Leachim (Robot)
{{Short description|Synthetic speech device}}
{{Infobox robot|name=Leachim|logo=|logosize=|logoalt=|image=Leachim.JPG|imagesize=|alt=|caption=Leachim with the 3rd grade students.|inventor=Michael J. Freeman|manufacturer=|year_of_creation=|price=|type=|purpose=Teaching|derived_from=|replaced_by=|current_supplier=|last_production=|website=}}
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).{{Cite web|url=http://cyberneticzoo.com/robots/1960-rudy-the-robot-michael-freeman-american/|title=1960 - Rudy the Robot - Michael Freeman (American)|date=2010-09-13|website=cyberneticzoo.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-21}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_QJmAAAAMAAJ&q=Leachim+michael|title=The Futurist|last=|first=|date=1978|publisher=World Future Society.|isbn=|location=|pages=152, 357, 359, 360, 361|language=en}} This method combined phonemes, words, and sentences to form verbal responsive messages when prompted by the computer. The device received attention on a world-wide basis because hundreds of articles were written about it.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2xlrobot.com/robots/leachim.html|title=World of 2-XL: Leachim|website=www.2xlrobot.com|access-date=2019-06-21}}
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 a teacher's assistant.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kN3TAImwy10C&q=Leachim|title=Real Robots|last1=Maccarone|first1=Grace|last2=Krulik|first2=Nancy E.|last3=Epstein|first3=Jolie|date=1985-04-01|publisher=Scholastic Paperbacks (T)|isbn=9780590402668|location=|pages=27|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d7ruAAAAMAAJ&q=Leachim|title=Robots, reel to real|last=Krasnoff|first=Barbara|date=1982|publisher=Arco Pub.|isbn=9780668051392|location=|pages=118|language=en}} The computer had biographical information of those students whom it was programmed to teach in addition to curriculum data.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bNECAAAAMBAJ&dq=Leachim&pg=PA40|title=New York Magazine|date=1979-07-30|publisher=New York Media, LLC|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.xenology.info/Xeno/16.4.2.htm|title=16.4.2 - Robots and Robotics|website=www.xenology.info|access-date=2019-06-01}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LkVlZdiRcZMC&q=Leachim+robot|title=Psychology for the classroom|last1=Gibson|first1=Janice T.|last2=Gibson-Cline|first2=Janice|date=1980|publisher=Prentice-Hall|isbn=9780137333523 |language=en}} Leachim could teach a number of students simultaneously through the use of headsets.
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 and despite an FBI investigation and a reward from Lloyd's of London, it was not recovered.{{Cite news |date=1975-07-17 |title=Lloyd's Is Offering $7,500 for Return Of Purloined Robot |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/17/archives/lloyds-is-offering-7500-for-return-of-purloined-robot.html |access-date=2019-06-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
After it was stolen, Leachim built another more advanced version.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}
Hardware
The computer part of the robot was built from RCA Spectra 70 series of computers. Leachim could simultaneously interact with multiple students and keep track of their progress individually.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NTlSAAAAMAAJ&q=Leachim+michael+J+freeman|title=Robots: fact, fiction, and prediction|last=Reichardt|first=Jasia|date=1978|publisher=Viking Press|isbn=9780670601561|location=|pages=109|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZYpLAAAAYAAJ&q=Leachim+robot|title=The P.T.A. Magazine: National Parent Teacher|date=1972|publisher=Child Welfare Company|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2016-10-13 |title=Remembering the First Smart Toy: 2-XL |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/87066/remembering-first-smart-toy-2-xl |access-date=2019-06-01 |website=mentalfloss.com |language=en}}