Abstract: A dancing machine includes a base which has stepped stages and each of the two stepped stages has a plurality of step-on pads connected thereon. A signal nit is located in front of the base so as to provide lights, music, and how many calories have been burned. The players move their feet up and down to step on the pads on the stepped stages.

Abstract: To evaluate a game playing performance from a new point of view, a control method for controlling a game machine allowing a player to enjoy stepping while listening to game music, comprises the steps of detecting whether or not the player puts their foot or feet on each of a plurality of step positions; judging, based on a detection result on the step position, according to which, of a plurality of pattern changes, a state of the player's feet relative to the plurality of step positions has changed to; calculating, based on the determined pattern change, an energy consumption amount due to a change of the state of the player's feet; calculating an accumulative energy consumption amount by accumulating an energy consumption amount calculated after a predetermined timing; and reporting the accumulative energy consumption amount calculated to the player.

Abstract: The present invention describes set of weighted practice cups for training for cup stacking competitions as well as the production of the cups and methods of training using the cups.

Abstract: A physical motion state evaluation apparatus is configured by a foot switch unit for detecting user's step motions, physical motion state detectors for detecting motions of prescribed parts (e.g., hands, foot) of a user's body, a display and a musical tone generator. Herein, the physical motion state detector is configured by a projector unit for projecting optical beams along optical axes and a receiver unit for receiving the optical beams respectively, so that the receiver unit detects a shutoff event in which the prescribed part of the user's body shuts off at least one of the optical beams. Physical motion state instructions request a user to move the prescribed parts of the user's body to instructed positions at instruction timings respectively, so that the physical motion state detectors provide detection timings at which the prescribed parts of the user's body are precisely moved to the instructed positions in conformity with the instruction timings.

Abstract: A program drive device for computers and game machines, designed to run a variety of game programs, aerobic programs or dance programs on personal computers, commercial computers, personal game machines, or commercial game machines, under the control of users' physical action, is disclosed. The program drive device of this invention consists of a pad having a predetermined area and provided with a plurality of rails thereon. A support column movably engages with each of said rails while standing upright on the rail, and is movable along the rail as desired, and is fixed to the rail at an adjustable position. Upper and lower sensor units are movably installed in each of the support columns of the rails at upper and lower portions such that the sensor units are movable along each support column and are fixed to the support column at adjustable positions.

Abstract: A snowboard teaching and recreational device by which an instructor may direct the movement, weight shift and control the center of gravity of the pupil. The device preferably uses two parallel tubes as a support frame, with two crossbars secured to the support frame and spaced handle grips on each crossbar. The instructor grasps one end of the support frame while the pupil grasps the opposite end, thereby allowing the instructor to direct the weight shift and movements of the pupil through use of the said device.

Abstract: An apparatus for educational and/or recreational learning provides a means for stimulus or query to test skill and knowledge, generate a response to the stimulus or query, and rewards correct responses to reinforce learning. The educational and/or recreational apparatus has at least one housing containing at least one compartment. The housing has a modular exterior surface appropriate for joining with other housings. Each compartment in each housing is associated with a first opening on a surface of the housing. At the first opening of each compartment is a removable cover. Each removable cover at each compartment is placed at each first opening to selectively expose and conceal an interior of each compartment. The educational and/or recreational apparatus further has at least one display device such as a shelf or a transparent pocket to display member or information card.

Abstract: Disclosed is a game system which matches a player's tastes. In a game system operating in time with music, it is possible to select an edit mode for editing timing data which define timings of operations. In the edit mode, an edit window having a predetermined display range is displayed on a screen of a display device in correspondence with information representing a position in a tune. Images in the edit window are scrolled so that the position of a target to be edited set inside the edit window moves forward and backward through the tune. When an operation is performed to provide marks, timing data for showing an operation timing of a control member provided in correspondence with the operation is provided at the position of the edit object in the edit window, and in addition, the timing data during editing is updated so that the position in the tune corresponding to the position of the edit object is defined as a operation timing.

