305results about How to "Improve skills" patented technology

A movement augmentation system that provides various forms of feedback, including real-time and post-performance for training and rehabilitation is disclosed. The systems, devices and methods provide augmentation to human movement behavior in order to accelerate acquisition of complex movement skills by a user and to mitigate injuries from poor movement technique (e.g., joint damage or muscle fatigue). An environment is provided that enables systematic and comprehensive capabilities through integration of its components.

A method and system for providing highlights to game players, including ranking of the highlights, also optionally coaching and other types of interactions between players and also between each player and an external entity.

A trajectory detection and feedback system is described. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched tile object into flight, and / or one or more observers in the area The feedback information may include one or more trajectory parameters that the human may use to evaluate their skill at sending the object along a desired trajectory. A non-intrusive machine vision system may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. After the system has evaluated a plurality of shots by the player, the system may provide 1) a diagnosis of their shot consistency, 2) a prediction for improvement based upon improving their shot consistency and 3) a prescription of actions for improving their consistency.

A system and method for providing virtual spaces, where a character associated with a user can be manifested within instances of a plurality of the different virtual spaces. Since a single character can be manifested within instances of different virtual spaces, the character can be transferred by the corresponding user between instances of different virtual spaces and controlled by the user to interact with the different virtual spaces. When the user transfers the character between instances of different virtual spaces (and / or different types of virtual spaces), various aspects of the character may persist between the different virtual spaces (and / or the different types of virtual spaces). This may provide an enhanced continuity to the character between the different virtual spaces.

A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and / or one or more observers in the area. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and / or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device. The system may be operable to be set-up and to operate in a substantially autonomous manner

A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and / or one or more observers in the area. The feedback information may include one or more trajectory parameters that the human may use to evaluate their skill at sending the object along a desired trajectory. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and / or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device. The system may be operable to be set-up and to operate in a substantially autonomous manner. After the system has evaluated a plurality of shots by the player, the system may provide 1) a diagnosis of their shot consistency, 2) a prediction for improvement based upon improving their shot consistency and 3) a prescription of actions for improving their consistency.

A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and / or one or more observers in the area. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and / or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device. The system may be operable to be set-up and to operate in a substantially autonomous manner.

A system and a method for developing Internet-hosted business applications composed of web services and software for use in such environments where applications and application components interoperate to perform requested business functions. The system and method of the present invention utilize a software development application services provider module (DASP), an Instantiatior module, a Builder module, an Applications Service Provider (ASP) Infrastructure Platform (AIP) module, and a hosted production environment module. The system and method of the present invention seeks to maximize the use of prior work to eliminate repetition and reduce development cost and development time. With each new project the library and experience increases. The system and method of the present invention can use developers and testers situated in diverse locations so that a larger pool of skilled people can be employed, the work can be done around the clock by using people all over the globe, and the costs can be reduced by directing work to people in countries with lower labor rates. The system and method of the present invention increases efficiencies and reduces costs to all parties by partnering the developers with third parties who are brought in at the beginning of development.

The invention relates to a portable device and a method for monitoring the performance a sportsman performing a plurality of motor acts, such as golf swings. The device comprises at least one sensor providing an output signal, the sensor being responsive to body movements of the sportsman. A signal processing unit is used for extracting data on the course of each of the plurality of motor acts from the sensor output signal, and a computing unit is used for determining, based on the data on the course of the plurality of motor acts, at least one characteristic number describing the repeatability of the motor act. By the means of the invention, the handicap number of the golfer can be predicted with good accuracy by monitoring several his or her subsequent swings.

A hyper-spectral imaging filter has serial stages along an optical signal path in a Solc filter configuration. Angularly distributed retarder elements of equal birefringence are stacked in each stage, with a polarizer between stages. The retarders can include tunable (such as abutted liquid crystals tuned in unison), fixed and / or combined tunable and fixed birefringences. Although the retardations are equal within each stage, distinctly different retardations are used for two or more different stages. This causes some stages to pass narrow bandpass peaks and other stages to have widely spaced bandpass peaks. The transmission functions of the serial stages are superimposed with selected preferably-tunable peaks coinciding. The resulting conjugate filter has a high finesse ratio, and good out of band rejection.

Disclosed is a biological model for training which is in a tubular shape having an inner cavity, has a narrowing or closing portion at a mid portion of the tube, and is provided with a artificial lesion member simulating a lesion occurring in a tubular tissue. In this biological model for training, the artificial lesion member includes, at least in a portion thereof, a plastic and deformable material. The biological model for training is used in expansion training for implementing expansion. As the plastic and deformable material, a material including, as the main component, at least one member selected from among a silicone clay, a resin clay and an oil clay can be specifically used. Such a material is preferred because of ensuring the maintenance of a expanded state in the expansion training.

