Chapter 14 - The Conversation Board

Abstract

This chapter discusses the conversion board (CB) in an attempt to acquire language training in a different normal environment. The CB was designed to serve chiefly as a language training adjunct, it may prove valuable as a device for conversation between subject and experimenter or perhaps even between one subject and another after elementary and intermediate language training with the stationary facility. During operation of the CB, both parties in the conversation use the same row of projectors. When the CB is employed indoors, a separate power supply connected to the building mains is used. One hopes that the CB communication will serve as a reinforcer in such a way that it will foster language usage in many different situations. An increase in preference for the CB over time should indicate an increase in the subject's preference for communication via the route provided by the CB. Thus, the CB should provide a means to take advantage of the desire for communication potential so that the gap from language facility in the computer environment to language facility in the subject's regular environment can be bridged.