U.S. patent application number 13/131634 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-22 for physical exercise control.
This patent application is currently assigned to KINEWARE OY. Invention is credited to Juha Antero Forsten, Jukka Petri Ronkko.
Application Number | 20110311955 13/131634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40240552 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110311955 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Forsten; Juha Antero ; et
al. |
December 22, 2011 |
PHYSICAL EXERCISE CONTROL
Abstract
A method and corresponding apparatus for controlling physical
exercise, in which an exercise program is stored and presented to a
user as a computer animated instructor. The computer animated
instructor is produced so that the animation corresponds to
movements according to the exercise program. The animation is
synchronized with music and presented to the user on a display.
Inventors: |
Forsten; Juha Antero;
(Espoo, FI) ; Ronkko; Jukka Petri; (Espoo,
FI) |
Assignee: |
KINEWARE OY
Espoo
FI
|
Family ID: |
40240552 |
Appl. No.: |
13/131634 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
November 30, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI09/50958 |
371 Date: |
June 21, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G10H 1/40 20130101; G10H
2210/076 20130101; G16H 20/30 20180101; G10H 1/368 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/247 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 2, 2008 |
FI |
20086152 |
Claims
1. A method for controlling physical exercise, comprising: storing
an exercise program; and presenting the exercise program to a user;
producing a computer animation of an instructor, the animation
corresponding to movements according to the exercise program;
synchronizing the animation with music; and presenting the computer
animation to a user on a display.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the producing of the
animation comprises simulating motion of different body parts of a
3-dimensional character.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the character models a
human being.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronizing of the
animation with music comprises adapting the pace of the animation
according to an external source.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the external source
comprises a music player.
6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the external source
comprises a heart pulse sensor.
7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising, based on the
user input, desired program elements in the exercise program suited
to a given exercise area such as force, aerobic, or balance
exercise.
8. A controller for controlling physical exercise, comprising: a
memory configured to store an exercise program; and a video output
connectable to a display configured to present the exercise program
to a user via the device; a processor configured to produce a
computer animation of an instructor, the animation corresponding to
movements according to the exercise program; wherein the processor
is further configured to synchronize the animation with music; and
wherein the processor is further configured to provide the computer
animation through the video output.
9. A controller according to claim 8, wherein the producing of the
animation comprises simulating motion of different body parts of a
3-dimensional character.
10. A controller according to claim 9, wherein the character models
a human being.
11. A controller according to claim 8, wherein the synchronizing of
the animation with music comprises adapting the pace of the
animation according to an external source.
12. A controller according to claim 11, wherein the external source
comprises a music player.
13. A controller according to claim 11, wherein the external source
comprises an exercise intensity sensor.
14. A controller according to claim 13, wherein the exercise
intensity sensor is a heart pulse sensor.
15. A controller according to claim 11, wherein the processor is
configured to change the exercise program in order to adapt the
exercise to changes in the pace beyond a given threshold.
16. A controller according to claim 8, wherein the processor is
further configured to determine the beat and tempo of the music in
real-time and to synchronize the animation with the music while
providing the animation to the user through the video output.
17. A controller according to claim 8, wherein the processor is
further configured to include, based on the user input, desired
program elements in the exercise program suited to a given exercise
area such as force, aerobic, balance etc.
18. A controller according to claim 8, wherein the processor is
further configured to providing additional computer animation for
additional instructors.
19. A controller according to claim 8, wherein the processor is
further configured to individually control the additional
instructors based on feedback received from different users.
20. A computer program for controlling physical exercise with a
controller comprising a processor, comprising computer executable
program code configured to cause the controller, when executing the
computer program code, to perform: storing an exercise program; and
presenting the exercise program to a user; producing a computer
animation of an instructor, the animation corresponding to
movements according to the exercise program; synchronizing the
animation with music; and presenting the computer animation to a
user on a display.
21. A system comprising a controller for controlling physical
exercise, the controller comprising: a memory configured to store
an exercise program; and a video output connectable to a display
configured to present the exercise program to a user via the
device; a processor configured to produce a computer animation of
an instructor, the animation corresponding to movements according
to the exercise program; wherein the processor is further
configured to synchronize the animation with music; and wherein the
processor is further configured to provide the computer animation
through the video output; the system further comprising user
feedback equipment configured to enable adjustment of the operation
of the controller.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is the US National Stage of International
Application No. PCT/FI2009/050958, having an International Filing
Date of 30 Nov. 2009, which designated the United States of America
and which was published under PCT Article 21(2) as publication no.
