Testing and training system for assessing the ability of a player to complete a task

• US 6,073,489 A
• Filed: 03/03/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Impulse Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Barry J. French, Kevin R. Ferguson
• Inventors: Ferguson, Kevin R., French, Barry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US09/034,059
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 73/379.01, 73/379.04, 73/379.05, 364/413
• US Class Current: 73/379.01
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/081 High jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/082 Long jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0095 for volley-ball

Abstract

A system for assessing a user'"'"'s movement capabilities creates an accurate simulation of sport to quantify and train several novel performance constructs by employing: proprietary optical sensing electronics for determining, in essentially real time, the player'"'"'s positional changes in three or more degrees of freedom; and computer controlled sport specific cuing that evokes or prompts sport specific responses from the player. In certain protocols of the present invention, the sport specific cuing may be characterized as a "virtual opponent", that may be kinematically and anthropomorphically correct in form and action. Though the virtual opponent could assume many forms, the virtual opponent is responsive to, and interactive with, the player in real time without any perceived visual lag. The virtual opponent continually delivers and/or responds to stimuli to create realistic movement challenges for the player. The movement challenges are typically comprised of relatively short, discrete movement legs, sometimes amounting to only a few inches of displacement of the player'"'"'s center of mass. Such movement legs are without fixed start and end positions, necessitating continual tracking of the player'"'"'s position for meaningful assessment. The virtual opponent can assume the role of either an offensive or defensive player.

Claims

1. A system for assessing a user'"'"'s movement capabilities in a defensive role to maintain a synchronous relationship with a virtual opponent comprising:

means for measuring in real time said user'"'"'s position changes as said user responds to said virtual opponent;

means for measuring deviations of said user from said synchronous relationship;

means for providing indices of said user'"'"'s ability to minimize said deviations from said synchronous relationship; and

means for providing indices of said measured deviations from said synchronous relationship.

2. A system for assessing the movement capabilities of a user in an offensive role to create an asynchronous relationship comprising:

means for measuring in real time said user'"'"'s position changes;

means for providing a virtual opponent for said user to evade; and

means for providing indices of said user'"'"'s ability to maximize deviations between said user and said virtual opponent during a time interval.

3. A system for assessing the movement capabilities of a user in an offensive role comprising:

means for measuring in real time said user'"'"'s position changes;

means for prompting said user to undertake sport specific movement;

cueing means for prompting a change in said user'"'"'s sport specific movement;

and

means for providing indices of said user'"'"'s change of sport specific movement.