In an instrument performance learning apparatus, a storage section stores model performance waveform data representing a time series of individual performance sounds of a model performance. An input section inputs real performance waveform data representing a time series of individual performance sounds of a real performance. A pitch graph display control section detects each pitch of each individual performance sound from the stored model performance waveform data and from the inputted real performance waveform data, and displays a pitch graph representing transitions of the detected pitches. An amplitude envelope graph display control section detects each amplitude level of each individual performance sound from the model performance waveform data and from the real performance waveform data, and displays an amplitude envelope graph representing transitions of the detected amplitude levels, such that the amplitude envelope graph has a time axis common to that of the pitch graph while the amplitude envelope graph is located in an area of the display device which does not overlap with another area of the display device where the pitch graph is located.

Disclosed is a biological model for training which is in a tubular shape having an inner cavity, has a narrowing or closing portion at a mid portion of the tube, and is provided with a artificial lesion member simulating a lesion occurring in a tubular tissue. In this biological model for training, the artificial lesion member includes, at least in a portion thereof, a plastic and deformable material. The biological model for training is used in expansion training for implementing expansion. As the plastic and deformable material, a material including, as the main component, at least one member selected from among a silicone clay, a resin clay and an oil clay can be specifically used. Such a material is preferred because of ensuring the maintenance of a expanded state in the expansion training.

A system and method for providing virtual spaces, where a character associated with a user can be manifested within instances of a plurality of the different virtual spaces. Since a single character can be manifested within instances of different virtual spaces, the character can be transferred by the corresponding user between instances of different virtual spaces and controlled by the user to interact with the different virtual spaces. When the user transfers the character between instances of different virtual spaces (and / or different types of virtual spaces), various aspects of the character may persist between the different virtual spaces (and / or the different types of virtual spaces). This may provide an enhanced continuity to the character between the different virtual spaces.

A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and / or one or more observers in the area. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and / or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device. The system may be operable to be set-up and to operate in a substantially autonomous manner.

A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing an integrated communication services (ICS) network that permits wireless and wireline data subscribers to share information on a hospital campus using wireless or wireline local area networks, or to seamlessly tap into the facility's central database while in transit away from the hospital. Users interface with the ICS network through the use of a point of care terminal that resembles a clipboard and accepts data entry from a stylus on an touch screen. The central database, referred to as the integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) is adapted to store a communication profile for every network server on the ICS network. The ICC also maintains a Global Patient Profile (GPP), consisting of a patient profile for every patient ever added to the network. The GPP provides the ICC with the capability of providing aggregated data and demographic information (with or without patient identification), creating “live” public health statistics through a single query to a central server. To access the ICS, a user at a point of care terminal can utilize several paths in order to deliver data to its destination. This may include existing off-the-shelf PCMCIA based peripherals such as: wireless LANS, standard wired Ethernet LAN, a land line Modem, or wireless wide area networks. The wireless wide area networks may also include several data paths such as a circuit switched cellular, or packet based Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD). The actual selection of a particular channel will be service-dependent and a function of the user whereabouts, the desired quality of the connection, and the costs of the connection.

Systems are shown herein for use in stringed musical instruments for producing digital frequency and volume data. A finger contact sensor system detects the location of one or more fingers or objects at selected locations on a finger board of the instrument. Further string movement sensor systems determine if one or more strings are being played. A control system processes information from the finger contacting and string movement sensor systems to generate a digital signal containing the frequency data corresponding to the finger contacting point on the finger board and volume data corresponding to the sensed movement of a corresponding string.

A system and method for evaluating the productivity of a working machine and its driver in a real or virtual operating environment is controlled by a control system to perform work, and in which the work cycles relating to the work performed by the working machine are determined by continuous measurements directed to the working machine when it is controlled by the driver. Characteristic values relating to the performance of the determined work cycles are collected on the basis of the continuous measurements for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the work or for comparison.

An optical power control system for a semiconductor source spectroscopy system controls power fluctuations in the tunable signal from the spectroscopy system and thus improves the noise performance of the system. This general solution has advantages relative to other systems that simply detect reference power levels during the scan and then correct the detected signal after interaction with the sample by reducing the requirements for coordinating the operation of the sample detectors and power or reference detectors. The spectroscopy system comprises a semiconductor source and a tunable filter. The combination of the semiconductor source and tunable signal illuminate a sample with a tunable signal, being tunable over a scan band. The power control system comprises an amplitude detector system for detecting the power of the tunable optical signal and power control system for regulating the amplitude of the tunable optical signal in response to its detected power.

A system and method for evaluating the productivity of a working machine and its driver in a real or virtual operating environment is controlled by means of a control system to perform work, and in which the work cycles relating to the work performed by the working machine are determined by means of continuous measurements directed to the working machine when it is controlled by the driver. Characteristic values relating to the performance of the determined work cycles are collected on the basis of the continuous measurements for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the work or for comparison.