WO 2010/063884 A1 on Jun. 10, 2010, and which claims priority to
Finnish Application No. 20086152, filed Dec. 2, 2008, the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The aspects of the disclosed embodiments generally relate to
physical exercise control.
[0004] 2. Brief Description of Related Developments
[0005] Physical exercise is essential for every human being
generally for good health and overall feeling of well-being. There
is a vast resource of different forms of methods and equipment
geared up to this end. However, the fast pace of modern life makes
it difficult to attend to team sports and generally to any exercise
with other people. The scarceness of time also calls for efficiency
to physical exercise. Training should be performed at desired
intensity. Personal trainers may optimize the exercise but not
everyone can afford their services. Hence, new alternatives are
needed for physical exercise.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to a first exemplary aspect of the disclosed
embodiments there is provided a method for controlling physical
exercise, comprising storing an exercise program; and presenting
the exercise program to a user; characterized by: producing a
computer animation of an instructor, the animation corresponding to
movements according to the exercise program; synchronizing the
animation with music; and presenting the computer animation to a
user on a display.
[0007] Advantageously, an animated instructor may be presented to a
user to control her physical exercise according to the exercise
program. Hence, the pace and form of exercise may be controlled by
means of a technical apparatus.
[0008] The producing of the animation may comprise simulating
motion of different body parts of a 3-dimensional character. The
character may model a human being.
[0009] Advantageously, the simulation may enable cost-efficient
storing and combining of a wide selection of different movements in
an exercise program.
[0010] The synchronizing of the animation with music may comprise
adapting the pace of the animation according to an external source.
The external source may comprise a music player and/or an exercise
intensity sensor that may be a heart pulse sensor. The method may
further comprise receiving a signal corresponding to an external
music source by means of a microphone.
[0011] Advantageously, the method may enable adapting the exercise
program into music chosen by the user.
[0012] Advantageously, by using a microphone for receiving a signal
corresponding to the external music source it may be possible to
use also music that is only accessible during its playback (e.g.
DRM protected music or radio stations).
[0013] Advantageously, the method may enable obtaining a feed-back
from the user's heart rate or pulse. The feedback may be obtained
in form of an ANT signal.
[0014] Advantageously, the method may enable adjusting the exercise
according to the user's heart rate. Further advantageously,
standard ANT compatible equipment may be used.
[0015] The method may further comprise increasing the pace of the
animating of the exercise program if the pulse is below a given
lower limit. The method may further comprise reducing the pace of
the animating of the exercise program if the pulse is above a given
higher limit.
[0016] Advantageously, the method may enable fine tuning the
intensity of the exercise by adapting the pace of the animating of
the exercise program.
[0017] The method may further comprise changing the exercise
program in order to adapt the exercise to changes in the pace
beyond a given threshold.
[0018] The method may further comprise maintaining a constant
safety limit and stopping the animating if the pulse reaches or
exceeds the safety limit.
[0019] The method may further comprise analyzing the music to be
used in conjunction with the exercise at least partly before
presenting the animation and producing the animation according to
the preceding analyzing. Advantageously, the music may be obtained
from a music source such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, USB stick, Internet
storage, or local or network music depository.
[0020] The method may comprise determining the beat and tempo of
the music in real-time and adjusting the timing of the animation
while presenting the animation to the user.
[0021] The method may further comprise playing music and presenting
the animation in a synchronized manner and adjusting the tempo of
the music to maintain the synchronization.
[0022] The method may further comprise storing user preferences and
modifying or preparing the exercise taking into account the user
preferences. The preferences may comprise selection of particular
movements to be emphasized or to be avoided.
[0023] Advantageously, the program may be tailored to account for
individual needs such as avoiding risky movements after a surgical
operation or strengthening particularly weak muscles.
[0024] The method may further comprise determining based on the
user input the exercise program. The determining of the exercise
program may comprise including in the program elements suited to a
given exercise area such as force, aerobic, balance etc.
