Music
Well we have Mrs. Avril Owen Taylor, that's not Jeff Owen Taylor's wife is it? I wonder if that's Jeff Owen Taylor's wife?
Yes, yes.
Huh?
Yes, yes.
Oh, isn't she beautiful too.
Thank you.
Beautiful wife and lovely husband.
Which is pretty even Jeff anyway.
Oh, now you said that.
I said that, yes.
You said that, I didn't say it.
Probably watching too.
We also have with her a gentleman by the name of Mr. Gunther. Hodeck.
Correct.
Did I get that right?
Yes.
What nationality are you?
Australian now.
What were you?
I've been for the last 18 years, German.
German, Hodeck.
All right, we're here to talk about Fisher Technique. Is that the way you say it?
Fisher Technique, yes.
Good. Well what is it all about? You've got a lot of gadgetry here.
Gadgetry, we are taking...
We're going to take off into space today.
It is, we are taking part in the third Australian International Education Exhibition.
Oh, we're here to commercialise, aren't we?
We are one of the participants in the exhibition, which is starting on the 17th at 10am in the
morning.
Where?
At the exhibition grounds, or exhibition buildings.
Yes.
Buildings, right.
Here in Melbourne.
You'll correct him over there, won't you, Avram?
Yes.
And runs till the 21st Saturday from 10am till 6pm on Saturday.
And we are one of 11 participants from West Germany taking part in this exhibition with
our education system called Fisher Technique.
And this did originate in Germany, did it?
Yes. The Fisher Company was actually commissioned by the West German government to start developing
an education programme from preschool level, which is this, right into gearing, motor gearing,
electronics, geometry, whatever.
I don't know how much we're seeing at the one time, but we've got it spread right throughout
the year.
This is right at 32 geometry.
Obviously we have a lot of models working at the exhibition grounds we can't possibly
get in the studio, but this is just a simple thing, as you can see.
It's very important for children, finger manipulation is very important, and of course this is very
simple.
There's a greater emphasis these days on giving children better types of things to do with
their hands.
Well, there should be.
Especially, see, they should also be non-breakable.
What material is it?
Nylon, which of course is fantastic because it gets a bit grubby, which it does in kindergarten.
And if they put it in their mouths?
Well, we have.
People said, in fact, on an interview before, they said, well, will these parts be too small?
We recommend a starting age of four years.
Well, at four years, really, they shouldn't eat them anymore.
I'm just interested to know how April gets into the act.
You're sitting over there with a couple of electrical appliances.
What are you doing with them?
It's not really.
We're just trying to get a couple of these models.
As long as you can get them working, you'll see.
This is really the good idea about this is if you would, let's say this is put together
by a child and you then very brutally sort of step on it.
Well, we can actually.
It will not break.
It will just disintegrate.
And all you do is put it together again.
That is fantastic, isn't it?
And it's, of course, being made from nylon.
It is very durable and very long lasting.
I'll ask you one question which the mums would want to know.
Is it very expensive?
Well, to schools, of course, it is at a very low price, virtually at the same price as it is in Germany to schools.
What do you mean to schools?
We don't have to pay import duty for articles sold to schools or education departments,
whereas we pay a 34% import duty through our retailers.
Therefore, if a school with a number of pupils wished to procure these, you could...
Yes.
That's an interesting idea.
Well, we have actually this set is already standard equipment in two states in Australia,
in preschools and kindergartens, and we are doing very well in Victoria, as a matter of fact.
We are based in Brisbane.
We work the whole of Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
Why are you based in Brisbane?
Because the weather is good.
Right.
Why are you here?
Well, I arrived here last night in heavy rain.
That's why I'm here.
Is that why you're here?
Because I look after it here.
That's why I'm trying.
I'm trying to get you into the act, but he won't stop talking.
Oh, no, he sounds like that still.
He knows what he's talking about.
Yeah.
Well, I do, hopefully, but can we put this here?
Perhaps we can...
Well, it's very easy.
Well, this is a bit more, a bit more.
Gets a bit more complicated, actually.
Now, we're about to see something in action, are we?
Which, hopefully, yes, will be switched on, doesn't it?
Wow, this...
This is virtually a traffic light.
In other words, see, everybody...
You can buy these hobby kits and so on where it says, well, put the red lead in hole number five or something,
and you really don't know what's going on behind it.
So what you need is instruction books.
So we supply, of course, instruction books, heavy instruction books in five languages,
which explain the functions behind it, because, you know, you have to know why the light is connected and so on,
or you build your own switches from parts...
Incidentally, what were you trained as, as a youngster?
I'm actually a consulting engineer.
I question that, but I...
Don't you think this is a bit sophisticated for a child?
Well, it's standard equipment at 10 and a half years in West Germany, Holland, Belgium, and...
But wouldn't you need to have what you'd call leaning towards this type of thing?
What would you call it, engineering?
Well, it isn't...
Well, this is electromechanics and electronics, I agree.
