Educational 911 training device

• US 5,513,993 A
• Filed: 08/29/1994
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cathy Renae Lindley
• Original Assignee: Cathy R. Lindley
• Inventors: Lindley, Cathy R., Boss, Gerald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/297,018
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 434/308, 434/317, 434/319, 434/320, 434/321, 434/322, 446/141, 446/142, 364/419.01, 364/410
• US Class Current: 434/319
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2474 Telephone terminals specially adapted for disabled people user interfaces for cordless or mobile telephones specially adapted for disabled users H04M1/72475; network based special services or facilities for hearing-impaired persons H04M3/42391; devices for conversing with the deaf-blind G09B21/04

Abstract

An educational training device in disclosed which includes a replica of a telephone including a telephone headset having an operational speaker and a telephone keypad having a plurality of numeric key buttons. A machine is associated with a telephone operatively connected to the speaker and a machine readable medium which embodies an 911 emergency program is provided. The 911 program contains a series of questions relating to a predetermined 911 emergency situation to be asked to a child or other person being trained by the device. A voice converter or synthesizer is operatively connected to the machine and receiver for converting the machine readable program into a voice output through the handset speaker so that the voice of a 911 operator is realistically reproduced to the child listening on the handset. To begin the operation of the machine, an activation input is actuated by the child which is preferably machine instructions which operate to activate the machine in response to the depressing of the 9-1-1 buttons sequentially. A monitor for monitoring and recognizing correct answers from the child in response to the series of questions output through the handset speaker is provided. In one embodiment, the monitor is the guidebook by which a supervisor may monitor the child'"'"'s responses. In another embodiment, the machine is a computer machine incorporating a voice recognition unit which compares the responses of the child to programmed and input responses stored in a computer readable memory.

Claims

1. An educational training device for teaching children how to respond to 911 emergency procedure using a telephone comprising:

a telephone housing replicating an operable telephone including a cradle for receiving a telephone handset and a keypad having a plurality of depressible numeric key buttons;

a telephone handset carried by said telephone cradle having at least an operable speaker;

a computer carried within said telephone housing;

a computer readable medium which embodies a program in the form of computer readable program code means containing a series of questions to be asked to said child by a voice simulating a 911 operator;

a voice synthesizer operatively connected to said computer and said receiver for converting said program code means into human speech so that said computer generates a voice output which expresses said questions through said handset speaker;

an activation input actuated by said child for activating said computer to generate said voice output to audibly produce said questions through said speaker held by said child in a realistic voice simulating said 911 operator for soliciting answers from said child in response to said questions, and a monitor for monitoring and recognizing correct answers from said child in response to said questions output through said handset receiver.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said monitor includes a written guidebook containing said questions so that a supervisor may monitor said child'"'"'s responses.

3. The device of claim 2 including a repeat input button operatively connected to said controller for actuation by said supervisor when said child has responded improperly to cause said computer to repeat the previous question when said repeat input button is actuated.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of numeric key buttons replicate the key buttons of a typical telephone, and wherein said computer readable code means includes instructions for causing said computer to generate said activation input in response to the actuation of said numeric key buttons corresponding to the numbers 9-1-1 sequentially.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said computer readable code means causes said computer to activate said voice synthesize to output said questions in the form of human speech through said speaker and generate a prescribed time pause between successive ones of said questions.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said computer readable code means causes said computer to repeat a previous question in response to a repeat input being actuated.

7. An educational training device for teaching children how to respond to 911 emergency procedure using a telephone comprising:

a telephone housing replicating an operable telephone including a cradle for receiving a telephone handset;

a telephone handset carried by said telephone cradle having at least an operable speaker;

a machine associated with said telephone housing operatively connected to said speaker;

a machine readable medium which embodies a program containing a series of questions to be asked to said child by a voice simulating a 911 operator;

a voice converter operatively connected to said machine and said receiver for converting said program into human speech so that said machine generates a voice output which expresses said questions through said handset speaker;

an activation input actuated by said child for activating said machine to generate said voice output through said speaker held by said child in a realistic manner for soliciting answers from said child in response to said questions; and

a monitor for monitoring and recognizing correct answers from said child in response to said questions output through said handset speaker.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said monitor includes a written guidebook containing said questions so that a supervisor may monitor said child'"'"'s responses.

