Abstract: An optical data storage and retrieval system uses printed cards having a plurality of parallel tracks of contrasting fields representing digital 1's and 0's. A timing track is included as one of the parallel tracks. The card is manually read by a plural parallel track reader indexed to an edge of the card. A stop code, start code, checksum and number of data bytes are included in data stored on the cards. The system can sort the data correctly regardless of whether it is read backwards or forwards Error detection is implemented with a checksum system. Data read from the cards are preferably passed to a voice or sound synthesizer which outputs synthesized voice or sounds responsive to the data stored on the cards.

Abstract: An optical data storage and retrieval system uses printed cards having a plurality of parallel tracks of contrasting fields representing digital 1's and 0's. A timing track is included as one of the parallel tracks. The card is manually read by a plural parallel track reader indexed to an edge of the card. A stop code, start code, checksum and number of data bytes are included in data stored on the cards. The system can sort the data correctly regardless of whether it is read backwards or forwards Error detection is implemented with a checksum system. Data read from the cards are preferably passed to a voice or sound synthesizer which outputs synthesized voice or sounds responsive to the data stored on the cards.