This goes probably a bit higher, but then you start at a preschool level,
and you get through your ordinary motor and gearing and through your ordinary movements of...
elementary movements of mechanics into something, you know...
So I would say the people who would really be catching on to these would be the students of technical schools, preferably.
No, it's in primary schools.
You may. I'm trying to get you into the act. He's a good talker, isn't he?
Well, I find I'm from the side of selling it as a toy.
We must say something here.
This is Geoff Owen Taylor's wife, and he produces a program called This Day Has Seven Weeks, which is a marvelous program.
This week has seven days, actually.
I set it back to front on purpose because I thought she'd pick me up, but she didn't.
She's going to shout out.
Right. But...
Dr. Mouser did a good job on you, though.
He did. He's got me so relaxed in all that I'm doing, and I haven't had a drink since yesterday. Off you go.
All right. Thank you. Well, the reason I became involved with this, my children had it originally,
and at that stage they were from four years of age through to 16.
And I could see how, of each stage, how they were involved with it, all of them.
And the way the little one, these particular tiny little models, this just stops them off originally.
They don't really realize that this is going to go right through, because whatever they use in this younger set
will go right through to fatherhood, grandfatherhood, whatever you want,
so that they're gradually learning as they go along, so they can either make it as difficult as they like
or as simple as they like.
And this looks very complicated, because you've got beyond that stage, you've got the electronic stage,
but there again, the younger ones, from after they've finished with the little there is,
oh, there are over 100 models that they can make out of here.
They can use their own imagination. They can go right...
Hold that book up, over.
Yes.
Hello, we're off. Hold on, folks. We're taking off.
Just tilt it forward slightly, and you'll see it quite well. Just forward. That's it, yes.
And then, if I can see...
Is that available anywhere?
It comes with the set.
Oh, it comes with the set.
With the younger sets, there's no writing in these books, just the pictures for them to follow the children.
Makes you think.
That's right. And as I said before, they can use their own imagination.
There's nothing, sort of, they don't have to do that. They can go right.
Some of the things that the kiddies make, it's incredible, it really is.
We had a little chap of six the other day who said to me,
my daddy's promised me that as soon as I'm big enough, I can use the electronics.
Now, this little fellow had the motor, he was motorized, he was using the gears, and he was six years of age.
But naturally, he was very inclined towards this.
Right, this is the point I made very early on.
And there are a lot of children, there really are, these days, that are inclined to this type of thing.
Girls and boys, not just boys.
We'll be back in just a moment, take a commercial break.
Try true fruit today.
Well, I was hoping Leo Wings might make it in today, but obviously they're a bit busy.
At Richmond Discount House, they have their stock taking coming up,
and they are putting out so many beautiful bargains that if you're wanting something for your home,
it could be anything from a freezer to a color television set,
and they have a beautiful 18-inch there at the moment for under $500,
and they have many other beautiful things at Richmond Discount House.
Now, this is the place to go for bargains in household goods.
So if you want anything, not an airplane.
Go to Richmond Discount House.
Now, they'll be open until nine o'clock tonight, and they will be open until midday tomorrow at 366 Bridge Road,
Richmond Discount House.
I think that was a commercial for Richmond Discount House, actually.
I just said that's where I answered, going home.
That's very simple, isn't it?
Yes, it is.
You were showing me before.
I reckon I could do that. I'm pretty done.
And the wheels.
Before you're starting again.
All right. But again, very simple.
Which I think is terrific. It's on a split pin, no matter how many times.
Are you a bit technically inclined yourself?
Good training, you know. Good training.
I really enjoy it. I believe in it, and I think it's a marvelous thing.
I really love it, and probably I am.
Has Geoff had it on his show yet?
Oh, a long time ago.
Oh, I see.
It's about a long time ago, about 12 months ago.
It's about time he had it on again.
Yes, yes. Well, maybe he'll go to the exhibition.
This is a pleasant feeling.
Where is the exhibition?
At the exhibition building.
At the exhibition building. Yes.
Yes, and it's the International Australian Education Exhibition.
Tuesday through to Friday from 10 until 9, and on Saturday the 21st it's on from 10 until 6.
Very good.
It actually starts on the 17th of June.
Very good. Well, I'm sure a lot of people will be up there to have a look at this.
I might go and have a look at it myself.
In fact, I will. It's intrigued me.
Dr. May has got me so relaxed, I feel as though I'd like to play with me toys while I'm up here.
Well, I think this is the idea.
Once you are relaxed, you should then completely relax with these things.
Yes, I was going to say, this ties in with relaxation, doesn't it?
We are supplying a lot of repatriation hospitals.
Really?
No jokes, yes.
Because they buy at the same price as the schools, because again, it's for repatriation,
in other words, manipulation.
If a man had a heart attack or something like this, well, he feels quite silly to sit back and start knitting.
I think he does.
But he doesn't feel too silly with this.
It seems like a good idea.
I can draw this, though, as well.
You are very diplomatic, aren't you?
They can always knit some carrying bags to take these parts home when they are finished.
Is it always done in the basic grey and red?
It is done in grey and red.