9. The device of claim 8 including a repeat input button operatively connected to said machine for actuation by said supervisor when said child has responded improperly to cause said machine to repeat the previous question.

10. The device of claim 7 including a key pad having a plurality of numeric key buttons replicating the key buttons of a typical telephone, and wherein said activation input is generated in response to the actuation of said numeric key buttons corresponding to the numbers 9-1-1 sequentially.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said machine includes a computer, said machine readable medium includes a computer readable medium, and said program includes computer readable code means which embodies said questions, and causes said computer to generate a voice output of questions.

12. The device of claim 11 including a plurality of depressible numeric key buttons which replicate key buttons of a typical telephone, and wherein said computer readable code means includes instructions for causing said computer to generate said activation input in response to the actuation of said numeric key buttons corresponding to the numbers 9-1-1 sequentially.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said computer readable code means is executable by said computer in a manner causing said computer to generate said voice output of said questions and generate a prescribed time pause between successive ones of said questions.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said computer readable code means button causes said computer to repeat a previous question in response to a repeat input being actuated.

15. The device of said claim 11 wherein said voice converter includes a voice synthesizer that converts said computer readable code means into simulated speech which is contained in said voice output.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said monitor includes a voice recognition unit which recognizes words spoken by said child into said handset transmitter, and compares the words with programmed response data stored in said computer readable memory containing a series of proper responses to said series of questions.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said response data includes input response data which has been input as computer readable code into said computer readable medium by the user, said input response data containing response information specific to the user which may be a response to a programmed question.

18. The device of claim 7 wherein said machine readable medium includes a standard cassette tape, and said voice converter includes a cassette tape player.

19. The device of claim 7 wherein said machine readable medium includes a standard compact disc, and said voice converter includes a compact disc player.

20. The device of claim 7 including a repeat input button causing said machine to repeat a previous question in response to being actuated.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said machine includes a computer, said machine readable medium includes a computer readable medium, and said program includes computer readable code which embodies said questions;

and wherein said method comprises converting said computer readable code into questions in the form of human speech using a voice synthesizer controlled by said computer.

26. The method of claim 25 including activating said computer in response to the actuation of numeric key buttons corresponding to the numbers 9-1-1 sequentially.

27. The method of claim 25 including executing said computer readable code by said computer in a manner causing said computer to generate said audible output of said questions and generate a prescribed time pause between successive ones of said questions.

28. The method of claim 27 including causing said computer to repeat a previous question in response to the monitoring of an improper response by said child.

29. The method of claim 27 including monitoring said response by using a voice recognition unit which recognizes a response spoken by said child into a handset transmitter, and comparing the spoken response to response data stored in said computer readable medium.

21. A method for training a young child to respond to a 911 emergency comprising the steps of:

providing a telephone housing replicating an operable telephone including a cradle for receiving a telephone handset, a keypad having a plurality of depressible numeric key buttons, a telephone handset carried by said telephone cradle having at least an operable receiver, and a machine associated with said telephone housing operatively connected to said receiver;

providing a program containing a series of questions to be asked to said child and simulating a 911 emergency embodied in a machine readable medium which is readable by said machine;

actuating an input for activating said machine to read said program;

converting said program into a voice output as read by said machine in a manner that said series of questions are audibly reproduced through said receiver held by said child in a realistic manner to a voice of a 911 operator for soliciting answers from said child in response to said questions; and

monitoring and recognizing correct answers from said child in response to said questions in said voice output through said handset receiver.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said monitoring includes providing a written guidebook containing said questions so that a competent person may monitor said child'"'"'s responses.

23. The method of claim 22 including causing said machine to repeat the previous question when said child has responded improperly.

24. The method of claim 21 including activating said machine in response to the actuation of said numeric key buttons corresponding to the numbers 9-1-1 sequentially.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein said machine readable medium includes a standard cassette tape, and said method includes converting program on said tape into a voice output using a cassette tape player.

31. The method of claim 21 wherein said machine readable medium includes a standard compact disc, and said method includes converting said program on said disc using a compact disc player.