In November of 2012, the U.S. Patent Office issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,460,104 to Humana Inc. The patent relates to a yoga ball controller that communicates motion signals to a game console. “Motion may be detected using various devices such as a stress ball, a motion sensing mat, and a controller attached to the yoga ball using a harness.” This language shows that the yoga ball in the patent would be no different from regular rubber yoga balls. Rather, it would integrate with a device–like a “stress ball, motion sensing mat, [and/or] controller”–that could provide the kind of interaction Humana designed for in this product.
The well-known health company even provides their reasoning behind creating such a yoga ball within their patent. The patent writers claim that “using a subject other than exercise, game play may be seen as more fun by participants thereby encouraging physical activity.”
Illustrative Claim:
1. A computerized system for playing a video game comprising: (a) a yoga ball;(b) a controller for the yoga ball that generates a ground position change signal as the yoga ball moves from a first ground position to a second ground position;(c) a game console executing video game software with instructions to: (1) receive the ground position change signal from the controller;
and (2) in response to receiving the ground position change signal, advance game play in the video game.