[0025] The method may comprise determining the exercise program
based on predetermined general or tailored recommendations by an
expert. The exercise program may be determined such that muscles
for opposite movements are balanced.
[0026] The method may further comprise providing additional
computer animation for additional instructors. The method may
further comprise controlling individually the additional
instructors based on feedback received from different users.
[0027] According to a second aspect of the disclosed embodiments,
there is provided a controller for controlling physical exercise,
comprising: a memory configured to store an exercise program; and a
video output connectable to a display configured to present the
exercise program to a user via the device; characterized in that
the controller further comprises: a processor configured to produce
a computer animation of an instructor, the animation corresponding
to movements according to the exercise program; and the processor
is further configured to provide the computer animation through the
video output.
[0028] The controller may comprise an electronic device that is
configured to provide a further function. The controller may be
based on a desktop computer, portable computer, game console,
portable game device, personal digital assistant device, or mobile
communication device.
[0029] According to a third aspect of the disclosed embodiments,
there is provided a computer program for controlling physical
exercise, comprising computer executable program code configured to
cause a computer to perform the method according to the first
aspect of the invention when executing the program.
[0030] According to a fourth aspect of the disclosed embodiments,
there is provided a system comprising a controller according to the
second aspect of the disclosed embodiments and user feedback
equipment for enabling adjustment of the operation of the
controller.
[0031] The system may further comprise a display device configured
to present the animation under control of the controller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The aspects of the disclosed embodiments will be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematic picture of a system according to an
aspect of the disclosed embodiments;
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a controller
suited for operating in the system shown in FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a process according to an
aspect of the disclosed embodiments;
[0036] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary graph illustrating heart rate of
the user and different thresholds and events according to an aspect
of the disclosed embodiments; and
[0037] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a process according to an
aspect of the disclosed embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] In the following description, like numbers denote like
elements.
[0039] FIG. 1 shows a schematic picture of a system 100 according
to an aspect of the disclosed embodiments. The system comprises a
controller 110, a display device 120, a music player 130, a pulse
sensor 140, and a remote station 150 communicatively connectable to
the controller 110. FIG. 1 also illustrates a user 160, a view 170
on the display device 120 and a remote control 180 for controlling
various features of the controller 110. The remote control 180 may
be, for instance, a dedicated device or an incorporated
functionality in a multipurpose device such as a wrist computer or
a mobile phone. The multipurpose device may be capable of
communicating with the controller 110 using ANT protocol.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a controller 110 suited for
operating in the system shown in FIG. 1. The controller 110
comprises a processor 210, a memory 220 for use by the processor in
order to control the operation of the controller 110, a persistent
memory 230 for storing long-term data such as software 240
typically comprising an operating system and computer executable
applications, a user interface 250 for user interaction such as
video and audio output and for receiving commands and/or settings
from the user 160, an input/output system 260 for communication
with remote entities such as the remote station 150, a music player
270 and a pulse sensor 280. The pulse sensor may be any
commercially available pulse sensor, such as a pulse detection
belt. The pulse sensor may be configured to wirelessly transmit a
pulse signal or heartbeat signal as a proprietary or standardised
signal such as an ANT signal that is provided by various modern
pulse detectors.
[0041] The processor 210 may be e.g. a microprocessor CPU, a
digital signal processor DSP, or generally any digital signal
processor or combination of different individual processors.
[0042] The controller 110 may be based on an existing electronic
device. For instance, the controller may be based on a desktop
computer, portable computer, game console, portable game device,
personal digital assistant device, or mobile communication
device.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a process according to an
aspect of the disclosed embodiments. The process starts from step
310 in which exercise programs are stored so that they are usable
in the following steps. The programs may be stored one at the time
or in larger number in the remote station 150 or in the controller
110. The programs may be classified according to their primary use
(e.g. balance, strength, aerobic training) and have different
alternative movement sequences within each main class. Moreover,
the different alternative sequences may be associated with weighing
factors which correspond to the intensity of the workout.
[0044] In step 320, the user 160 selects the type of exercise
program or a particular exercise program. The selection may be made
using the UI 250 of the controller 110.
