I mentioned in another post that I'm working on an off-ice app for the XBox Kinect, based on some of the stuff I do for strength and conditioning for myself and with clients, as well as what some of our coaches teach in off-ice jump class. When I was talking with my husband last night about my testing experience, he said it was too bad that skating couldn't be scored more accurately based on biomechanics. And that got me thinking...you CAN use the Kinect system with a laptop too, meaning that, at least theoretcially, you can use it ON THE ICE if you have access to the Kinect system/camera and a laptop. Don't know how many of you may be familiar with the biomechanics program and setup at the University of Delaware. I've only seen it at presentations at Nationals and when Adam Rippon was rigged up with it for some jump inconsistency issues he was having. The setup with the sensors seems a bit cumbersome, and from what I've seen it seems like that itself may throw off especially an elite skater with finely honed technique.
In contrast, the Kinect doesn't use on-body sensors; instead, the camera visually "maps" you and matches you relative to your own segment lengths with a model (I've been using Evgeni Plushenko as the model for jumps, since I have a ton of footage of him from my MS days, and hey, that dude is a jumping MACHINE when it comes to his biomechanical consistency). So far, I can't think of any reason why (1) this couldn't work on the ice, and (2) more coaches wouldn't want want to use such a system, since it's pretty uncumbersome, can be relocated to ANY area of the ice/rink, and only requires a Kinect and a laptop, rather than a huge, in-house system and an awkward body sensor suit.
What do others think? Especially coaches and those with an interest in biomechanics?
L