Interactive motion training device and method

A motion training device enabling a student to interactively emulate in real time an actual continuously moving image of an instructor performing a selected motion, the device comprising:

• at least one video camera configured to transmit a real time background having at least one live image of the student dynamically performing the selected motion;
• at least one monitor configured for viewing by the student while performing the selected motion;
• at least one, digitized motion template having at least one stored moving image of the instructor dynamically performing the selected motion;
• and means for superimposing the at least one motion template onto the real time background and simultaneously displaying the resulting combination of the at least one motion template and the real time background on the at least one monitor, wherein the at least one motion template delineates at least the outline of the instructor's body dynamically performing the selected motion.

In a motion training device enabling a student to interactively emulate in real time an actual, continuously moving image of an instructor performing a selected motion, a system comprising:

• at least one video camera configured to transmit a real time background having at least one live image of the student dynamically performing the selected motion;
• at least one monitor configured for viewing by the student while performing the selected motion;
• at least one motion template having a stored image of the instructor dynamically performing the selected motion, the view of the stored image of the instructor being the same as the view of the real time background provided by said at least one video camera wherein the at least one video camera has the same lens characteristics and position as a camera used to record the stored image;
• means for superimposing the at least one motion template onto the real time background, simultaneously displaying the resulting combination of the at least one motion template and the real time background on the monitor, and automatically repeating the at least one motion template at a selected interval, wherein the at least one motion template delineates at least the outline of the instructor's body dynamically performing the selected motion;
• and means for advancing the motion template frame by frame.

A network of motion training devices for enabling students to each interactively emulate in real time an actual, continuously moving image of an instructor performing a selected motion, the network comprising:

• a centrally located database having a plurality of digitized, motion templates, each motion template having a stored image of a different instructor dynamically performing the selected motion;
• and a plurality of motion training devices, each device including:
• a video camera configured to transmit a real time background having a live image of the student dynamically performing the selected motion;
• a monitor configured for viewing by the student while performing the selected motion;
• means for superimposing one of the plurality of motion templates onto the real time background and simultaneously displaying on the monitor the resulting combination of the motion template and the real time background;
• means for selecting one of the plurality of digitized motion templates from the database and transporting the selected motion template to the superimposing means;
• and means for advancing the motion template frame by frame.

A programmed computer for motion training by enabling a student to interactively emulate in real time an actual, continuously moving image of an instructor performing a selected motion, the computer comprising:

• at least one input signal from a video camera configured to transmit a real time background having at least one live image of the student dynamically performing the selected motion;
• at least one output signal to at least one monitor configured for viewing by the student while performing the selected motion;
• at least one digitized motion template having a recorded image of the instructor dynamically performing the selected motion;
• means for superimposing the at least one digitized motion template onto the real time background and simultaneously displaying on the at least one monitor the resulting combination of the at least one motion template and the real time background scene,
• wherein the at least one motion template delineates at least the outline of the instructor's body dynamically performing the selected motion;
• and means for optionally advancing the motion template frame by frame.