INTERVIEWING MACHINES AND METHOD

• US 3,747,069 A
• Filed: 12/09/1970
• Issued: 07/17/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philip I. Hershberg
• Original Assignee: Philip I. Hershberg
• Inventors: Hershberg, Philip I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henon, Paul J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nusbaum, Mark Edward
• Application Number:
  US05/096,327
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5 235/157 35/9A
• US Class Current: 434/320
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00 Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor G11B11/00 and G11B13/00 take precedence

Abstract

This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for automatically conducting an interview and recording responses elicited from the person interviewed. The apparatus includes means for controlling a magnetic tape recorder which presents questions in both a pre-determined and ordered fashion. The apparatus also includes means for recognizing and attempting to rectify improper responses at or shortly after the time that they are elicited. In addition, means are also provided for interpreting the resulting tape for automatic data entry into a keypunch machine, keytape recorder, data terminal, magnetic tape typewriter, computer or similar data entry or storage device.

Claims

1. Interview apparatus comprising in combination a recording media, a device for controlling the movement of the recording media to provide for a playback and recording mode of operation, said apparatus including playback means, means for causing the recording media to move past said playback means in order to present audible signals recorded on the recording media to an interviewee, the audible signals recorded on the recording media representing instructions and questions, means for recording on the recording media the responses of the interviewee to the audible signals representing question provided to the interviewee, means for interpreting the response of the interviewee to the questions in order to control the movement of the recording media, counting means for counting a series of two or more responses or lack of responses from the interviewee to the questions, means responsive to a signal from said counting means for reinitiating the presentation of instructions after the presentation of questions to the interviewee and a predetermined series of at least two responses or lack of responses have been counted by said counting means, and timing means for providing a signal to reinitiate the presentation of questions to the interviewee after the instructions have been repeated for a predetermined amount of time to the interviewee.

2. Interview apparatus according to claim 1 in which the recording media is a magnetic tape.

3. Interview apparatus according to claim 1 in which the recording media is a magnetic tape which has a plurality of tracks, one of said tracks having question stored thereon and another of said tracks having a code indicating the type of questions stored thereon so as to permit the apparatus to select the questions to be presented to the interviewee depending upon the audible response of the interviewee.