Prerecorded tape recording and branched method of instructing using same

Claim 1

For use with a tape player capable of accepting a tape-carrying cassette and a reversible cassette capable of being installed alternatively in either of two positions on the tape player so as to drive the tape alternatively in a forward and a reverse direction relative to the cassette, a tape having a plurality of segments of primary material recorded over corresponding spans of tape in a forward direction on a first track, each primary material segment including a posed question, an intermediate stop point, and an answer to the posed question, and a plurality of segments of supplemental material related to the primary material, the supplemental material being recorded on the tape in a relatively reverse direction on a second track, the primary material segments each terminating in segment-defining indicia to permit a user to understand that the segment has been completely played and to permit the user, if the user desires, to remove the cassette from the tape player, flip over the cassette, and reinstall the cassette on the tape player so as to play the tape, relative to the cassette, in a reverse direction but relative to the tape player in a forward direction, whereby to play the supplental material on the second track, each supplemental material segment being, in length, no longer than the corresponding primary material segment recorded on the same span of tape.

Claim 6

A method of using a tape player having a tape player head, a forward operating mode and a reverse operating mode, and a reversible pre-recording tape-carrying cassette for providing instruction, the method comprising the steps of placing the cassette and pre-recorded tape on the tape player in a first playing position on the tape player, playing a primary information segment of tape in a first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode to an indicated primary information segment terminal point whereby to receive at least a question, reach an intermediate stop point permitting the user to obtain a solution to the question, and to receive a correct response to the question, all while playing the primary information segment of tape in the first direction in the forward mode, inverting the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to place the cassette and tape on the tape player in a second playing position in which further tape driving by the tape player in its forward mode will play the tape in a direction which is reversed relative to the first direction in the cassette, operating the tape player drive in its forward mode so as to play a supplemental information segment of tape in that reversed direction relative to the cassette from a combined primary information segment terminal point and supplemental information segment initiation point to receive an explanation of how the correct response to the question can be obtained, driving the tape and orienting the cassette so as to again place the cassette and tape on the tape player in the first playing position, with the tape located, relative to the tape player, substantially at the first primary information segment termination point, and thereafter playing a subsequent primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode.

Claim 7

A method of using a tape player having a tape player head, a forward operating mode and a reverse operating mode, and a reversible pre-recording tape-carrying cassette for providing instruction, the method comprising the steps of placing the cassette and pre-recorded tape on the tape player in a first playing position on the tape player, playing a primary information segment of tape in a first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode to an indicated primary information segment terminal point whereby to receive at least a question, reach an intermediate stop point permitting the user to obtain a solution to the question, and to receive a correct response to the question, all while playing the primary information segment of tape in the first direction in the forward mode, inverting the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to place the cassette and tape on the tape player in a second playing position in which further tape driving by the tape player in its forward mode will play the tape in a direction which is reversed relative to the first direction in the cassette, operating the tape player drive in its forward mode so as to play a supplemental information segment of tape in that reversed direction relative to the cassette from a combined primary information segment terminal point and supplemental information segment initiation point to receive an explanation of how the correct response to the question can be obtained, driving the tape and orienting the cassette so as to again place the cassette and tape on the tape player in the first playing position, with the tape located, relative to the tape player, substantially at the first primary information segment termination point, and thereafter playing a subsequent primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode.

Claim 12

A method of using a tape player having a forward operating mode and a reverse operating mode, and a reversible pre-recorded tape-carrying cassette for providing instruction, comprising the steps of placing the cassette and pre-recorded tape on the tape player in a first playing position on the tape player, playing a primary information segment of tape in a first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode to an indicating primary information segment terminal point whereby to receive at least a question, reach an intermediate stop point permitting the user to obtain a response to the question, and to receive a correct response to the question, all while playing the primary information segment of tape in the first direction in the forward mode, reversing the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to place the cassette and tape on the tape player in a second playing position in which further tape driving by the tape player in its forward mode will play the tape in a direction which is reversed relative to the first direction, operating the tape player drive in its forward mode so as to play a supplemental information segment of tape in that reversed direction relative to the cassette from a combined primary information segment terminal point and supplemental information segment initiation point to receive an explanation of how the correct response to the question can be obtained, again reversing the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to again place the cassette and tape on the tape player in the first playing position, replaying at least a portion of the first primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode, and thereafter playing a subsequent primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode.

Claim 13

A method of using a tape player having a forward operating mode and a reverse operating mode, and a reversible pre-recorded tape-carrying cassette for providing instruction, comprising the steps of placing the cassette and pre-recorded tape on the tape player in a first playing position on the tape player, playing a primary information segment of tape in a first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode to an indicating primary information segment terminal point whereby to receive at least a question, reach an intermediate stop point permitting the user to obtain a response to the question, and to receive a correct response to the question, all while playing the primary information segment of tape in the first direction in the forward mode, reversing the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to place the cassette and tape on the tape player in a second playing position in which further tape driving by the tape player in its forward mode will play the tape in a direction which is reversed relative to the first direction, operating the tape player drive in its forward mode so as to play a supplemental information segment of tape in that reversed direction relative to the cassette from a combined primary information segment terminal point and supplemental information segment initiation point to receive an explanation of how the correct response to the question can be obtained, again reversing the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to again place the cassette and tape on the tape player in the first playing position, replaying at least a portion of the first primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode, and thereafter playing a subsequent primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode.

