Method, apparatus and computer program product for automatically analyzing human performance

Abstract

An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided to analyze human performance, such as a golf shot, as defined by an initial data set that is comprised of a plurality of data elements. Initially, at least one data element that constitutes an outlier is removed from the initial data set to create a representative data set, such as by removing a predetermined number of the largest and smallest data elements from the initial data set. A measure of the deviation, such as the standard deviation, of the representative data set is then determined. The initial data set is then filtered based, at least partially, upon the measure of deviation of the representative data set to create a filtered data set. The human performance is then analyzed based at least partially upon the filtered data set.

1 . A method of automatically analyzing human performance as defined by an initial data set comprised of a plurality of data elements, the method comprising: 
 removing at least one data element that constitutes an outlier from the initial data set to create a representative date set;    determining a measure of deviation of the representative data set;    filtering the initial data set based at least partially upon the measure of deviation of the representative data set to create a filtered data set; and    analyzing the human performance based at least partially upon the filtered data set.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein analyzing the human performance comprises analyzing a golf shot.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein analyzing the golf shot comprises analyzing a downrange distance of the golf shot.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein analyzing the golf shot comprises analyzing an offline distance of the golf shot.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising capturing the plurality of data elements that comprise the initial data set.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein capturing the plurality of data elements comprises capturing the plurality of data elements from among initial conditions and club swing parameters associated with a golf shot.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein removing at least one outlier comprises removing a predetermined number of the largest and smallest data elements from the initial data set to create the representative data set.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein determining the measure of deviation comprises determining a measure of standard deviation of the representative data set.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for analyzing human performance as defined by an initial data set comprised of a plurality of data elements, the apparatus comprising: 
 a computing device capable of: 
 removing at least one data element that constitutes an outlier from the initial data set to create a representative date set;  
 determining a measure of deviation of the representative data set;  
 filtering the initial data set based at least partially upon the measure of deviation of the representative data set to create a filtered data set; and  
 analyzing the human performance based at least partially upon the filtered data set.  
   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said computing device is capable of analyzing a golf shot.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said computing device is capable of analyzing a downrange distance of the golf shot.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said computing device is capable of analyzing an offline distance of the golf shot.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  further comprising a sensor for capturing the plurality of data elements that comprise the initial data set.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein said sensor comprises a launch monitor for capturing the plurality of data elements from among initial conditions and club swing parameters associated with a golf shot.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said computing device is capable of removing at least one outlier by removing a predetermined number of the largest and smallest data elements from the initial data set to create the representative data set.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said computing device is capable of determining the measure of deviation by determining a measure of standard deviation of the representative data set.  
   
   
       17 . A computer program product for analyzing human performance as defined by an initial data set comprised of a plurality of data elements, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising: 
 a first executable portion capable of removing at least one data element that constitutes an outlier from the initial data set to create a representative date set;    a second executable portion capable of determining a measure of deviation of the representative data set;    a third executable portion capable of filtering the initial data set based at least partially upon the measure of deviation of the representative data set to create a filtered data set; and    a fourth executable portion capable of analyzing the human performance based at least partially upon the filtered data set.    
   
   
       18 . A computer program product according to  claim 17  wherein said fourth executable portion is further capable of analyzing a golf shot.  
   
   
       19 . A computer program product according to  claim 18  wherein said fourth executable portion is further capable of analyzing a downrange distance of the golf shot.  
   
   
       20 . A computer program product according to  claim 18  wherein said fourth executable portion is further capable of analyzing an offline distance of the golf shot.