Abstract: A method and system with a magnetically attractive breadboard and associated devices for constructing and testing electronic circuits. The breadboard can comprise a single or multi-layer circuit board with metallic foil conductors that can be connected to magnetically attractive pads. Electrical contacts between the pads and foil conductors can be made by wrapping the foil over an edge of insulating material. The insulating material can comprise a flexible insulation sheet with the desired circuit printed thereon. The electronic components are preferably supported by component holders which contain magnets that are attracted to the breadboard. The component holders facilitate attachment of the components to the foil conductors. A circuit can be built by selecting the desired component holder, plugging he component into the component holder, and then attaching the component holder to the breadboard on the proper foil conductor to complete the circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus is equipped to provide dance visualization of a stream of music. The apparatus is equipped with a sampler to generate characteristic data for a plurality of samples of a received stream of music, and an analyzer to determine a music type for the stream of music using the generated characteristic data. The apparatus is further provided with a player to manifest a plurality of dance movements for the stream of music in accordance with the determined music type of the stream of music.

Abstract: Rhythm sensations can be represented in time to music by using the entire body and to create powerfulness and rhythm sensations. Stepping position indication data which is set by a rhythm setting section is read from a stepping position indication data memory, and the stepping position instruction contents are scrolled and displayed on a monitor by a scroll display control section, thereby performing instructions of the stepping position and the stepping operation timing. When the fact that a player steps on a step-on base section in accordance with the display contents of the monitor is detected by a cable switch and this is input from a stepping operation monitor section, a score proportional to the timing deviation is calculated by an amount-of-deviation detection/totaling section, and next, an evaluation is performed by the rhythm setting section. Then, the next stepping position indication data is set according to the evaluation result.

Abstract: A training shoe is disclosed. The shoe, preferably a soft shoe such as a slipper is designed to emit audio and/or physical stimuli which assists the user in learning dance or other steps. The shoe comprises electromechanical members which are responsive to electrical output signals to control movement to guide a user to perform the appropriate dance steps. In preferred embodiments, the shoe also comprises a loudspeaker through which music is played. In alternate embodiments, the electromechanical members are responsive to audio stimuli such as the music from the loudspeaker on the shoe or from other musical sources.

Abstract: Rhythm sensations can be represented in time to music by using the entire body and to create powerfulness and rhythm sensations. Stepping position indication data which is set by a rhythm setting section is read from a stepping position indication data memory, and the stepping position instruction contents are scrolled and displayed on a monitor by a scroll display control section, thereby performing instructions of the stepping position and the stepping operation timing. When the fact that a player steps on a step-on base section in accordance with the display contents of the monitor is detected by a cable switch and this is input from a stepping operation monitor section, a score proportional to the timing deviation is calculated by an amount-of-deviation detection/totaling section, and next, an evaluation is performed by the rhythm setting section. Then, the next stepping position indication data is set according to the evaluation result.

Abstract: A snap-fit assembled wrist mount for special receptacle rotatable tray holders for graphics and special receptacle rotatable platform holders for electronic devices.

Abstract: A device is provided which permits the user to learn to dance without substantial need to concentrate on understanding the order of foot positions from a complex diagram, but rather by immediately understanding the foot positions, thus permitting the user to focus his/her concentration on learning the foot positions and resulting in efficient dance instruction. The device includes a progress controller 1 formed as a microprocessor or the like, a display such as a liquid crystal display, a mode setter 2 constructed as a track pad and also icons, buttons and a list displayed on the screen of the display 6. The hardware of the device can be embodied as a light-weight notebook-type personal computer of about A5-type.

Abstract: A special receptacle which fastens on a user's wrist for mounting small electronic devices or printed graphics.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method of using the apparatus for teaching horseback riding skills without the use of a horse. The apparatus is secured to the student so that the student may move about. The student uses reins to manipulate a bit. A pendulum suspended from a spring simulates the motion of a horse's mouth. A feedback mechanism compares the tension exerted by the student on the reins to the simulated motion of the horse's mouth, assisting the student in learning how to follow the bit and other riding skills.

Abstract: A special receptacle which mounts on a user's wrist for holding and displaying visual aids as used by ice skaters.

