Systems and Methods for Guiding Swimmers

Abstract

A system for guiding a swimmer that includes a destination device configured to be arranged near a destination location which a swimmer will swim towards. The system further includes directional determination equipment configured to determine a direction the swimmer should swim towards based, at least in part, on the swimmer's current position in reference to the destination device. The system further includes directional guidance equipment configured to indicate to the swimmer the determined direction the swimmer should swim towards, wherein the directional guidance equipment includes a first guidance device configured to be worn by the swimmer while swimming and having first vibration hardware for vibrating the first guidance device, and wherein the directional guidance equipment dynamically indicates for the swimmer to swim in the direction via at least the first vibration means.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A guidance system for use by visually impaired individuals comprising:
 a directional determination device configured to calculate a position of an individual and to determine a calculated direction the individual should head towards based on the position of the individual; and   a first directional guidance device configured to dynamically indicate to the individual the calculated direction the individual should head towards, wherein the first directional guidance device comprises a first vibrator configured to vibrate to indicate to the individual the calculated direction relative to the position of the individual.   
     
     
         26 . The guidance system of  claim 25 , further comprising a destination beacon located at or near a destination location. 
     
     
         27 . The guidance system of  claim 26 , wherein the destination beacon transmits a signal to the directional determination device for determining the calculated direction. 
     
     
         28 . The guidance system of  claim 27 , wherein the first directional guidance device determines a first distance between the individual and the destination beacon. 
     
     
         29 . The guidance system of  claim 26 , wherein the first vibrator is configured to have a variable intensity of vibration, and wherein the intensity of the first vibrator increases upon the individual approaching the destination beacon. 
     
     
         30 . The guidance system of  claim 26 , wherein the destination beacon is associated with a unique ID. 
     
     
         31 . The guidance system of  claim 25 , further comprising a second directional guidance device configured to dynamically indicate to the individual the calculated direction the individual should head towards, wherein the second directional guidance device comprises a second vibrator configured to vibrate as dynamic indication of the calculated direction relative to the position of the individual. 
     
     
         32 . The guidance system of  claim 31 , wherein the first directional guidance device is located on a first side of the individual, wherein the second direction guidance device is located on a second side of the individual opposite of the first side, and wherein the first directional guidance device and the second directional guidance device coordinate with each other to dynamically indicate to the individual the calculated direction via coordinating vibration of the first and second vibrators. 
     
     
         33 . The guidance system of  claim 25 , wherein the directional determination device comprises a predetermined course for the individual, and wherein the calculated direction is based on the position of the individual and the predetermined course. 
     
     
         34 . The guidance system of  claim 25 , wherein the directional determination device a global positioning system configured to obtain a GPS position. 
     
     
         35 . The guidance system of  claim 25 , wherein the first directional guidance device is a wearable device worn by the individual. 
     
     
         36 . The guidance system of  claim 25 , wherein the guidance system is used in swimming and the visually impaired individuals are swimmers. 
     
     
         37 . The guidance system of  claim 25 , further comprising a processor configured to analyze data obtained from the first directional guidance device as the individual is moving, and providing an information output based thereon. 
     
     
         38 . The guidance system of  claim 25 , wherein the first directional guidance device comprises a speaker for generating sounds for directing the individual. 
     
     
         39 . A guidance method for visually impaired individuals comprising:
 determining a direction an individual should head towards based on the individual's current position in reference to a destination; and   dynamically indicating to the individual the determined direction via a first guidance device configured to monitor conditions of the individual and actions of the individual, wherein the first guidance device comprises a first vibrator configured to vibrate as dynamic indication of the determined direction relative to the current position of the individual.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein dynamically indicating to the individual the determined direction further comprises a second guidance device comprising a second vibrator configured to vibrate as dynamic indication of the determined direction relative to the current position of the individual. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein dynamically indicating to the individual the determined direction comprises coordinating vibrations between the first vibrator and the second vibrator so that the individual changes his position based on the coordinating vibrations from the first and second guidance devices. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first guidance device is located on a first side of the individual and the second guidance device is located on a second side of the individual, wherein the second side is opposite of the first side. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein determining the direction the individual should head towards comprises a destination beacon located at the destination. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the first vibrator is configured to have a variable intensity of vibration, and further comprising increasing the intensity of the first vibrator upon the individual approaching the destination beacon. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising determining an approximate first distance between the individual to the destination beacon. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein determining the direction the individual should head towards comprises a predetermined course and the destination is a point of the predetermined course. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the first guidance device is wearable technology worn by the individual. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the individual's current position is determined by obtaining a global position system (GPS) position of the individual with a GPS receiver. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the method is used for swimming and the visually impaired individuals are swimmers. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising obtaining data from the first guidance device while the individual is moving, and providing an information output based thereon. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising configuring a speaker to emit sounds for directing the individual.