Active learning device and method

• US 8,123,527 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hölljes, H. Christian
• Original Assignee: Hölljes, H. Christian
• Inventors: Hölljes, H. Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yip, Jack
• Application Number:
  US11/757,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20080102424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/30, 434/61, 434/62, 434/57, 434/156, 434/159, 434/167, 434/176, 434/191, 434/247, 463/9, 463/36, 482/4, 482/8, 482/9, 482/51
• US Class Current: 434/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/003 by torsion of the body part around its longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0636 3D visualisation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0615 pivoting about a fixed horizontal fulcrum
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/078 Devices for bench press exercises , e.g. supports, guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/08 : Jumping, vaulting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/102 : Boxing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 : primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 : for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 : Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 : using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 : specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 : involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 : Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 : being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 : Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 : Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/058 : for teaching control of cycles or motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 : relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

An activity device including an activity sensor generating an activity interaction signal responsive to a sustained large-muscle physical activity of a user operating the activity device; a controller, coupled to the activity monitor, generating a virtual environment supporting a virtual user frame-of-reference in the virtual environment, the controller generating a set of virtual education elements in the environment and a goal for the set virtual representation with respect to the virtual education elements wherein the controller is responsive to the activity interaction signal to produce an affected interaction of the virtual representation with the virtual education elements with the controller measuring a conformation of the goal by the affected interaction; and a feedback system, coupled to the controller, presenting the virtual environment with the frame-of-reference in relation to the virtual education elements providing the user with feedback regarding the goal and the conformation of the goal by the affected interaction.

Claims

1. An active learning apparatus, comprising:

an activity device including an activity sensor generating an activity interaction signal responsive to a sustained large-muscle physical activity of a user operating said activity device wherein said large-muscle physical activity results from sustained use of one or more large-muscles selected from the group consisting of arm large-muscle, leg large-muscle, shoulder large-muscle, and combinations thereof and wherein said activity interaction signal includes a motive element and a directional element;

a controller, coupled to said activity device, generating a virtual environment supporting a virtual user frame-of-reference in said virtual environment, said controller generating two or more virtual education elements in said environment and a goal for said virtual user frame of reference with respect to said virtual education elements, wherein said goal includes two or more independently-navigatable subgoals arranged in a goal sequence relative to one another, wherein said controller is responsive to said activity interaction signal to produce an affected interaction of said virtual user frame of reference with said virtual education elements with said controller measuring a conformation of said goal in said goal sequence by said affected interaction wherein said controller is responsive to said motive element to control a speed of said virtual user frame of reference in said virtual environment, wherein said controller is responsive to said directional element to control a direction of said virtual user frame of reference in said virtual environment, and wherein said virtual education elements are all independently-navigatable and concurrently presented in said virtual environment along with said goal including said subgoals with said user navigating said virtual user frame of reference through said virtual environment using said motive element and said directional element to interact with said virtual education elements responsive to said goal to select individual ones of said virtual elements in said goal sequence; and

a feedback system, coupled to said controller, for presenting said virtual environment with said user frame-of-reference in relation to said virtual education elements for providing said user with feedback regarding said goal and said subgoals, and said conformation of said goal and subgoals in said goal sequence by said affected interaction;

wherein said education elements include both a first plurality of numerals and equation elements associated with said numerals wherein said first plurality of numerals and equation elements include an equation as said goal, wherein said subgoals include individual ones of said first plurality of numerals and equation elements, and wherein said goal sequence includes an equation sequence of said first plurality of numerals and equation elements and a second plurality of numerals and equation elements associated with said numerals wherein said equation is presented in said virtual environment and wherein said second plurality of numerals and equation elements includes said first plurality of numerals and equation elements with said second plurality of numerals and equation elements distributed in said virtual environment and wherein said goal includes a conformance selected from the group consisting of reproducing said equation in said equation sequence using said user frame of reference to select one or more of said second plurality of numerals and equation elements from said virtual environment, solving said equation by selecting, using said user frame of reference, one or more of said second plurality of numerals and equation elements, and combinations thereof.

2. An active learning method, the method comprising:

a) generating, using a kinetic interactive device, an activity interaction signal responsive to aerobically sustained large-muscle physical activity of a user operating said kinetic interactive device wherein said large-muscle physical activity results from sustained use of one or more large-muscles selected from the group consisting of arm large-muscle, leg large-muscle, shoulder large-muscle, and combinations thereof and wherein said activity interaction signal includes a motive element and a directional element;

b) generating, using said kinetic interactive device, a virtual environment on a display, said virtual environment supporting a virtual user frame-of-reference and including two or more virtual education elements and a goal for said virtual user frame of reference with respect to said virtual education elements wherein said virtual education elements are all independently-navigatable and concurrently presented in said virtual environment along with said goal and wherein said goal includes a plurality of independently navigatable subgoals arranged in a goal sequence;

c) producing, using said kinetic interactive device, an affected interaction of said virtual user frame of reference with said virtual education elements by navigating said user frame of reference within said virtual environment responsive to said motive element to control a speed of said virtual user frame of reference in said virtual environment and responsive to said directional element to control a direction of said virtual user frame of reference in said virtual environment responsive to said goal to select sequentially individual ones of said education elements in said goal sequence responsive to said subgoals;

d) measuring, using said kinetic interactive device, a conformation of said goal and said subgoals by said affected interaction; and

e) producing, using said kinetic interactive device, feedback data of said virtual environment with said frame-of-reference in relation to said virtual education elements that provide said user with information regarding said goal and said conformation of said goal and said subgoals in said goal sequence by said affected interaction;

wherein said education elements include a first plurality numerals and equation elements and said goal includes an equation formed from said first plurality of numerals and equation elements, wherein individual numerals and equation elements of said equation form said subgoals and wherein said goal sequence includes an equation sequence of said subgoals forming said equation and wherein said education elements further include a second plurality of numerals and equation elements with said equation presented in said virtual environment and said second plurality of numerals and equation elements distributed in said virtual environment and wherein said producing step c) includes navigating said user frame of reference in said virtual environment to select individual ones of said second plurality of numerals and equation elements in said equation sequence responsive to said subgoals.