Interactive sporting apparatus
There is disclosed interactive sporting apparatus comprising a control unit ( 2 ) and a plurality of interactive units ( 4 ), the interactive units comprising: at least one signalling device ( 52,54 ) which is operable to generate a sensory stimulus or a signalling device interface adapted ( 51 ) to demountably retain a signalling device for generating a sensory stimulus; and at least one sensor ( 54 ) which is operable by a game participant proximate to an interactive unit to generate a sensing event or a sensor interface adapted to demountably retain a sensor operable by a game participant proximate to an interactive unit to generate a sensing event; wherein the control unit is operable to communicate remotely with the plurality of interactive units to specify sensory stimuli to be generated by the plurality of interactive units.
1. Interactive sporting apparatus comprising a control unit and a plurality of remote units, the remote units comprising a ground engaging base having either:
(i) an interface for demountably retaining: (a) a signalling device for generating a sensory stimulus; or (b) a sensor operable by a game participant proximate to the remote unit, for generating a sensing event, or
(ii) an interface for demountably retaining a device which comprises both a signalling device for generating a sensory stimulus and a sensor operable by a game participant proximate to the remote unit, for generating a sensing event, and
a plurality of exchangeable sensors of different types which are demountably attachable to the interface of a remote unit, at least one of the sensors being remotely actuated,
wherein the control unit is operable to communicate remotely with the plurality of remote units to specify sensory stimuli to be generated by one or more remote units.
2. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the interface of a remote unit is adapted to demountably retain a signalling device or a sensor, or a device which comprises both a signalling device and a sensor.
3. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of different exchangeable devices comprising both a signalling device and a sensor which are demountably attachable to the interface of a remote unit.
4. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein at least one exchangeable device comprises a sensor, wherein the sensor is remotely operable.
5. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to communicate with and receive instructions from or communicate stored performance data to an external computer.
6. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each remote unit comprises a programmable electronic controller which is operable to control the generation of sensory stimuli by the signaling device dependent on a program.
7. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of exchangeable signaling devices of different types which are demountably attachable to the interface of a remote unit.
8. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is operable to record data relating to sensing events.
9. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the control unit is operable to record performance data relating to one or more participants in a sporting game using the interactive sporting apparatus simultaneously or consecutively.
10. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to communicate with and receive instructions from an external computer.
11. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to communicate stored performance data to an external computer.
12. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit and the plurality of remote units are operable to form a wireless communications network.
13. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein two or more of the plurality of remote units interact differently with participants.
14. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein two or more of the remote units are labeled differently.
15. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the remote units comprise internal power supplies.
16. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a unique identifying tag reader.
17. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 16 comprising a plurality of unique identifying tags.
18. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the interface of a remote unit is adapted to demountably retain a signalling device or a sensor, but not a device which comprises both a signalling device and a sensor.
19. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the interface of a remote unit is adapted to demountably retain a device which comprises both a signalling device and a sensor.
20. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of signalling devices each of which is demountably attachable to the interface of a remote unit.
21. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the remote units can be placed remotely from each other in use.
22. Interactive sporting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the remote units can be placed remotely from the control unit in use.
23. A method of using interactive sporting apparatus comprising a control unit and a plurality of remote units, the remote units comprising a ground engaging base having either:
(i) an interface for demountably retaining a signalling device for generating a sensory stimulus or a sensor operable by a game participant proximate to the remote unit, for generating a sensing event, or
(ii) an interface for demountably retaining a device which comprises both a signalling device for generating a sensory stimulus and a sensor operable by a game participant proximate to the remote unit, for generating a sensing event, and
a plurality of exchangeable sensors of different types which are demountably attachable to the interface of a remote unit, at least one of the sensors being remotely actuated,
wherein the control unit is operable to communicate remotely with the plurality of remote units to specify sensory stimuli to be generated by one or more remote units,
the method comprising customising one or more of the said remote units by demountably attaching a respective exchangeable sensor from the said plurality of exchangeable sensors to each of the said one or more remote units via their respective interfaces.
24. The method according to claim 23 further comprising placing the remote units remotely from each other.
25. The method according to claim 23 further comprising placing the remote units remotely from the control unit.
26. The method according to claim 23 wherein the interactive sporting apparatus further comprises a plurality of signaling devices each of which is demountably attachable to the interface of a remote unit, the method further comprising customizing one or more remote units by demountably attaching a respective signaling device from the said plurality of signaling devices to each of the said one or more remote units via their respective interfaces.