Academic quiz controller

DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to this invention, a microprocessor-based control module is in electronic communication with one or more player interfaces.
Each player interface may have preferably up to eight contestant pushbuttons operatively connected thereto.
The control module includes a front and a rear panel with digital displays on each.
The control module includes four control pushbuttons which control two timers, the content of the contestant display, and clearing the system.
The control pushbuttons also may be used to reset certain parameters of the game.
Play begins when a moderator reads a question.
The moderator may then optionally activate a first timer.
Contestants press pushbuttons in order to signal that they wish to attempt to answer the question, and the control module records which contestant pushed his or her pushbutton first, which contestant was second, etc.
, and develops a time-ordered list of responses.
The contestant and/or team number of the first contestant to press the pushbutton is displayed.
The moderator optionally activates a second timer and the first contestant has a preselected time in which to answer the question.
If the first contestant does not answer the question correctly, the moderator may then cause the contestant number of the second contestant to be displayed.
This continues until the question is answered correctly or no further contestants wish to attempt to answer.
The moderator then clears the control module and asks another question.