[0045] The controller then renders an animation 330 according to
instructions contained by the program. The rendering may be
performed by the processor 210 according to the software 240 and
presented on the display device as illustrated as the view 170. The
animation may also comprise audible instructions by means of voice
or sounds such as claps of hands. Audible instructions are
particularly advantageous, because during exercise people may not
wear their normal eyeglasses or may have to turn on occasions such
that watching the display device 120 may be inconvenient or even
impossible.
[0046] The animation may be synchronised 340 with music that is
played during the workout. The synchronising 340 may be performed
by means of the controller. The synchronising 340 may be performed
using an associated music player in real-time or in advanced.
Alternatively, an independent music player may be used to play back
the music. In case of an independent music play back, real-time
detecting of the tempo and beat may be performed under e.g. by the
controller 110 or by associated equipment. In case of independently
played music, the controller may obtain an electric signal
corresponding to the music e.g. by using a microphone or line-in
connection. The electric signal may be normalised by means of an
automatic gain control circuitry and filtered by removing normal
exercise originated noises that can interfere with detection of the
rhythm and beat of the music. The controller may then detect the
beat of the music in real-time with analogue circuitry or digital
circuitry possibly in conjunction with software. In yet another
alternative, the controller may obtain the music to be played in
digital form together with beat and tempo data such that the player
is aware of the beat and tempo during playback without need to
analyse the music. Anyhow, it is appreciated that music may provide
timing for accurate workout of a given exercise program and that
thus the music has a technical effect in enabling synchronising of
the user's or trainer's workout.
[0047] As part the synchronising 340, audible instructions may also
be added or modified in the animation (step 350) in order to inform
the user 160 of a change in the beat and/or tempo of the
animation.
[0048] The controller presents 360 the animation with the display
device 120 on the view 170.
[0049] In connection with the presenting 360 of the animation, the
controller 110 may continually obtain pulse information indicative
of the pulse of the user 160 from the pulse sensor 140. The
controller may then determine 370 if the intensity of the exercise
should be altered. The determination may be based on comparing the
pulse with given thresholds. The thresholds may comprise any of the
following: an upper fine-tuning limit (th.sub.3) on meeting which
the exercise should be slowed down; an upper major limit (th.sub.4)
on meeting which the intensity of the exercise should be reduced by
changing the exercise program to a lighter one; a safety limit
(th.sub.5) meeting which the exercise will be stopped; a lower
fine-tuning limit (th.sub.2) on meeting which the exercise should
be speeded-up; a lower major limit (th.sub.1) on meeting which the
intensity of the exercise should be increased by changing the
exercise program to a heavier one; a lowest limit (th.sub.0)
meeting which the pulse detection is apparently inoperable and the
user should be advised to check the sensor. The thresholds,
associated actions and pulse are further described with reference
to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0050] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary graph illustrating heart rate of
the user and different thresholds and events according to an aspect
of the disclosed embodiments. The thresholds th.sub.0 to th.sub.5
were explained in the foregoing. At start, on time instant t.sub.0,
the user is starting to exercise and her pulse is at about the
lower major limit th.sub.1. At this point of time, no adjustment is
yet to be carried out as the pulse clearly has not yet reached a
stationary. Then, on working out the exercise program, the user
experiences an increase in the pulse that meets the lower fine tune
limit th.sub.2 at a first instant of time t.sub.1 which is still
within an initial start-up period t.sub.st. However, by a second
instant of time t.sub.2 the start-up period has lapsed and the
pulse is still between the lower fine-tuning limit th.sub.2 and the
upper fine-tuning limit th.sub.3. Hence, the pulse now resides in
the target region and the exercise continues. There is then a
change in the program such that the pulse starts to climb.
[0051] On time instant t.sub.2 the pulse has increased to the upper
fine-tuning limit th.sub.2. The pace of the exercise is then
reduced to fine-tune the exercise. In case that the exercise is
synchronised with music, the fine-tuning may be bound to the beat
of the music. In one embodiment, further adjustability is gained by
altering the tempo of the music playback (slowing down the music by
a relatively small amount). Such a tempo reduction may be performed
either using frequency domain computation such that the audible
frequencies of the music remain subjectively unchanged (as is known
e.g. from the Windows Media Player.TM. version 11). The exercise
may then continue with slightly lower tempo, but in this example
the pulse is still climbing fast so that soon after the pulse
exceeds the upper major limit th.sub.4 and the exercise program is
adapted. Lighter movements are being made and the reduced intensity
is reflected by the pulse evening out and then starting to
decline.
