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.

Free video analysis software - KINOVEA

 

I have recently downloaded the latest version of Kinovea, a freeware video analysis tool. The new version allows all sorts of analyses to be performed using this very simple freeware software. The beauty of the software is the fact that is free and is of very good quality. I think it is a great coaching tool and with some minimal equipment can be extremely useful to share analysis of sports techniques between practitioners and coaches.

Kinovea can be dowloaded here.

Coaches’ infoservice is back online

The coaches’ infoservice was a great idea which was started few years ago by Ross Sanders way before blogs become easy to setup and run.

The Coaches' Information Service website is designed to deliver the latest sports science information to sports practitioners including coaches, participants, physical educators and practitioners in the medical health vocations that have a sports focus. It is divided in specific sections by sport and has some generic sections for all (i.e. strength and conditioning).

It is a great idea and I am glad to see it back up and running with a new look!

I used to be the editor of the Team Handball Section and wrote a couple of articles on strength and conditioning for team handball players few years ago.

If you are interested, the following two articles are available online together with some videoclips:

• Handball Performance: Physiological Considerations & Practical Approach for Training Metabolic Aspects
• Special conditioning in Team Handball: Physiological demands of game-like drills

Finally, the coaches’s infoservice also provides access to interviews to various specialists.

Useful videos on using Force Platforms in Sports Science

Dr. Adrian Burden, a principal lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, together with Ed Parker have produced a series of six videos detailing how to use force platforms and
their use in sport and exercise biomechanics.

The videos were originally developed for undergraduates studying biomechanics on sport and exercise science courses. However, in my view, they could also serve as a valuable resource for anyone interested in improing their knowledge of force platform analysis.

Dr. Burden and Ed Parker have created a playlist on YouTube that can be accessed here:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=45CFC577A5A5B6C8

I think this is a valuable resource for anyone to use.