There has been a question around the European countries who are using it in their curriculum,
whether they should change the colour to different colours.
93% no.
And 7% who said yes were men, would you believe?
For more colours.
So they didn't change the colour, of course.
It is a construction toy, and I don't think they want to sell it on the glossy part,
rather as on the quality of it.
This is a radar screen.
I was about to ask you about that radar.
Look at that.
You have a lot of lights in the studio.
Yes.
Which at times can be a bit difficult.
Actually, when you flash your light in a certain...
No, we have too much light here. We have to readjust it.
But it would show on the setting here, let's say at 2 o'clock,
your light is coming in at 2 o'clock, the photosensitive eye would take the message through,
and then it would show 2 o'clock.
So it is real.
Oh, it works.
A radar works on bouncing waves.
Try and get a word in, go on.
This one is on light intensity.
Whatever we can make full scale can be made miniature by a fissure.
It is actually miniature.
It is reality.
Very much. A lot of firms in Germany and now in Australia,
we have two firms in Australia already,
they are using their consultants, their engineers,
they are using them for planning of, let's say, material handling and build up of even geometrics,
architects are using build up of material forwarding areas and so on and so on.
Incidentally, would that type of thing help a fellow who was going to tech,
learning that type of engineering?
Yes, well, we had a young gentleman who has now graduated,
and I think he is now doing a course, he is with solar energy.
He has a scholarship to keep on studying.
All right, well now let me ask you this question,
if we can get over to this one on this side here,
would that help a lad who is doing geometry and trigonometry at school?
Yes, also yes, definitely, because the units are 10 millimeter by 10 millimeter square,
or 20 millimeter by 20 millimeter square.
You can either use them as mathematic units with the 20 millimeter by 20 millimeter,
or you can use them to build up, you see, if a young fellow starts off with geometry,
he starts off doing drawings, now he doesn't really know where the hidden lines are,
because it's all very, on a blackboard it's all one dimension,
so he builds up these things and he can look behind it and can draw.
Once he knows it, well, it's set aside and then the next one gets onto it.
Teaching aids are not to start off with primary school and keep them in your bag till you get out of school,
so it's a matter of classes going through certain stages of their training.
Put that back.
Very simple.
And schools are using these, are they, as an educational aid?
Yes, we hope, yes, we of course hope that in time we'll get it into a curriculum here,
which of course would make it much more attractive to the schools,
even more attractive as what it is now, price-wise,
because obviously if you supply a central area and they can draw from there,
well, it is much easier than supplying to each school separate.
Do you find as a woman that your children benefit from the use of these things?
Well, I find that they, yes, I would say so, because...
Instead of watching telly and playing outside or whatever?
I don't mind, I don't mind, I'd probably be fine anyway one day, once we're here today.
They still watch their certain programmes, but they immediately, you know, if it's a rainy day...
Well, you have good programmes like this, they watch obviously.
And they will get their fisher. I don't have to say, you know, now go and get your fisher.
They're there, the whole lot of them, they're all involved,
and what I like about this is that whole family, mum, dad, grandad, grandmother lot,
can really become involved. It's an incredible thing, and it's so simple,
it looks terribly complicated. Now, I'm not talking about electronically-wise,
but the models with the motor and the clu, it's so simple to put together, the whole system.
But you grow into this. You're not supposed to barge into electronics.
No, no, you gradually.
You start with a simple set that you get through retail outlets,
where we are a simple 200 or 400 set, depends how much money you have.
And you start off with a basic set, and then you extend.
Well, I've got much money, I'll just take this and...
You take the torch, it's bright.
You can have it. It belongs to Aval.
We've got to go, have we, Mark? Got to go out to commercial? OK, let's go.
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Michael Redgrave stars in The Captive Heart in our series of Love and War,
the 11.30 movie this morning on 7.
It's about time to go for the week. Fisher Technic has sort of wound our week up today,
going to Hodak and Avril Owen Taylor.
What a thank you for coming by.
Well thank you for having us here, and we hope to see you at the exhibition.
Where is it?
The exhibition grounds, exhibition buildings.
We are in the Western Annex, are we?
Yes we are. It starts on Tuesday, the first week of the 20th.
Plenty of very good educational equipment there, visual and construction systems.
Okay, it's been a joy to see you. Thank you, Avril, nice to meet you.
Thank you very much.
And thank you, Gunda.
Time to wind up, I guess. Mark, thanks very much for the week's work.
Thank you, Benny, for what you've done throughout the week.
It's been a very interesting week.
Yes, it is a very interesting program, and very relaxing after meeting Dr. Mears.
Isn't he fascinating?
He's going to come in again.
Yes, that will be lovely.
He might come in a few times and we can have a few free consultations.
Really relaxed, eh?
All right, well have a fine weekend, Ben.
Thank you, Charles.
We'll see you on Monday, by the way. The show is on on Monday.
Yes, right. Well, we'll be here.
We'll see you on Monday, friends. Have a good weekend.
Thank you again. Thank you for watching.