Audio feedback for motor control training

• US 20110021318A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Danny D'Amours, Joanna Lumsden, Rene Richard
• Original Assignee: Danny D'Amours, Joanna Lumsden, Rene Richard
• Inventors: Richard, Rene, D'Amours, Danny, Lumsden, Joanna
• Application Number:
  US12/804,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021318A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5023 Interfaces to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/04 Sound-producing devices G10K15/02 takes precedence

Abstract

An audio feedback signal for a subject engaged in an exercise includes a reference note (of a musical scale) that provides a marker of the goal or target position of the exercise for the subject, and a sequence of real-time feedback notes that define progress towards the goal while the exercise is underway. By providing the reference note with the feedback note, the listener can instantly understand whether they have presently reached the goal. The progress is defined by having at least 3 distinct feedback notes mapped to respective sensed ranges of positions within the exercise, and this provides multiple opportunities for the exerciser to compare the feedback and reference notes, and provides cognitive feedback to the exerciser.

Claims

1. An audio feedback signal for a subject engaged in an exercise comprising:

a reference note of a musical scale that provides a marker of a goal for the subject; and

a sequence of real-time feedback notes of the scale, each feedback note being played with the reference note for a duration sufficient to permit the subject to compare the notes, and each feedback note being played when a sensor detects that the subject is in a corresponding position within the exercise,

wherein one of the feedback notes corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, and this feedback note matches the reference note in a distinctive manner.

2. The audio feedback signal of claim 1 wherein the sequence includes at least 3 distinct feedback notes corresponding to respective positions within the exercise, whereby progress towards the goal is indicated to the subject by the changing of the audio feedback signal in real-time, and the subject repeatedly compares the feedback note with the reference note during the exercise.

3. The audio feedback signal of claim 2 wherein a mapping of each of a plurality of sensed ranges of positions within the exercise to respective feedback notes uniquely associates a note with each of the sensed ranges, and the sensor continuously detects a position of the subject in the exercise.

4. The audio feedback signal of claim 3 wherein the exercise includes enough positions, the sensed ranges are sufficiently distributed, and the exercise is expected to be performed slowly enough that the subject can hear the emitted reference and feedback signal as musical feedback indicating a proximity to the goal during the exercise.

5. The audio feedback signal of claim 1 wherein:

the corresponding positions within the exercise and associated feedback notes are constant for multiple repetitions of the exercise whereby the subject may associate specific feedback notes to specific ranges of positions;

the corresponding positions within the exercise are associated with feedback notes in frequency order with respect to proximity to the goal;

the scale is a chromatic scale;

exactly one feedback note is played at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise;

exactly one feedback note is played at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise, and each feedback note is played for a substantially equal time in an expected execution of the exercise;

exactly one feedback note is played at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise, and feedback notes played during an expected difficult segment of the exercise are played for a shorter time in an expected execution of the exercise;

exactly one feedback note is played at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise, and feedback notes played during a segment of the exercise that requires greater attention are played for a shorter time in an expected execution of the exercise;

the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being more consonant with the reference note than any of the other feedback notes except a feedback note associated with a starting position of the exercise;

the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being more consonant with the reference note than any of the other feedback notes;

the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being the only feedback note that is exactly an octave apart;

the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being the only feedback note that is the same note as the reference note;

or

the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being the only feedback note that is the same note as the reference note, and at least some of the rest of the sensed ranges are mapped to scale notes that are dissonant with the reference note.

6. The audio feedback signal of claim 1 wherein the reference note and feedback notes are emitted to the subject from separate sound sources, whereby a directional component to the feedback is provided.

7. A method for motor control training, comprising:

providing a sensor for detecting a position of a part of a subject during an exercise; and

generating an audio feedback signal comprising a reference note of a musical scale that provides a marker of a goal for the subject, and a sequence of real-time feedback notes of the scale, each feedback note being played with the reference note for a duration sufficient to permit the subject to compare the notes, and each feedback note being played when the sensor detects that the subject is in a corresponding position within the exercise, wherein one of the feedback notes corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, and this note matches the reference note in a distinctive manner.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein generating the sequence of feedback notes includes generating at least 3 distinct feedback notes corresponding to respective positions within the exercise, whereby progress towards the goal is indicated to the subject by the changing of the audio feedback signal in real-time, and the subject repeatedly compares the feedback note with the reference note during the exercise.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensor is provided for continuously detecting a position of the subject in the exercise over a range of positions that includes a plurality of sensed ranges that are mapped to respective feedback notes to uniquely associate a note with each of the sensed ranges.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensor is provided for detecting a range of positions within the exercise, the range of positions including a plurality of sensed ranges that are distributed so that for the expected duration of the exercise, a subject can register the audio signal as musical feedback.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein generating the audio feedback signal comprises:

playing associated feedback notes when the corresponding positions within the exercise are reached, wherein the association of the feedback notes to the positions is constant for multiple repetitions of the exercise, whereby the subject may associate specific feedback notes to specific ranges of positions;

playing associated feedback notes when the corresponding positions within the exercise are reached, wherein the association of the feedback notes to the positions is in frequency order with respect to proximity to the goal;

playing associated feedback notes selected from a chromatic scale;

playing exactly one feedback note at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise;

