, certain most accomplished readers read in large "chunks" or "clumps" of text, scanning for key words and for meaning without becoming bogged down in the individual words and syntax of each sentence. Although at the more exalted levels of reading prowess the method in accordance with the present invention may be of but little use for further improving already perfected reading techniques, the method of the present invention is very useful to acquainting beginning-, and intermediate-level readers with both the concepts that (i) the eye should not regress within the body of text being read, and (ii) the eye should attempt to take in more than one read word at each successive point of fixation. This is equivalent to saying that the eye should go forward only, and that the peripheral vision should be used during the course of reading.

A preferred conclusion to the preferred program method in accordance with the present invention for teaching reading is shown in FIGS. 11-16. Screen FR MESSAGES 7 shown in FIG. 11 introduces the test of reading comprehension. Sample questions within such tests are shown as screen FR QUESTIONS 1 and FR QUESTIONS 2 respectively within FIGS. 12 and 13. It may be noted that the order of questions, and the numbers thereof, are in substantial correspondence to the word groups previously sequentially flashed during the reading exercise. Of course, each word group may not give rise to a separate question. However, a skilled teacher is often able to assess student-user performance on the reading comprehension in order to determine whether the reading speed is too high, the student-user eye has become fatigued, defects in the field of vision exist, and/or systemic problems are affecting student-user reading performance.

A sample screen FR MESSAGES 8 shown in FIG. 14 would be presented to that student-user who exhibited perfect reading comprehension. Alternatively, the screen FR MESSAGES 9 and FR MESSAGES 10 respectively shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 would be presented to the student-user who exhibited a 90%, for example, level of reading comprehension. The general tone of the programmed presentation may be observed to be student user friendly, and to be directed to encouraging and fostering the learning experience.

The monitor screens typically presented by a second preferred programmed method in accordance with the present invention, which method is directed to the teaching of spelling, are shown in FIGS. 17-38. The method will again be characterized by the sequential, flashed, presentation of information. In this case, the information constitutes a spelling and vocabulary drill program. The listing of this program is attached to the present specification as Appendix 2. The program is written in the BASIC language, and must be executed under a basic compiler such as GW-BASIC typically operated in the IBM personal computer or equivalent.

As in the previous program directed to instruction in reading, a typical introductory screen for the spelling and vocabulary drill program is shown as screen FS MESSAGES 1 within FIG. 17. Again, the copyright notice is illustrative only, and does not preclude the copying of this drawing within reproduction of the present specification. Screen FS MESSAGES 2 for the obtaining of student-user data is shown in FIG. 18. Screen FS MESSAGES 3 shown in FIG. 19 allows the student-user, now addressed by his/her previously inserted name, to either commence testing or solicit more information. If more information is solicited, as is indicated, by example, by the entry of "2" in response to screen FS MESSAGES 3, then the explanation of the ensuing testing is presented to the student-user as screen FS MESSAGES 4 shown in FIG. 20.

A first and subsequent screen for the static presentations of words are shown as screens FS STATIC WORD 1 through FS STATIC WORD 3 in FIGS. 21-23. The screen FS STATIC WORD 1 is proceeded by another message screen, screen FS MESSAGES 5, to give the student-user some final, repetitive, instruction regarding the required nature of his response. Each word is presented upon the screen individually, for example the words "accept" and "already" in FIGS. 21, 22. Typically approximately ten spelling words are successively statically presented. The user is required to type the word as it is seen upon the screen. If the student-user is not able to type the word correctly then the screen repeats the word indefinitely until student-user is able to correctly keystroke the word.

Importantly to the preferred method in accordance with the present invention, the skill that is being practiced at this point is the necessary student-user hand-eye coordination required to type (spell) the word correctly. The learning process is taking place while the word and its correct, keystroked, spelling is being committed to memory. The user is developing a complete, interactive, response which indicates that, at least to some degree, the word image and its spelling are being appropriately assimilated. Each word must be typed correctly or the program will not move to the next new word. Only after the user demonstrates total competence in typing the (typically ten) words as they are seen on the screen will the program then move to the next, second, phase of instruction.

