Patent ID: 7095388

Claim:
A system for improving the physical skills of a user performing a given activity, comprising: an imaging device for registering a plurality of performance images of a user during a performance of the given physical activity by the user, wherein the plurality of performance images are taken from a plurality of viewing perspectives; a direct-sight viewer for displaying the registered performance images to the user; a processing station electronically connected to the imaging device and to the direct-sight viewer for receiving the registered performance images from the imaging device, receiving a selection of one of the plurality of viewing perspectives by the user, and relaying the registered performance images taken from the viewing perspective selected by the user to said direct-sight viewer in substantially real-time; and a plurality of generated images of an instructional performance of the physical activity, wherein the plurality of generated images represent instructional performance from a plurality of viewing perspectives, wherein the processing station superimposes the generated images that represent the instructional performance from a viewing perspective that corresponds to the viewing perspective selected by the user and the registered performance images taken from the viewing perspective selected by the user, wherein the generated images further comprise computer-enhanced images of a three-dimensional model performing the physical activity in an idealized manner, wherein said processing station superimposes said computer-enhanced images over the registered performance images, and wherein the computer-enhanced images are computer-engineered images created by gathering data at defined time intervals from at least one skeletal point on at least one selected individual performing the activity; translating the gathered data into positions of a computer-generated skeleton during the physical activity; establishing ideal positions of the computer-generated skeleton at each of the defined time intervals during the physical activity; mapping images of the three-dimensional model performing the activity in an idealized manner based on the ideal positions of the computer-generated skeleton; correcting the mapped images thereby creating a substantially idealized instructional performance of the given activity; and representing the mapped images with images of a three-dimensional skin corresponding anatomically to the mapped images of the computer-generated skeleton.