Interactive audio-visual apparatus

Audio-visual apparatus comprising:

• a. means for presenting each of a plurality of photo-images for viewing in either of two opposite sequences, including a light source and first mechanical means for bringing each of said photo-images into operative juxtaposition with said light source in sequential order;
• b. means for producing the audio rendition of each of a plurality of sound recordings having a given time duration in excess of one second in either of two opposite sequences each correlated with a different one of said two opposite sequences for viewing said photo-images, comprising means for automatically correlating the beginning of the audio rendition of each one of said plurality of sound recordings with the beginning of the presentation of a different one of said plurality of photo-images for viewing including a transducer head for producing audio renditions of said plurality of sound recordings, said plurality of sound recordings being recorded in spaced relation on a single continuous substrate in sequential order corresponding to said sequential order of said photo-images to provide means for automatically terminating said audio rendition at the end of said given time duration of each of said plurality of sound recordings;
• c. means for selecting one of said two opposite sequences for viewing said photo-images;
• and
• d. means for controlling the length of time during which each photo-image is presented for viewing and the audio rendition of the sound recording correlated therewith is produced independently of said time duration of the one of said plurality of sound recordings correlated therewith;
• said means for automatically correlating the beginning of the audio rendition of each one of said plurality of sound recordings with the beginning of the presentation of a different one of said plurality of photo-images for viewing including second mechanical means controlled by said first mechanical means for bringing said transducer head into operative juxtaposition with the beginning of each of said plurality of sound recordings in said sequential order;
• said means for controlling the length of time during which each photo-image is presented for viewing including an automatic control means for stopping said first mechanical means when a photo-image is in operative juxtaposition with said light source and a manually operable control means for starting said first mechanical means when a photo-image is in operative juxtaposition with said light source, said manually operable control means being capable of overriding said automatic control means;
• and said means for producing said audio rendition of each of said plurality of sound recordings including means for providing relative movement of said transducer head with respect to each one of said plurality of sound recordings independently of said first and second mechanical means but responsive to said manually operable control means to interrupt said audio rendition of said sound recording when said manually operable control means is actuated, whereby said automatic correlation and said automatic termination is the same for either of said two opposite sequences for viewing said photo-images.