The nature of the next, second, phase of instruction is described in screen FS MESSAGES 6 shown in FIG. 23. Mainly, as is illustrated in screens 24-27, a previously-introduced (and correctly spelled) word will again be seen on the screen, but now only for a brief period. Particularly, screens FS FIRST FLASH WORD 1 and FS FIRST FLASH WORD 2 respectively shown in FIGS. 24 and 26 should be understood to appear but momentarily. The flashed presentation of the word to be spelled requires concentration on the part of the student-user since the student-user is now requested, once again, to type the word which has been seen upon the screen. Since the screen is essentially blank and no longer displays the word that is requested to be spelled at the time when the student-user is requested to enter the word, the student-user can only correctly spell the word by reliance upon his/her memory. The student-user must depend upon the very brief flash of the word and his/her recall from the first phase of the exercise in order to spell the word correctly. As in the first phase, if the word is not spelled correctly it will be flashed again and again as required until the student-user is able to enter the correct spelling. Even if the student-user has no recall from the first phase of the exercise, it will still be possible, ultimately, to learn the spelling of the word from its successively flashed presentations, howsoever brief. However, the student-user is normally encouraged to couple the entirety of neural and physical response as permits of his/her correct performance, and to both learn, and demonstrate, his/her command of spelling the word.

After each word is spelled correctly the programmed method in accordance with the present invention will write the definition of such word upon the screen. This may be observed as screen portions FS DEFINITION WORD 1 and FS DEFINITION WORD 2 respectively in FIGS. 25 and 27. After all (typically ten) flashed words have been written correctly, and after all definitions have been presented and (hopefully) studied, then the programmed method in accordance with the present invention will move to a third phase of instruction.

This third phase of instruction requires the student-use to reproduce by keystroking the same words, again individually flashed, for which the correct spelling has ostensibly been mastered. The directions preceding this third phase of testing are within screen FS MESSAGES 7 shown within FIG. 28. As indicated therein, within this third phase of training the student-user must reproduce ten individually flashed words that are presented in a random order. Moreover, individual words may be repeated. The manner of such presentation for a second flashed presentation of a first word (the word "beautiful") is shown as screens FS SECOND FLASHED WORD 1 and FS TEST SPELLING SECOND FLASHED WORD 1 respectively in FIGS. 29 and 30. The student-user must spell all ten of the momentarily flashed words correctly in order to move on to the final, fourth, phase of training. A sample screen appearing if the student-user has not totally mastered the spelling of those ten words flashed in presentation during test phase 3 is shown as screen FS MESSAGES 8 shown in FIG. 31. The student-user is allowed to selectively repeat earlier phases of the drill or the entire instruction, or to end a period of instruction. The screen FS MESSAGES 9 shown in FIG. 32 is presented if the student-user elects to retire from further instruction, as would be the case for the selection entry "3" shown in FIG. 31.

At such time as the student-user has spelled the presented words totally correctly in both test phase 2 and phase 3 the screen FS MESSAGES 10 shown in FIG. 33 would be presented. This screen indicates that the student-user is able to move onto a fourth phase of programmed training. During this phase of training the program writes a sentence upon the monitor screen that requires the student-user to fill in a missing word. The missing word will be one of the (typically 10) words that have previously been taught within the spelling exercise. The student-user must be both aware of the required word (from memory), must employ such word in accordance with its proper definition, and must spell the word correctly. Two sample screen occurring during this fourth phase vocabulary test are screen FS VOCABULARY TEST WORD 1 and FS VOCABULARY TEST WORD 2 respectively shown in FIGS. 34 and 35.

Conclusory screens to the sequence of testing, and particularly dealing with the fourth phase vocabulary test, are indicated as screens FS MESSAGES 11 through FS MESSAGES 13 respectively shown within FIGS. 36-38. The student-user, and his/her instructor, are presented with detailed performance information from which information both general performance statistics, and problems occurring with individual words and concepts, may be recognized.

