Education and demonstration – Physical education
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-25
2003-01-07
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Education and demonstration
Physical education
C463S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06503086
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of computerized systems for teaching the proper body motions for specific sports and athletic endeavors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, in order to teach the proper body motions for a sport, a trainer demonstrates the proper body motion, and then observes as a student attempts to perform the same motion. The trainer then points out the differences orally or physically to the student.
In recent years, training videos have gained popularity as an alternative or supplement to interactive training between a trainer and student. In such videos, a trainer's performances are recorded on a video tape, along with an audio narration explaining the proper body motion to be performed. Such videos are available for a variety of sports and other athletic endeavors, including, for example, baseball, basketball, golf, weight training, and aerobic training.
Various forms of interactive video methods are also available in the art. In accordance with these systems, the student watches a video of the proper body motion, and then attempts to perform the same motion. The student's motion is monitored by a motion sensing device or recorded by a video camera, and the system provides an indication of whether the motion was performed correctly. Such systems are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,904,484 and 5,846,086.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a computerized system and method is provided for illustrating, to a user, a plurality of human body motions relating to a particular human physical activity such as a sport or other athletic endeavor. Examples of such physical activities include, for example, baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, weight training, aerobics, and physical therapy. In accordance with the present invention, the human physical activity is divided into a plurality of motion segments, and a menu is displayed on a display screen of the computer which includes the plurality of motion segments. Using an input device, such as a computer mouse, a user selects one of the plurality of motion segments. In response, the computer displays, on the display screen, from at least two vantage points, a moving image of a generally human shaped actor performing the selected one of the plurality of motion segments.
The moving image is most preferably displayed from at least three (e.g., front, right side, left side), and in some cases four or five vantage points (e.g., front, back, top, left, and right). In a preferred embodiment, for at least some of the plurality of motion segments, the computer displays four panels on the screen, with each panel containing an image of the generally human shaped actor performing the motion from a different vantage-point. The images in the panels may move simultaneously or sequentially, depending upon the nature of the movement being taught, and the particular application.
Preferably, an image of an instructor is simultaneously displayed on the display screen with the display of the moving image of the generally human shaped actor, and a corresponding audio narration of the moving image of the generally human shaped actor is provided via a sound generation device (e.g., a speaker) coupled to the computer. The audio narration is preferably synchronized with movements and gestures of the instructor so that it appears that the instructor on the display screen is speaking to the user, and gesturing towards the generally human shaped actor, and in some instances, towards the user as well.
In the context of the present invention, the actor must be “generally” human shaped in that any body parts of the actor necessary for the illustrated motion should correspond in shape and relation to human body parts. Thus, for example, the actor could be an animated image having a head in the shape of a dog's head, provided that, to the extent head movement is an important component of the movement, the dog head is sized and shaped to allow the actor to demonstrate the proper movement to the user.
In accordance with the present invention, the generally human shaped actor may be either an animated image performing the selected motion or a video image of a living person (hereinafter referred to as a real life image) performing the selected motion. Combinations of animated images and real life images may also be used. For example, certain ones of the plurality of motion segments may be displayed as animated images and other ones of the plurality of motion segments may be displayed as real life images. In addition, certain ones of the plurality of motion segments may include a combination of animated and real life images. The use of both animated and real life images, either in separate motion segments or within the same motion segment, is preferred in that it allows the user to see a precise moving image of the appropriate motion (as provided by the animated image), as well as instilling confidence in the instruction method on the part of the user by showing a real person performing at least some of the motion segments.
The instructor may also be either an animated image or a real life image. Preferably, however, the instructor is animated so that his motions and gestures can be more easily choreographed with the movement of the generally human shaped actor.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the physical human activity is a sport, and most preferably a team sport such as baseball, basketball, or football, in which each team includes a plurality of player positions. In accordance with this embodiment, the sport is divided into a plurality of coaching sub-sessions relating to various skill categories and/or player position categories, and each sub-session is divided into a plurality of motion segments. For example, a system for providing baseball instruction in accordance with this embodiment might include player position sub-sessions such as pitcher, outfielder, and catcher; skill sub-sessions such as throwing, batting, and fielding ground balls; or a combination of both. The motion segments for a batting sub-session might include, for example, a batting grip motion segment, a ready phase motion segment, a collect phase motion segment, and a delivery phase motion segment.
In addition, the motion segment might be further divided into a plurality of even smaller motion segments. For example, instead of having a single delivery phase motion segment, there might be provided a delivery phase motion sub-category with the following motion segments: starting swing, making contact, inside pitch, pitch down the middle, outside pitch, follow through, back side unlocks, chin to shoulder, and finish.
More generally, physical human activities in accordance with the present invention can be divided into motions, and these motions can be further divided into sub-motions. For example, the game of golf might include, inter alia, a putting stroke motion, a tee shot motion, and a chip stroke motion. Each of these motions, in turn, can be viewed as including a plurality of sub-motions such as a back swing sub-motion, a swing sub-motion, and a follow-through sub-motion. Other, or further sub-motions are also possible. For purposes of the present invention, a motion is defined as a substantially contiguous movement, and a sub-motion is defined as a portion of a substantially contiguous movement. Moreover, the term motion segment, in the context of the present invention, is meant to encompass both motions and sub-motions.
Preferably, the system includes motion segments which illustrate incorrect motions as well as correct motions, thereby alerting the user to common errors. For example, in the baseball embodiment discussed above, a batting sub-session might include a batting error motion sub-category, with a plurality of common batting error motion segments. Alternatively, motion segments illustrating incorrect motions could be incorporated into other sub-categories. For example, a batting grip sub-category might include a bad grip motion segment.
In embodi
Cheng Joe H.
Christman Kathleen M.
Davidson Davidson & Kappel LLC
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