Patent ID: 8378968

Claim:
A cable based user interface, comprising: a first plurality of translational effecter devices and a second plurality of translational effecter devices, each translational effecter device of the first plurality of translational effecter devices and of the second plurality of translational effecter devices having an electric motor and a spool, the electric motor configured to controllably provide torque to the spool for rotating and counter-rotating the spool; a first plurality of cable segments and a second plurality of cable segments, each one of the cable segments of the first plurality of cable segments coupled to a spool of a respective translational effecter device of the first plurality of translational effecter devices, and each one of the cable segments of the second plurality of cable segments coupled to a spool of a respective translational effecter device of the second plurality of translational effecter devices; a first grip and a second grip, the first grip having the first plurality of cable segments coupled thereto, and the second grip having the second plurality of cable segments coupled thereto; a structure having a front user side and an opposed rear side separated from the front user side by a longitudinal distance, the structure defining a transverse width extending generally between opposed right and left sides of the structure, the structure providing an open workspace volume located between the front user side and the rear side and between the right and left sides of the structure, the open workspace volume sized to receive a right-hand and a left-hand of a user positioned at the front user side of the structure, the structure defining a first plurality of points and a second plurality of points, each point of the first plurality of points configured to have a respective cable segment of the first plurality of cable segments extending therefrom to the first grip, and each point of the second plurality of points configured to have a respective cable segment of the second plurality of cable segments extending therefrom to the second grip; and a grip-dock having at least one grip-coupler configured to receive at least a portion of at least one of the first grip and the second grip and further configured to releasably hold the at least one received grip thereat.