Wearable sensor system with gesture recognition for measuring physical performance

A physical exercise method, said method comprising:

• mounting a sensor on a hand, a wrist, or a finger of a user, wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer;
• communicating movement of the sensor, detected by the accelerometer, to an information processor;
• after the mounting the sensor, recognizing at least one start gesture that involves movement of the accelerometer, communicated to the information processor;
• and
• after the recognizing the at least one start gesture, tracking movement of the sensor while the user performs physical exercise with exercise equipment, and calculating motion parameters of the physical exercise from tracked movement of the sensor.

A device for providing exercise information to a user while the user is exercising comprisinq:

• an accelerometer disposed about a user's finger for measuring motion of the user's finger;
• an information processor that receives information from said accelerometer via a wireless system, said information processor being programmed to calculate motion parameters via said received information;
• means for starting and stopping the calculation of said motion parameters by said information processor;
• and
• means for indicating predetermined quantities of physical performance of the user to the user while the user is exercising, whereby the user is capable of providing exercise motion information to the information processor and to start and stop the operation of the information processor via an accelerator disposed about one finger;
• wherein said means for indicating predetermined quantities of physical performance includes means for reading acceleration magnitude and finger movement information by said information processor, for quantifying and displaying physical performance data for a time period determined by at least one finger start gesture and at least one finger stop gesture.