Abstract: A video dance game apparatus for displaying an image of at least two dancers on a screen and controlling the dancers to play various dance performances in accordance with an external operation to thereby offer a dance game, is provided with: an image displaying device for displaying the image of the dancers; a dance music output device for outputting a music signal indicating a dance music; a beat information generating device for generating beat information on the basis of the music signal; a dance performance data selecting and reading out device for selecting and reading out one of the dance performance data pieces stored in a dance performance data memory device; an image control device for controlling the image displaying device to change the image of the dancers such that the dancers play a dance performance corresponding to the read out dance performance data piece; an operation device by which the external operation is inputted, for operating the dance performance data selecting and reading out device

Abstract: Devices and methods for the assessment and biofeedback training of coordination skills of a subject critical to maximizing the power and accuracy of athletic ball-strike activities. In preferred embodiments, the invention provides for assessment and biofeedback training of weight bearing and center of gravity control under conditions requiring the athlete to strike a ball such that the distance and direction of flight trajectory of the ball are accurate relative to a performance goal. One embodiment of the invention includes a body movement sensor, a ball strike sensor, a display, and a computer. The body movement sensor provides an output indicative of the motion of the subject's body over a period of time including the moment of ball strike. The computer causes the display to show both a trajectory of the motion of the subject's body and the moment of ball strike in relation to a region of the trajectory.

Abstract: A step exercising system for choreographing an aerobic step workout comprising: step support structure including a plurality of spaced-apart step surfaces supported above a ground surface by respective step heights that are selected to enable a user to step from the ground surface onto the step surfaces during a step workout; a cuing device for indicating to the user which step surfaces to step on; and a controller coupled to the cuing device and constructed and arranged to activate the cuing device to indicate to the user an ordered sequence of step surfaces to step on, thereby choreographing an aerobic step workout for the user. Step exercising methods based upon the above-mentioned step exercising system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Educational devices using process-oriented educational methods are disclosed to prepare pre-school children, school children, and teenagers for keyboarding. The devices include sets of gloves and indicia applied to the fingers of the gloves to provide pictorial and alphanumeric representations of the computer keyboard. The visual and tactile memorization of the glove images are complemented by auditory and associative memorization provided by a story-telling educational method. Synergistic use of the gloves in the context of supervised story-telling also trains the pre-school children to develop and practise both lateral and vertical thinking skills.sup.1-2, thus preparing them for coping creatively with the inherent hardware/software limitations of computers. The memorization of the alphanumeric representation of the computer keyboard is reinforced through synergistic use of the gloves in a variety of activities including learning the alphabet, learning word-spelling, and learning languages.

Abstract: A teaching device for indicating in real time the movement of a selected part of a person's body beyond a desired boundary limit is provided, as well as a method for teaching a person to control his or her body movement in response to alarms provided by the teaching device. The teaching device includes an element for detecting movement of the selected body part beyond a boundary limit, a first alarm element for providing a first alarm indicating encroachment of a nominal misalignment zone in which the body part is nominally out of alignment with a preferred location thereof, and a second alarm element for providing a second alarm in response to encroachment by the selected body part of a significant misalignment zone in which the selected body part is significantly out of alignment with the preferred location thereof. The first alarm provided by a first alarm element is an intermittent beeping tone and a blinking light.

Abstract: An illustrated garment for the instructional purpose of describing kinesthetic sensibility of certain actioning modality forms. The garment in the form of a close-fitting leotard covering the limbs and torso can be illustrated with diamonds and circles for the crystalline form of actioning modality or with cup-shaped markings for the kinespheric form of actioning modality or with oblong loop shapes for the kinetic form of actioning modality.

Abstract: An electrically chargeable plate of predetermined surface area is retained in contact with the skin of each of two participants. An electrical conductor connects each plate to one of the two terminals of the audio output of one of the channels of a stereo amplifier while the other channel plays through its speaker. Physical contact between the participants completes the circuit enabling both participants to feel the modulated impulses of the sound as well as hear the output of the speaker on the other channel. Both plates may be worn by one person to experience a comparable feeling or one plate and an electrically chargeable wand used in place of or in addition to the other plate enables either one or two persons to participate.