System and method for building activity-based data collection devices

Abstract

A grip interface is used to provide information about a user to a range of connected devices and applications based on the users' interactions with the grip. By embedding into the grip an array of sensors for motion, health, environmental and other data using embedded microcontroller network technology, and focusing on the grip as the interface between the physical and virtual worlds, applications and services to existing grip-based devices are enabled. Applications for the grip include as sports, fitness equipment, health monitoring, activity tracking, coaching, physical therapy, mobility aide and virtual entertainment, among others.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for modeling a connected grip object, the method comprising:
 specifying an external surface sensors array, by calculating a location of one or more surface located sensors based on a 2D surface area of an individual's hand;   projecting a 2D location of said external surface sensors array onto a 3D model of the connect grip object;   building the 3D model of the connected grip object for manufacturing; and   manufacturing the connected grip object based on the 3D model.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 selecting a desired radius for the connected grip object to be manufactured; and   selecting a level of indentations to apply to the connected grip object to be manufactured.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 measuring said 2D surface area of an individual's hand.   
     
     
         4 . A system for building activity-based data collection devices, the system having processes comprising:
 means for modeling a 3D connected grip object; and   means for specifying a manufacturable, mechanical-hardware design of said 3D connected grip object.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , said means for specifying a manufacturable, mechanical-hardware design of said 3D connected grip object comprising:
 means for specifying an external surface sensors array, comprising one or more surface located sensors, based on a 2D surface area of an individual's hand; and   means for projecting a 2D location of said external surface sensors array onto a 3D model of the 3D connect grip object.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , said means for modeling the 3D connected grip object comprising:
 means for selecting a desired radius for the 3D connected grip object to be manufactured;   means for selecting a level of indentations to apply to the 3D connected grip object to be manufactured;   means for projecting a 2D location of an external surface sensors array onto a 3D model of the 3D connect grip object; and   means for building the 3D model of the 3D connected grip object together with the external surface sensors array for manufacturing.   
     
     
         7 . A system for building an activity-based data collection device to perform as a grip-strength hand exerciser, the system having processes comprising:
 specifying an external surface sensors array, comprising one or more surface located sensors, based on a 2D surface area of an individual's hand to collect pressure data from each finger or from a combination of fingers;   modeling a 3D connected grip object;   projecting a 2D location of the external surface sensors array onto the 3D model of said 3D connect grip object; and   specifying a design of said 3D connected grip object to perform as the grip-strength hand exerciser.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , said process of modeling a 3D connected grip object comprising:
 means for specifying a desired radius for the 3D connected grip object to be manufactured; and   means for specifying a level of indentations to apply to the connected grip object to be manufactured.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , said process of specifying an external surface sensors array comprising:
 specifying up to, at least a number of locations corresponding with an individual's fingers, based on the 2D surface area of the individual's hand to collect pressure data from each finger.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said number of locations corresponding with an individual's fingers comprises:
 specifying up to, at least five locations corresponding with an individual's thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger, based on the 2D surface area of the individual's hand.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said number of locations corresponding with an individual's fingers comprises:
 specifying one or more additional locations corresponding with an individual's palm area, based on the 2D surface area of the individual's hand.