A computer program flow chart for the preferred embodiment method in accordance with the present invention for flashed presentation of reading materials is shown in FIGS. 39-40. A computer program flow chart for the preferred embodiment method in accordance with the present invention for the presentation (including at times flashed presentation) and test of spelling and vocabulary skills is shown in FIG. 40. Both flow charts may be observed to employ, at points therein, the flashed, momentary, presentation of information. Within both programs this flashed presentation is particularly enabled under a "subgroup timing loop" wherein, in accordance with a student-user preselected quantity, a delay is incurred. During the duration of this delay certain information will be presented to the student-user upon the monitor screen. At the expiration of this delay the previously presented information will be overwritten, thereby effectively causing that it has been "flashed" Certain of the presentations do not employ the timing loop, and are essentially static. The combination of static presentations, including messages and directives, with flashed presentation of information is characteristic of the instructional method in accordance with the present invention.

In accordance with the preceding discussion, certain variations and adaptations of the preferred methods, and of preferred computerized tachistoscope, in accordance with the present invention will suggest themselves to educators. It would, for example, be possible to adapt the flashed presentations in accordance with the present invention to the learning of mathematics; for example to the learning of the multiplication tables. For example, a message "8.times.8=64" could momentarily appear upon the screen followed by a deletion of the answer "64" The student-user would then have to fill in the required product "64" from his/her memory. As this simplistic parroting of the multiplication table is mastered, then it is possible to proceed to still further, temporarily remote, testing wherein the student-user will not have been recently presented with the required answer.

The method of the present invention is obviously adaptable to learning the spelling, and meaning, of words other than those of ones native language. The tachistoscope can be modified to present stimuli to an entire group, or class, in parallel as opposed to providing individualized instruction. Particularly for mass testing, the sequential presentation of words groups might be flashed upon a large screen. Student-user comprehension to this set rate of materials presentation could later be assessed by testing which (might be written on paper or otherwise). By such a staged, sequential, flashed presentation of information the reading comprehension of a student-user at a precise reading speed level may be more directly, and definitively, assessed than by alternative, prior art, tests of reading comprehension which allow a student-user access to a block of text material and which subsequently test the student-user's comprehension thereof In particular, the method and apparatus of the present invention will detect those student-users which have high reading speed but which improperly rely upon regression within the block of text read for their adequate comprehension and/or for their satisfactory performance on subsequent testing.

Finally, it will be recognized that the methods and preferred computer apparatus of the present invention expand the art of tachistoscopic learning beyond rigid and limited methods and machines, and even beyond the application of formal rules, no matter how modern or sophisticated. In particular, the methods and apparatus of the present invention are sensitive to the information (text) presented, and are therefore adaptive. Consider the logical extension of this concept: adaptive mimicry of superior readers and learners, and real-time, dynamic, analysis of an actual student-user's deviations from norms. For example a computerized tachistoscope with an input from a mechanism that tracks a human's moving eye, similar to such devices in fighter aircraft, could be programmed to learn the spatial and temporal reading patterns of one, or several, readers having superior speed and comprehension The same computerized tachistoscope with the same input mechanism could then analyze, in real time, the instantaneous and cumulative deviations in the reading patterns of a student user from the desired, or model, patterns resultant to the analysis the student-user could be alerted to his/her faults, including by selective stimuli presented in real time concurrent with the ongoing instruction, and the tachistoscopic instructional curriculum might even be tailored, or customized, to the analyzed problems of a particular user.

Because reading and learning are fundamental, because no generation of humans is born literate and educated, and because the education of each successive generation of humans to the high requirements of the sophisticated modern world is increasingly costly, it is obvious that machines must become more capable and flexible in their ability to educate humans as well as to support those humans who are, by and large, already educated. The tachistoscopic apparatus and methods of the present invention are believed to make progress towards this goal.

In accordance with these and other obvious modifications and adaptations of the present invention, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the following claims, only, and not solely in accordance with that preferred computerized tachistoscope apparatus, and those two preferred programmed methods, within which the present invention has been taught. ##SPC1##