GB2213429A

GB2213429A - Audio tactile album and card

Info

Publication number: GB2213429A
Application number: GB8828526A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ping Yu Liew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-08
Filing date: 1988-12-07
Publication date: 1989-08-16
Also published as: GB8728654D0; GB8828526D0; GB2198084A; GB8801987D0

Abstract

A card (2) has a textured or contoured surface (4) to provide relief shapes (6) e.g. Braille, and a strip of magnetic tape (8) attached to the surface. Sounds recorded on the tape are associated with the shapes (6), thereby enabling the user to associate sound and touch. An album for containing a plurality of such cards is also disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

1 -X - 2213429 _1 AUDIO-TACTILE ALBUM AND CARD II r This invention relates

to cards which enable the user to associate sound and touch, and books or albums containing them.

My co-pending application No. 8728654 describes cards in which sound is associated with a picture. The cards have on one side a photograph, and on the other a strip of magnetic tape on which sounds are recorded: the cards may be fed through a known play-back apparatus to play the sound.

The present invention provides a card having a surface or surfaces which is textured or contoured and a magnetic tape strip attached either to said surface or to a further surface. Generally, the magnetic tape is attached to the same surface of the card as is textured or contoured.

The invention also provides in another aspect a book or album having a plurality of leaves, each of which is adapted to receive atleast one card as defined above. A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card of the preferred embodiment, Figure 2 is a view of the card in a known playback apparatus, and Figure 3 is a view of an album containing such t 1 2.

cards.

The card 2 shown in Figure 1 has a first surface 4 which is contoured to show in relief various shapes 6; it will be appreciated that any pattern or texture, including Braille, could be applied to the surface 4. The side 4 of the card has a strip of magnetic tape 8 attached lengthwise below the contoured pattern, on which have previously been recorded sounds associated with the pattern on the card - for example, a verbal description of the shapes which are in relief on the surface 4.

In use, the surface 4 of the card 2 is felt by the user, and the card then fed through apparatus 10, which plays back the recording on the magnetic tape 8. Thus the user is able to associate what he feels on the surface 4 with what he hears from the tape 8. This can have particular application in the teaching of Braille to the blind, as the user can-feel the Braille lettering and then listen to the corresponding words being spoken.

For educational purposes and the like, it is particularly advantageous to keep a large number of such cards 2 - forming a teaching programme for example together in a book or album, such as-is shown in Figure 3. In this particular embodiment the cards 2 are contained in a loose-leaf album 16 which comprises a plurality of sheets 18 each having a transparent plastic sleeve 20 on both sides to provide pockets for the cards 2. Printed material may also be provided on the sheets It- i 4 :"7 3.

18 - and indeed on the cards 2 themselves - to provide further information, or to additionally aid instruction.

l 4.

Claims

1. A card having a textured or contoured surface or surfaces, and a strip of magnetic tape attached either to said surface or surfaces or to a further surface.

2. A card according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic tape has audio information recorded thereon.

3. A card according to claim 2, wherein said audio information is related to the texture or contouring on said surface or surfaces.

4. A card according to any preceding claim additionally having printed matter thereon.

5. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the texture or contouring on the surface or surfaces is Braille.

6. A card substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A book or album containing a plurality of cards according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. A book or album according to claim 7, comprising a plurality of leaves each having at least one trans parent sheet of plastic attached thereto to form pockets in which the cards are located.

9. A book or album substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the drawings.

Published 1989 at The Patent Offtoe, State House, 6671 High HoIbornLondorWC1R4TP- Further copies maybe obtalned from The PatentOMre. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BPS 3RD. Printed by MultiPlex technIQUes ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con- 1187 1 j