Claim 15

A method of using a tape player having a forward operating mode and a reverse operating mode and a resettable counter for counting the amount of tape passing a given point of the tape player, and a reversible pre-recorded tape-carrying cassette for providing instruction, comprising the steps of placing the cassette and pre-recorded tape on the tape player in a first playing position on the tape player, playing a primary information segment of tape in a first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode to an indicated primary information segment terminal point whereby to receive at least a question, reach an intermediate stop point permitting the user to obtain a response to the question, and to receive a correct response to the question, all while playing the primary information segment of tape in the first direction in the forward mode, setting the counter to a zero reference, reversing the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to place the cassette and tape on the tape player in a second playing position in which further tape driving by the tape player in its forward mode will play the tape in a direction which is reversed relative to the first direction, operating the tape player drive in its forward mode so as to play a supplemental information segment of tape in that reversed direction relative to the cassette from a combination of the primary information segment terminal point and a supplemental information segment initiation point to receive an explanation of how the correct response to the question can be obtained, rewinding the tape in the cassette after playing the secondary information segment only to the extent necessary to reach the counter zero reference point, again reversing the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to again place the cassette and tape on the tape player in the first playing position with the tape located, relative to the tape player, substantially at a first primary information segment initiation point, and thereafter playing a subsequent primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode.

Claim 16

A method of using a tape player having a forward operating mode and a reverse operating mode and a resettable counter for counting the amount of tape passing a given point of the tape player, and a reversible pre-recorded tape-carrying cassette for providing instruction, comprising the steps of placing the cassette and pre-recorded tape on the tape player in a first playing position on the tape player, playing a primary information segment of tape in a first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode to an indicated primary information segment terminal point whereby to receive at least a question, reach an intermediate stop point permitting the user to obtain a response to the question, and to receive a correct response to the question, all while playing the primary information segment of tape in the first direction in the forward mode, setting the counter to a zero reference, reversing the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to place the cassette and tape on the tape player in a second playing position in which further tape driving by the tape player in its forward mode will play the tape in a direction which is reversed relative to the first direction, operating the tape player drive in its forward mode so as to play a supplemental information segment of tape in that reversed direction relative to the cassette from a combination of the primary information segment terminal point and a supplemental information segment initiation point to receive an explanation of how the correct response to the question can be obtained, rewinding the tape in the cassette after playing the secondary information segment only to the extent necessary to reach the counter zero reference point, again reversing the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player so as to again place the cassette and tape on the tape player in the first playing position with the tape located, relative to the tape player, substantially at a first primary information segment initiation point, and thereafter playing a subsequent primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode.

Claim 17

A method of using a tape player having a tape player head, a forward operating mode, and a reverse operating mode, and a counter for counting the amount of tape passing a given point on the tape player, and a reversible pre-recorded tape-carrying cassette for providing instruction; the method comprising the steps of placing the cassette and pre-recorded tape on the tape player in a first playing position on the tape player, playing a primary information segment of tape in a first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode to an indicated primary information segment terminal point, noting a reference point displayed on the counter after playing the first primary information segment, removing the cassette from the tape player, inverting the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player, replacing the cassette on the tape player in its inverted position so as to place the cassette and tape on the tape player in a second playing position in which further tape driving by the tape player in its forward mode will play the tape in a direction which is reversed relative to the first direction in the cassette, operating the tape player drive in its forward mode so as to play a supplemental information segment of tape in that reversed direction relative to the cassette from a combined primary information segment terminal point and supplemental information segment initiation point, rewinding the tape in the cassette after playing the secondary information segment only to the extent necessary to re-reach the noted counter reference point, thereby reorienting the tape substantially at the combined first primary information segment termination point and the initiation point of the subsequent primary information segment, again removing the cassette from the tape player, re-inverting the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player, replacing the cassette on the tape player in its re-inverted position so as to replace and thereafter playing the subsequent primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode.

Claim 18

A method of using a tape player having a tape player head, a forward operating mode, and a reverse operating mode, and a counter for counting the amount of tape passing a given point on the tape player, and a reversible pre-recorded tape-carrying cassette for providing instruction; the method comprising the steps of placing the cassette and pre-recorded tape on the tape player in a first playing position on the tape player, playing a primary information segment of tape in a first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode to an indicated primary information segment terminal point, noting a reference point displayed on the counter after playing the first primary information segment, removing the cassette from the tape player, inverting the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player, replacing the cassette on the tape player in its inverted position so as to place the cassette and tape on the tape player in a second playing position in which further tape driving by the tape player in its forward mode will play the tape in a direction which is reversed relative to the first direction in the cassette, operating the tape player drive in its forward mode so as to play a supplemental information segment of tape in that reversed direction relative to the cassette from a combined primary information segment terminal point and supplemental information segment initiation point, rewinding the tape in the cassette after playing the secondary information segment only to the extent necessary to re-reach the noted counter reference point, thereby reorienting the tape substantially at the combined first primary information segment termination point and the initiation point of the subsequent primary information segment, again removing the cassette from the tape player, re-inverting the orientation of the cassette relative to the tape player, replacing the cassette on the tape player in its re-inverted position so as to replace and thereafter playing the subsequent primary information segment of tape in the first direction by the tape player operating in the forward mode.