Author: marcocardinale

I am the Executive Director of Research and Scientific Support in Aspetar (Qatar). The aim of this blog is to present and discuss issues related to sport and sports science.
Biomechanics, data analysis, Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning

>More freeware biomechanical software

>I was looking for some freeware or open source software for some biomechanical analysis and came across two software solutions developed by video4coach.
The two solutions are quite interesting and very good quality. The first software is called Skill Capture

SkillCapture is designed to capture video clips which can be directly associated with the athlete also by means of a radio frequency ID system (skillchip).
Video capture can be started by:

  • Motion detection
  • SkillChip registration
  • SkillChip registration and Motion detection.
  • Pressing keyboard shortcut
  • Using wireless presenter

After video capture it can be automatically displayed for coach interaction directly with the athlete. With the video playback its possible to:

  • Adjust playback speed (0.5 – 2.0 of normal speed)
  • Rate performace
  • Mark for upload
  • Draw angle to show body positions
  • Freehand drawing

SkillCapture will automatically compress the video to improve storage and improve faster upload to external servers.
The other solution is SkillSpector.

SkillSpector is a video based motion and skill analysis tool for Windows. SkillSpector is freeware and can be downloaded and installed on any computer.
SkillSpector features:

  • Video overlay for direct video on video comparison
  • 2D and 3D analysis
  • Standard model definitions for fast analysis
  • Semi-automatic digitizing using image processing techniques
  • Easy advanced analysis of linear and angular kinematic data
  • Calculation on inertia
  • 3D representation of movement
  • Simple video calibration

So, two software packages completely free which I am sure can be of help for many sports scientists in the field not able to access the expensive professional software solutions currently available on the market.
I have just installed the software and I will write something more about them after I get the chance to experiment with them a bit more.

Sports Science, Technology, training

>Microsoft gives Kinect starter kit for academic research

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This is excellent news. Now scientist will be able to access a software development kit to develop innovative solutions for using Microsoft Kinect a new gaming device developed by Microsoft.

What is special about Kinect? Kinect allows a controller-free gaming. Which means full body play. Kinect responds to how you move as it is a motion sensing, optical device.

If you have never seen one, have a look at the video.

 

I predict a large number of new applications developed for sports and rehabilitation!

biochemistry, science, Technology

>Nanosensing and biochemistry

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This is not really new…but it was new to me today when I found some articles on this innovative technology. I am talking about a nanosensor that could be injected into the skin, much like tattoo dye, to monitor an individual’s gluclose level. As the glucose level increases, the dye would fluoresce under an infrared light.

The researchers at Draper Laboratory, in Cambridge (MA), have already tested a sodium-sensing version of the device in mice, and are due to begin animal tests of the glucose-specific sensor.

The material consists of 120-nanometer polymer beads coated with a biocompatible material. A patent application has been filed. Within each bead is a fluorescent dye and specialized sensor molecules, designed to detect specific chemicals (so far the work has been done on sodium and glucose).

When injected into the skin, the sensor molecule pulls the target chemical into the polymer from the interstitial fluid. To compensate for the newly acquired positive charge of a sodium ion, a dye molecule releases a positive ion, making the molecule fluoresce. The level of fluorescence increases with the concentration of the chemical target.  The range of concentrations that the sensor can detect can apparently be varied, depending on whether it is important to measure precise concentrations or more broad variability.

The sodium sensor has shown early success in animals. The researchers have developed a glucose sensor that works via a similar mechanism. It has been shown to work in a solution but has not yet been tested in animals.

Still, the researchers have a long way to go before the sensor is ready for human testing. However, if it works and it is accessible, this could be a good way to make a good use of a tattoo 🙂