Method for providing human input to a computer

Abstract

The invention provides a method for providing human input to a computer which allows a user to interact with a display connected to the computer. The method includes the steps of placing a first target on a first portion of the user's body, using an electro-optical sensing means, sensing data related to the location of the first target and data related to the location of a second portion of the user's body, the first and second portions of the user's body being movable relative to each other, providing an output of the electro-optical sensing means to the input of the computer, determining the location of the first target and the location of the second portion of the user's body, and varying the output of the computer to the display based upon the determined locations for contemporaneous viewing by the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for performing operations based on detected targets, comprising:
 a sensing device configured for collecting data on one or more targets; and   a computing device in communication with the sensing device, the computing device capable of
 receiving the data from the sensing device, 
 determining a location of each of the one or more targets, and 
 performing an operation based on the location of the targets and their relationship to each other. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each target is configured for attachment to a user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further capable of determining a spatial relationship between the one or more targets and performing the operation based on the determined spatial relationship. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the computing device is further capable of identifying one or more user body parts to which a target has been attached. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the computing device is further capable of compiling corresponding position and motion data of the one or more identified user body parts. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the computing device is further capable of identifying a user activity from the identified user body parts and the corresponding position and motion data of the one or more user body parts. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more targets are configured for transmitting signals to the sensing device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is configured for detecting the one or more targets. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the computing device is further capable of identifying the user from the identified user body parts and the corresponding position and motion data of the one or more user body parts. 
     
     
         10 . A system for performing operations based on detected targets, comprising:
 means for collecting data on one or more targets; and   means for receiving the data from the sensing device, determining a location of each of the one or more targets, and performing an operation based on the location of the targets and their relationship to each other.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each target is configured for attachment to a user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising means for determining a spatial relationship between the one or more targets and performing the operation based on the determined spatial relationship. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising means for identifying one or more user body parts to which a target has been attached. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising means for compiling corresponding position and motion data of the one or more identified user body parts. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising means for identifying a user activity from the identified user body parts and the corresponding position and motion data of the one or more user body parts. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more targets are configured for transmitting signals to the sensing device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the means for collecting the data on the one or more targets comprises means for detecting the one or more targets. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising means for identifying the user from the identified user body parts and the corresponding position and motion data of the one or more user body parts. 
     
     
         19 . A method for performing operations based on detected targets, comprising:
 collecting data on one or more targets;   determining a location of each of the one or more targets, and   performing an operation based on the location of the targets and their relationship to each other.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising attaching each target to a user. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising determining a spatial relationship between the one or more targets and performing the operation based on the determined spatial relationship. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising identifying one or more user body parts to which a target has been attached. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising compiling corresponding position and motion data of the one or more identified user body parts. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising identifying a user activity from the identified user body parts and the corresponding position and motion data of the one or more user body parts. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising identifying the user from the identified user body parts and the corresponding position and motion data of the one or more user body parts.