Sensory Coordination System for Sports, Therapy and Exercise

Abstract

A sensory coordination system for sports, occupational therapy, physical therapy and general exercise.

1 . A sensory coordination system, comprising:
 an electronic controller;   a first display, the first display controlled by the controller and capable of providing one or more cues to a user to indicate an action to be performed by the user in accordance with at least one signal from the controller;   at least one sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one sensor capable of determining whether the action has been performed by the user and further capable of reporting at least one attribute of the action performed by the user to the controller; and   a second display, the second display controlled by the controller and capable of displaying at least one measure of the action performed by the user in accordance with the at least one attribute reported to the controller by the sensor; wherein the sensory coordination system is used to train the user to manipulate a ball in a sequence programmed into the electronic controller.   
   
   
       2 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is selected from the group consisting of a basketball, a soccer ball, a baseball, a cricket ball, a volleyball, a football, a tennis ball, a lacrosse ball or a hockey puck. 
   
   
       3 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on a floor. 
   
   
       4 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on a vertical or near vertical surface. 
   
   
       5 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor is a mechanical contact switch comprising two conductive elements that are brought into contact when the ball impacts the switch. 
   
   
       6 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed in a mat in contact with the floor. 
   
   
       7 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of sensors are disposed in the mat. 
   
   
       8 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 7 , wherein nine sensors are disposed in the mat. 
   
   
       9 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a capacitive sensor, an infrared detector and an acoustic sensor. 
   
   
       10 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is placed in the base of a sports cone and is capable of sensing a ball within a predetermined area in the vicinity of the cone. 
   
   
       11 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor communicates with the controller via wired electrical communication. 
   
   
       12 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor communicates with the controller via wireless signal. 
   
   
       13 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor communicates with the controller via light signal. 
   
   
       14 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of sensors are distributed across the floor to create a course for the user to navigate while simultaneously performing the indicated actions. 
   
   
       15 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 2 , wherein the position of at least one of the user's feet is determined in addition to the actions of the user. 
   
   
       16 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 1 , wherein the first display comprises an auditory output capable of emitting an auditory cue. 
   
   
       17 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 1 , wherein the auditory output is further capable of emitting recorded musical signals. 
   
   
       18 . The sensory coordination system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is capable of directing the first display to provide feedback to the user.