Keyboard teaching machine

Claim 1

A machine adapted to train a student in acquiring proficiency in the operation of apparatus provided with a keyboard whose keys are marked by letters, numbers or other types of characters, said machine being operable in the Match mode or in the Pace mode and comprising: A. a training keyboard corresponding to the keyboard incorporated in said apparatus and having means to produce an indication of which key is being depressed by the student, B. display means to present in random order characters of the type carried on the training keyboard and havinG means to produce an indication of which character is being displayed, C. a detector coupled to said training keyboard and to said display means to produce an output signal only when a keyboard indication is coincident with a display-means indication, which coincidence occurs only when the student presses a key matching the character displayed, D. a counter coupled to said detector and adapted to advance one count each time a match occurs, and E. selective means to render said machine operable in either the Match mode or the Pace mode, the machine in the Match mode including means to render the machine operative for a test cycle having a fixed duration, and means operable during the test cycle to erase the character displayed by said display means and to present a new character each time a match is effected, the machine in the Pace mode making use of said means to render the machine operative for a test cycle and further including means during said test cycle, to cause said display means sequentially to present a minimum number of characters at random with a preset delay between each presentation unless a match is effected.