Dynamically configurable balancing board

Abstract

A balancing board comprises a first surface for receiving one or more feet of a user when the balancing board is in operation. The balancing board includes a second surface of one or more outwardly curved forms for engaging with a floor surface, wherein the second surface enables variations in an orientation and movement of the balancing board relative to the floor surface. The balancing board further includes a signal receiving arrangement for receiving sensor signals indicative of one or more user reactions when operating the balancing board in reaction to the variations in the orientation and movement of the balancing board. The user is supported upon the first surface of the balancing board; and a processor operable to receive signals from the first set of sensors. The processor is operable to activate one or more modes of operation of the balancing board based on the received signals.

1 . A balancing board, comprising:
 a first surface for receiving one or more feet of a user when said balancing board is in operation;   a second surface including one or more outwardly curved forms for engaging with a floor surface when said balancing board is in operation, wherein said second surface provides means for varying an orientation and movement of the balancing board relative to the floor surface;   a signal receiving arrangement for receiving one or more sensor signals indicative of one or more user reactions when operating the balancing board in reaction to said variations in the orientation and movement of the balancing board, wherein the user is supported upon the first surface of the balancing board;   a processor which is operable to receive said one or more sensor signals from a first set of sensors, comprising one or more sensors indicative of said one or more user reactions, wherein the processor is further operable to control means of changing a profile of the second surface;   wherein said signal receiving arrangement is coupled to a second set of sensors, comprising one or more sensors and is operable to receive one or more signals from the second set of sensors, the second set of sensors being operable to determine an orientation, movement, and acceleration of the balancing board, and to communicate with the processor via the signal receiving arrangement; and   one or more actuators, wherein the one or more sensors of the second set of sensors are coupled to the signal receiving arrangement and the processor and wherein the one or more sensors of the second set are operable to communicate with the one or more actuators, said actuators being operable to modify one or more outwardly curved forms of the balancing board.   
     
     
         2 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A balancing board, comprising:
 a first surface for receiving one or more feet of a user when said balancing board is in operation;   a second surface including one or more outwardly curved forms for engaging with a floor surface when said balancing board is in operation, wherein said second surface provides means for varying an orientation and movement of the balancing board relative to the floor surface;   a signal receiving arrangement for receiving one or more sensor signals indicative of one or more of orientation, movement and acceleration of the balancing board, wherein the user is supported upon the first surface of the balancing board;   a processor which is operable to receive said one or more sensor signals from a first set of sensors, comprising one or more sensors indicative of said one or more of orientation, movement and acceleration, wherein the processor is further operable to control means of changing a profile of the second surface;   wherein the first set of sensors is operable to communicate with the processor via the signal receiving arrangement; and   one or more actuators, wherein the first set of sensors are coupled to the signal receiving arrangement and the processor and are operable to communicate with the one or more actuators, said actuators being operable to modify one or more of the outwardly curved forms of the balancing board.   
     
     
         23 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said balancing board is operable to communicate with an electronic device for configuring a balancing board training program for the user based on a performance analysis of the user, wherein the training program comprises a plurality of combinations of balancing board levels, wherein the electronic device is operable to communicate the training program to the processor. 
     
     
         24 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the balancing board is operable to be activated to present a lighting pattern on the first surface to facilitate training of the user, wherein the lighting pattern comprises lighting one or more portions of the first surface, the user stepping on the lighted one or more portions of the first surface for training. 
     
     
         25 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the first surface further comprises a peripheral outwardly projecting lip. 
     
     
         26 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the first surface further comprises a concave surface. 
     
     
         27 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the first surface further comprises an unsmooth texture. 
     
     
         28 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein each of the one or more actuators are operable to selectively retract or extend the one or more curved forms with a piston arrangement. 
     
     
         29 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the one or more sensors of the first set of sensors comprises one or more of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a microphone, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, a camera, a depth sensor for gesture recognition, a biometric sensor, a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         30 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the balancing board is operable to change balancing board levels in response to the user using a mobile device operable to communicate with the processor and comprising a software to control the balancing board. 
     
     
         31 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said signal receiving arrangement is further operable to receive one or more signals from a second set of sensors, the second set of sensors being indicative of user reactions when operating the balancing board in reaction to said variations in the orientation, movement and acceleration of the balancing board, and operable to communicate with the processor via the signal receiving arrangement. 
     
     
         32 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said signal receiving arrangement is coupled to the second set of sensors being, at least in part, attached in operation to a body of the user for sensing user reactions. 
     
     
         33 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the processor is operable to automatically change between balancing board levels based on the user reactions sensed by the second set of sensors. 
     
     
         34 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the balancing board is operable to communicate to an electronic device data sensed corresponding to the balancing board by the first set of sensors and the user reaction sensed by the second set of sensors, wherein the electronic device is operable to perform analysis on the data for determining a medical condition of the user. 
     
     
         35 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the one or more sensors of the second set of sensors are coupled to the signal receiving arrangement and the processor and are operable to communicate with the one or more actuators. 
     
     
         36 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the one or more outwardly curved forms on second surface are defined, at least in part, in profile by a volume of gas under pressure, wherein the volume of gas is inflated or deflated in operation based upon which mode of operation for the balancing board is activated by the processor, wherein the one or more actuators are operable to inflate or deflate the volume of gas to modify orientation and movement of the balancing board. 
     
     
         37 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the one or more outwardly curved forms on the second surface are solid, wherein the one or more actuators are operable to selectively retract or extend the one or more curved forms to modify orientation and movement of the balancing board. 
     
     
         38 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the balancing board includes a safety mechanism which is deployable based on feedback sensed by the one or more sensors of the first set, the one or more sensors of the second set, or both, and, wherein said one or more actuators are operable to deploy the safety mechanism. 
     
     
         39 . The balancing board as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the safety mechanism comprises airbags. 
     
     
         40 . A balancing method, comprising:
 engaging a floor surface with a second surface including one or more outwardly curved forms;   varying orientation and movement of the balancing board relative to the floor surface;   with a signal receiving arrangement, receiving one or more sensor signals indicative of one or more user reactions when operating the balancing board in reaction to varying orientation and movement of the balancing board, wherein the user is supported upon the balancing board opposite the second surface;   with a processor, receiving said one or more sensor signals from a first set of sensors comprising one or more sensors indicative of said one or more user reactions; and   with the processor, changing a profile of the second surface in response to said one or more user reactions.