Engineering:Leachim
Leachim was an early example of Diphone synthetic speech and demonstrated how voice branching could be done quickly via computer discs to create understandable speech (i.e. verbal output).[1][2] This method combined phonemes, words, and sentences to form verbal responsive messages when prompted by the computer. The device received world-wide attention, with hundreds of articles written about it.[3]
History
The device was developed by Michael J. Freeman and installed in robot form in a New York City School in a fourth grade class, as an assistant built for Michael's wife, the teacher Gail Freeman.[4][5][6] It took 18 months and Template:US dollar to design and build.[6] The computer had biographical information of those students whom it was programmed to teach in addition to curriculum data.[7][8][9]
Leachim remained active for three years from 1972 to 1975.
On June 12, 1975, Leachim was stolen while being trucked back to NY from a 1-hour appearance on The Phil Donahue Show. Despite an FBI investigation and a reward from Lloyd's of London, it was not recovered.[10]
Hardware
The computer part of the robot was built from RCA Spectra 70 series of computers.[7] Leachim could simultaneously interact with multiple students and keep track of their progress individually.[11][12] Its body was made of wood and there were internal mechanics so parts such as the arms and head could move.
2-XL
Later a toy-inspired version of Leachim called "2-XL Robot" was introduced. The toy was mass-produced in many countries by Mego Corporation in the 1980s and later by Tiger Electronics in the 1990s.[13]
References
- ↑ "1960 - Rudy the Robot - Michael Freeman (American)" (in en-US). 2010-09-13. http://cyberneticzoo.com/robots/1960-rudy-the-robot-michael-freeman-american/.
- ↑ (in en) The Futurist. World Future Society.. 1978. pp. 152, 357, 359, 360, 361. https://books.google.com/books?id=_QJmAAAAMAAJ&q=Leachim+michael.
- ↑ "World of 2-XL: Leachim". http://www.2xlrobot.com/robots/leachim.html.
- ↑ Maccarone, Grace; Krulik, Nancy E.; Epstein, Jolie (1985-04-01) (in en). Real Robots. Scholastic Paperbacks (T). pp. 27. ISBN 9780590402668. https://books.google.com/books?id=kN3TAImwy10C&q=Leachim.
- ↑ Krasnoff, Barbara (1982) (in en). Robots, reel to real. Arco Pub.. pp. 118. ISBN 9780668051392. https://books.google.com/books?id=d7ruAAAAMAAJ&q=Leachim.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 TIME (1974-04-01). "Education: Marvel of The Bronx" (in en-US). https://time.com/archive/6837880/education-marvel-of-the-bronx/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 (in en) New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. 1979-07-30. https://books.google.com/books?id=bNECAAAAMBAJ&dq=Leachim&pg=PA40.
- ↑ "16.4.2 - Robots and Robotics". http://www.xenology.info/Xeno/16.4.2.htm.
- ↑ Gibson, Janice T.; Gibson-Cline, Janice (1980) (in en). Psychology for the classroom. Prentice-Hall. ISBN 9780137333523. https://books.google.com/books?id=LkVlZdiRcZMC&q=Leachim+robot.
- ↑ "Lloyd's Is Offering $7,500 for Return Of Purloined Robot" (in en-US). The New York Times. 1975-07-17. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/17/archives/lloyds-is-offering-7500-for-return-of-purloined-robot.html.
- ↑ Reichardt, Jasia (1978) (in en). Robots: fact, fiction, and prediction. Viking Press. pp. 109. ISBN 9780670601561. https://books.google.com/books?id=NTlSAAAAMAAJ&q=Leachim+michael+J+freeman.
- ↑ (in en) The P.T.A. Magazine: National Parent Teacher. Child Welfare Company. 1972. https://books.google.com/books?id=ZYpLAAAAYAAJ&q=Leachim+robot.
- ↑ "Remembering the First Smart Toy: 2-XL" (in en). 2016-10-13. http://mentalfloss.com/article/87066/remembering-first-smart-toy-2-xl.
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