[0052] The pulse then crosses the upper major limit th.sub.4 and
the upper fine-tuning limit th.sub.3 on time instants t.sub.4 and
t.sub.5, respectively. In this case, the pulse develops towards the
target region so that the exercise program is not changed before
the pulse exits the target region between the upper and lower
fine-tuning limits th.sub.3 and th.sub.2. On time instant t.sub.6,
after a relatively short period after the time the pulse has come
to the target region, the pulse goes below the lower fine-tuning
limit th.sub.2. The tempo of the exercise is then increased in
order to slightly intensify the workout. As a result, the curve
illustrating the pulse becomes less declining. The pulse yet keeps
on decreasing and at instant t.sub.7, the pulse becomes lower than
the lower major limit th.sub.1. In response, the exercise program
is changes to a heavier one. The pulse may still linger under the
lower major limit for some time e.g. if the user has paused the
exercise or has to spend some time to learn a new movement or
sequence of movements, or if the user has to change orientation and
thereby spend some time before the exercise may continue. Here, the
pulse exceeds again the lower major limit th.sub.1 at time t.sub.8,
but soon after the pulse detection slopes down almost vertically
through the lowest limit th.sub.0,
[0053] The lowest limit signifies that the pulse information is no
longer available. This may be caused, for instance, by a lost
contact between a pulse sensor belt contacts and the skin of the
user 160 near her heart, or by some other failure. The decline of
the pulse may not be vertical because typically the pulse is
averaged over some period of time in order to stabilise the control
of the exercise intensity. On detecting that the pulse goes below
the lowest limit th.sub.0, the user 160 may be instructed to ensure
the attachment and operability of the pulse sensor 140.
[0054] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a process according to an
aspect of the disclosed embodiments suited for the synchronising
step 340 in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 presents some embodiments of the
disclosure, including real-time detecting of rhythm in step 510 and
determining of beat timing 520 of music that may be played by an
independent music player. The process determines 530 the timing of
repeated movements in the program and then determines a correlation
540 between the detected movement timing and the beat. It is
understood that typical movements start on a first time from a
start position and arrive on a second time to an end position.
Either or both the first and second times may be used as a basis to
determine a pace that is aligned with the rhythm of the music.
Basically, the basis may be determined by selecting a pace that is
closest to the rhythm of the music in terms of sequential beats. If
the correlation requires a major change in the pace of the
animation, it is apparent that the current exercise program is
poorly suited to the present piece of music and thus either one
should be changed. In an embodiment (not shown) in which the music
source is controlled by the exercise system, a better suited piece
of music may be selected if present in which case the operation
would resume to step 510. However, in case that the music is not
controlled by the exercise system, a major change need in the pace
causes advancing to step 550 in which an alternative program is
searched and if found, the program is changed to better suit with
the currently played music. If no suitable program is identified,
the exercise may be stopped and/or the user may be prompted for
changing the type of the exercise in order to identify a suitable
program. After step 550, the operation resumes to step 530.
[0055] If on the other hand the correlation was good such that the
pace was close to the rhythm or even matching with the rhythm, the
pace of the animation is only fine-tuned 560 so as to maintain the
animation in the rhythm of the music. If minor changes are needed,
they may be performed gradually based on proportional, differential
and/or integrating control.
[0056] In step 570, the animation proceeds. The animation is
produced from a given point of view. The point of view can be
changed and/or another parallel animation from a different point of
view may be simultaneously provided in order to show the animated
character from different angles and for facilitating learning of a
new movement.
[0057] In one embodiment, the system comprises a speech recognition
unit for guiding the system. Such a unit can be configured to
enable speech-controlled shift of the point of view from which the
animation is being presented. Further or alternatively, a remote
controller 180 may be provided for controlling the animation and/or
music play back, to adjust the speed of the animation, to advance
or reverse in the animation, to pause the animation, to change the
animation to another, and/or to control other options of the
system.