A target apparatus includes a bracket for attachment to a goal frame member such that a front of the bracket faces a forward direction perpendicular to a front goal plane of the goal, a back of the bracket faces a rearward direction and a defensive area side is adjacent a defensive area of the goal. A target defines a front target plane and a projectile receptacle. A target hinge connects the bracket and target such that the target is located adjacent the defensive area side, such that the target is rotatable relative to the bracket between a forward target position in which the front target plane is perpendicular to the forward direction and a deflected target position and such that the front target plane is rearward of the front of the bracket in the forward target position. A biasing mechanism urges the target to rotate toward the forward target position.

An optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) is used to provide a continuous, high Q, modulated signal for a variety of purposes, including a carrier wave for communications, and radar emissions. The OEO of this invention replaces an RF filter in the conventional OEO with an interferometer, preferably a high finesse Fabry-Perot etalon as the mode selector, providing lower phase noise and higher RF frequency stability.

A method for playing computer games on a computerized game system having a display, memory and one or more input devices. The method includes one or more acts of pre-game activity and one or more acts of game activity. The pre-game activity includes learning rules of the game including observing one or more objects related to the game on the display, thereby forming a visual percept of the objects, and transforming the visual percept of the objects into a mental image percept of the objects, in the absence of a visual percept of the objects. At the game activity one or more of objects are invisible. The game activity includes activating one or more of the input devices and inputting data in dependence upon the mental imagery percept of the invisible objects, thereby forming play input data. The game activity further includes receiving feedback that corresponds to the play input data and activating one or more of the input devices to form additional play input data in dependence upon the received feedback.

A method and system are provided for medium-range probabilistic prediction of extreme temperature events. Extreme temperatures are measured according to how local temperature thresholds are exceeded on daily timescales to generate a local “Magnitude Index” (MI). A regional MI reflecting the historic temperature intensity, duration and spatial extent of extreme temperature events over all locations within the region is then computed. The regional MI is used to create a synoptic catalog for each of one or more pre-defined weather variables by testing the significance of leading modes in historic atmospheric variability across specified periods of time. Current or recent weather conditions are compared against the synoptic catalog to generate probabilistic predictions of extreme temperature events based the presence of synoptic precursors identified in historic patterns.

Improving the frequency with which agents complete training in a call center or other constituent contact environment. Agents working in call centers are typically given periodic training to improve their skills. Training breaks are scheduled at various times throughout the day that can depend on the workload of the call center. However, often times the agents are unable to receive or complete their training during the scheduled training break due to unexpected work loads and other interruptions. The present invention enables monitoring and recording of whether training is received and completed during a training break. If the training was not completed, the training break is stored and rescheduled for a later time. The invention also facilitates completion of missed training breaks by providing spontaneous training breaks during periods of unexpectedly lower workload at the call center.

Electrically tunable Fabry-Perot interferometers produced with micro-optical electromechanical (MOEMS) technology. Micromechanical interferometers of the prior art require high control voltage, their production includes complicated production phases, and the forms of the movable mirrors are restricted to circular geometries. In the inventive solution, there is a gap in the movable mirror, whereby mirror layers opposite to the gap are connected with anchoring. The anchoring is such that the stiffness of the mirror is higher at the optical area than at the surrounding area. This way it is possible keep the optical area of the mirror flat even if the control electrodes extend to the optical area. Due to large electrodes, lower control voltages are required.

The physical therapy instrument that integrates acousto-optic, electromagnetic, heat, and medicinal therapy and induces meridians belongs to the comprehensive field of using sound, light, electricity, magnetism, heat, massage, drug iontophoresis and audio and video special effects to induce meridians. A variety of energies and technologies combined with the environment, receptors and their consciousness constitute a large system to maximize the potential and immune function of the receptors themselves. According to the characteristics of the receptors, these energies or technologies can be selected individually, multiplely or comprehensively, and act on the receptors separately or simultaneously, locally or comprehensively, statically or dynamically, so as to achieve adjustment, induction and treatment, until the meridians of the whole body are opened up, and then The meridians can be operated without the aid of instruments, so as to achieve the purpose of strengthening the brain, strengthening the body, and prolonging life. It can be used for psychological quality training and physical recovery of mentally stressed persons or athletes, and it can be used for the adjustment of various physiological systems of the recipient.

An optical multi-mode HIC (high index contrast) waveguide (102,104, 201, 301) for transporting electromagnetic radiation in the optical waveband, the waveguide comprising a guiding core portion (204) with higher refractive index, and cladding portion (206) with substantially lower refractive index configured to at least partially surround the light guiding core in the transverse direction to facilitate confining the propagating radiation within the core, the wave-guide being configured to support multiple optical modes of the propagating radiation, wherein the waveguide incorporates a bent waveguide section (202) having bend. curvature that is configured to at least gradually, preferably substantially continuously, increase towards a maximum curvature of said section from a section end.