Instrument skill instruction and training system

Abstract

Technology is described for a system to provide skill training in various fields, including professional fields involving hand-held instruments. The system senses a user's manipulation of an instrumented work piece, handheld instrument or tool using various sensors, e.g., for a dental tool, an array of pressure sensors in the instrumented work piece and/or the tool's tip, grip sensors, and sensors to track the position and movement of the tool and/or work piece relative to each other. The system includes lessons to train users in the proper methods to manipulate the instrumented work piece and/or the tool and provides guidance and feedback based on the user's performance to build the user's skills, prevent injury, and document competency.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a case that attaches to a sharpening stone;   a processing system contained in the case that determines relational positioning information of the sharpening stone; and   an indicator device to perceptibly indicate when the sharpening stone is held within a range of angles.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor that detects an angular position of the sharpening stone. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of the following: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the case is configured to interface with an external computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the case is held manually. 
     
     
         6 . A method for performing tool sharpening comprising:
 determining relational positioning information of a sharpening stone; and   driving an indicator device to perceptibly indicate when the sharpening stone is held within a range of angles.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising detecting an angular position of the sharpening stone. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the case is configured to interface with an external computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the case is held manually. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the indicator device emits at least one of the following: an audio signal and a visual signal.