[0058] In step 580, a heartbeat signal is compared with the target
intensity level of the exercise program. If the heart rate is at
its target or within the fine-tuning limits, the operation resumes
to step 510 (while the presenting of the animation continues). On
the other hand, if there is a minor deviation beyond the
fine-tuning limits but within the major limits, the operation
proceeds to step 540 with an instruction to correspondingly
increase or decrease the pace. In order to find a synchronisation
with the music, the operation thus resumes all the way to step 540
rather than returns just to step 560 (which is yet done in an
alternative embodiment). By resuming to step 540, the exercise may
be suitably adjusted to steer the exercise such that the heartbeat
would remain within desired range. However, if the heartbeat is far
from the target range i.e. below a lower major limit or above a
higher major limit (but below the safety limit), the operation
resumes to step 550 with an instruction to change the program (to a
lighter or heavier one) depending on the heartbeat signal.
[0059] Alternatively or additionally to using heart beat, other
measures of the intensity of the exercise may also be used as an
input to control the exercise by adapting the animation. Such
measures involve, for instance, one or more of acoustic observing
of the breathing sounds, direct or indirect measurements of
breathing such as measuring muscle action or air flow, sweating,
heat production (e.g. measured by an infra-red light sensor), and
energy directed to the floor by the user on performing the
movements,
[0060] The inventors have realized that physical exercise can be
guided by a computer operable animated virtual instructor using
interactive three-dimensional (3D) animation. The interactive 3D
animation further enables providing free interactive viewpoint
movement during presentation of the animation.
[0061] The 3D animation may be based on a commonly known skeletal
animation paradigm. The animation is beneficial over recorded video
e.g. by efficient animation storage, the possibility to combine
animations from different sources also at runtime, ability to
produce a common animation with different characters, and the
ability to change the point of view without excessive memory
consumption (without parallel recorded video footage). The point of
view of the animation may also be shifted by the user during the
presentation of the animation.
[0062] It is appreciated that the animation may be based on
movements recorded from a real person. The animation may also
contain synthetic data such as random noise or deviations which
makes repeating sequences appear natural.
[0063] In the examples of this description, various embodiments
were explained by reference to one user who exercises making use of
an animated exercise instructor. It is yet to be understood that
more than one exercise instructors can be animated using common or
separate circuitry so as to enable different parallel views on the
similarly acting or of different instructors. For instance,
different animated instructors can be used to present workout of
differing difficulty and/or intensity. Thus, different users can
simultaneously exercise based on a common presentation of different
animated instructors. The different animated instructors may be
presented on one or more displays connected to a common controller.
It is even possible to make use of more than one controller in
parallel and have them each operate according to music that is
played and listened to by each individual controller. In this case,
a common microphone or audio input can be shared between different
controllers.
[0064] When multiple animated exercisers are presented, and
individual intensity feedback equipment (e.g. pulse detector) is
used to control the intensity of the exercise, a user can simply
follow such an animated instructor that best suits to the users own
preferences. Alternatively, different users may have individual
intensity feedback equipment (e.g. pulse detector) in order to
adapt the operation of a corresponding animated instructor.
Alternatively, if there are more than one users corresponding to a
common animated instructor, feedback may be neglected or the
exercise may be controlled based on an averaging between different
users' feedback such that the intensity is kept on average at an
appropriate level. In such a case, individual messages may yet be
presented to such users who should either work harder e.g. by
making more efficient movements, work lighter e.g. by making less
efficient movements, stop the exercise altogether or verify the
operation of his or her feedback equipment.
[0065] The foregoing description has provided by way of
non-limiting examples of particular implementations and aspects of
the disclosed embodiments a full and informative description of the
best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out
the invention. It is however clear to a person skilled in the art
that the invention is not restricted to details of the embodiments
presented above, but that it can be implemented in other
embodiments using equivalent means or in different combinations of
embodiments without deviating from the characteristics of the
invention.
[0066] Furthermore, some of the features of the above-disclosed
embodiments of this invention may be used to advantage without the
corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing
description shall be considered as merely illustrative of the
principles of the present invention, and not in limitation thereof.
Hence, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the
appended patent claims.
* * * * *