playing exactly one feedback note at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise, wherein each feedback note is played for a substantially equal time in an expected execution of the exercise;

playing exactly one feedback note at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise, wherein feedback notes played during an expected difficult segment of the exercise are played for a shorter time in an expected execution of the exercise;

playing exactly one feedback note at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise, wherein feedback notes played during a segment of the exercise that requires greater attention are played for a shorter time in an expected execution of the exercise;

playing the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being more consonant with the reference note than any of the other feedback notes except a feedback note associated with a starting position of the exercise;

playing the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being more consonant with the reference note than any of the other feedback notes;

playing the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being the only feedback note that is exactly one or more octaves apart from the reference note;

playing the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being the only feedback note that is the same note as the reference note;

playing the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being the only feedback note that is the same note as the reference note, and at least some of the rest of the feedback notes are more dissonant with the reference note

playing the feedback note by emitting an acoustic signal from a separate emitter distinct from an emitter that emits the reference note, whereby the subject hears the two signals being emitted from different directions;

playing the feedback note and reference note is performed by emitting acoustic signals on respective channels of a stereophonic emitter;

or

playing the feedback note and reference note is performed by emitting acoustic signals on respective channels of a stereophonic emitter, the exercise is performed by the part which is on one side of the subject, the feedback notes are played on the one side of the subject, and the reference note is played on the other side of the subject.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein providing the sensor comprises:

providing a sensor for sensing a state of flexure of a muscle set;

or

providing a sensor for sensing a state of flexure of a muscle set as determined by an angle at a joint with a goniometer.

13. An apparatus for motor control training, comprising:

a sensor for outputting a position of a part of a subject during an exercise;

a signal processor for receiving position output by the sensor and controlling an emitter to emit an audio feedback signal comprising a reference note of a musical scale that provides a marker of a goal for the subject, and a sequence of real-time feedback notes of the scale, each feedback note being played with the reference note for a duration sufficient to permit the subject to compare the notes, and each feedback note being played in dependence upon the output position; and

the emitter coupled to the signal processor for playing the audio feedback signal to the subject,

wherein one of the feedback notes corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, and this note matches the reference note in a distinctive manner.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the signal processor controls the emitter to emit the sequence of real-time feedback notes that includes at least 3 distinct feedback notes corresponding to respective positions within the exercise, whereby progress towards the goal is indicated to the subject by the changing of the audio feedback signal in real-time, and the subject repeatedly compares the feedback note during the exercise.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sensor is adapted to detect a range of positions within the exercise and signal processor controls the emitter to play the feedback notes in dependence on the position output so that for the expected duration of the exercise, a subject can register the audio signal as musical feedback.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the signal processor controls the emitter to:

play associated feedback notes when the corresponding positions within the exercise are reached, wherein the association of the feedback notes to the positions is constant for multiple repetitions of the exercise, whereby the subject may associate specific feedback notes to specific ranges of positions;

play associated feedback notes when the corresponding positions within the exercise are reached, wherein the association of the feedback notes to the positions is in frequency order with respect to proximity to the goal;

play associated feedback notes selected from a chromatic scale;

play exactly one feedback note at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise;

play exactly one feedback note at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise, wherein each feedback note is played for a substantially equal time in an expected execution of the exercise;

play exactly one feedback note at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise, wherein feedback notes played during an expected difficult segment of the exercise are played for a shorter time in an expected execution of the exercise;

play exactly one feedback note at a time throughout at least a phase of the exercise, wherein feedback notes played during a segment of the exercise that requires greater attention are played for a shorter time in an expected execution of the exercise;

play the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being more consonant with the reference note than any of the other feedback notes except a feedback note associated with a starting position of the exercise;

play the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being more consonant with the reference note than any of the other feedback notes;

play the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being the only feedback note exactly one or more octaves apart from the reference note;

play the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being the only feedback note that is the same note as the reference note;

play the feedback note that corresponds to the subject reaching the goal, comprises playing a feedback note that matches the reference note in a distinctive manner by being the only feedback note that is the same note as the reference note, and at least some of the rest of the feedback notes that are dissonant with the reference note

play the feedback note by emitting an acoustic signal from a separate emitter distinct from an emitter that emits the reference note, whereby the subject hears the two signals being emitted from different directions;

play the feedback note and reference note is performed by emitting acoustic signals on respective channels of a stereophonic emitter;

or

play the feedback note and reference note is performed by emitting acoustic signals on respective channels of a stereophonic emitter, the exercise is performed by the part which is on one side of the subject, the feedback notes are played on the one side of the subject, and the reference note is played on the other side of the subject.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the emitter:

comprises a first emitter for playing the reference note to the subject, and a second emitter for playing the real-time feedback notes to the subject;

comprises a stereophonic emitter having a first channel for playing the reference note to the subject, and a second channel for playing the real-time feedback notes to the subject;

or

comprises a stereophonic emitter having a first channel for playing the reference note and a second channel for playing the real-time feedback notes to the subject, wherein the exercise is performed by the part that is on one side of the subject, and the second channel is played to an ear on the one side of the subject.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sensor is adapted to:

detect a state of flexure of a muscle;

detect a state of flexure of a muscle by determined by an angle at a joint;

or

detect a state of flexure of a muscle by determined by an angle at a joint with a goniometer.