Method and device for sports skill training

A method for use by a player to improve his handling of an object on a surface, comprising:

• a. providing at least one camera positioned such that the field of view of the at least one camera may capture an image of the surface and the object;
• b. providing a processor providing an image processing algorithm adapted to receive data relating to the image of the surface and the object, and to calculate therefrom image data relating to the position of the object on the surface;
• c. providing at least one monitor for viewing an image positioned in front of the player and adapted to receive and display data relating to the position of the object on the surface;
• d. providing means for transmitting data relating to the image of a playing surface and the object to the processor;
• e. providing means for transmitting image data relating to the position of the object on the surface from the processor to the monitor;
• f. capturing an image of the surface and the object;
• data relating to the image of a playing surface processor;
• h. calculating image data relating to the position of the object on the surface;
• i. transmitting image data relating to the position of the object on the surface from the processor to the monitor;
• j. displaying on the monitor data relating to the position of the object on the surface.

A device for use by a player in a gaming environment to control an element of a game, comprising:

• a. a moveable object;
• b. at least one camera positioned such that the field of view of the at least one camera may capture an image of the object;
• c. a processor providing an image processing algorithm adapted to receive data relating to an image of the object adapted to calculate therefrom image data relating to the position of the object and adapted to calculate data relating to the game;
• d. at least one monitor for viewing an image and adapted to receive data relating to the position of the object and data relating to the game;
• e. means for transmitting data relating to the image of the object to the processor;
• f. means for transmitting image data relating to the position of the object and data relating to the game from the processor to the monitor
• wherein the image data relating to the position of the object and data relating to the game is transmitted to the at least one monitor and the image data relating to the position of the object controls an element of the game.