Reading tutor timer

An audio-visual educational system which coordinates reading of textual material with an audio presentation of the material, comprising:

• an audio reproduction medium containing an audio equivalent of a textual material and signals at selected points on the audio equivalent corresponding to points of demarcation in the textual material;
• an audio reproduction device for reproducing the audio equivalent and signals on the medium;
• control means operatively coupled to the audio reproduction device and responsive to the signals to stop operation of the device;
• selectively operable control means coupled to said control means and operative to prevent stopping of the audio reproduction device by said control means,
• said control means responsive to the selectively operable control means to continue operation of the reproduction device when the selectively operable control means is actuated within a predetermined time period of the stop signals, and said control means stopping operation of the reproduction device when the selectively operable control means is not operative within the predetermined time period;
• and
• means to restart operation of the stopped reproduction device.

A timing and control apparatus operable to control operation of an audio reproduction device, the reproduction device operable with an audio reproduction medium containing the audio equivalent of a textual material and signals at selected points corresponding to selected demarcation points in the material, said apparatus comprising:

• signal detection means to detect the presence of the signals on the reproduction medium;
• operation means to control the operation of the audio reproduction device;
• means responsive to the signal detection means to cause the operation means to stop operation of the reproduction device;
• control means selectively operable to prevent said responsive means stopping operation of the reproduction device;
• and
• restart means coupled to the operation means to restart operation of the stopped audio reproduction means.