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Microtechnolgy to benefit health and sport
Conference presentation

Microtechnolgy to benefit health and sport

Brendan J Burkett
2009 University Research Conference Program Book, p.19
USC Research Conference, 2009 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 09-Nov-2009)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2009
url
http://www.usc.edu.au/View
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Abstract

Human Movement and Sports Science health sport
The aim of this research project is to further develop micro technology for monitoring the movement of elite sports people in training, competition, and recovery during sport. This same novel technology is also applied to monitoring the level of physical activity in the general population. Athletic and clinical testing has traditionally been performed in the laboratory where the required instrumentation is available and environmental conditions can be easily controlled. Accelerometers and rate gyroscopes have in recent years shrunk dramatically in size as well as in cost. The next stage of development requires significantly greater complexity to integrate data communications between multiple lightweight sensing units, e.g. a sensor on each foot, shank, thigh, and pelvis. The initial phase of development determined the reliability and validity of the new micro sensor technology with a graduated comparative analysis of the inertial sensor outputs relative to a recognised benchmark, the Qualisys® six camera 500Hz three dimensional motion analysis system. Sport is iconic to the Australia way of life. Improved elite performances and more accurate measures of physical activity are the current outcomes of this project. The development of low cost, tiny, precision, monitoring systems (like the pedometers and the 10,000 steps movement) can strike a resonance in the community. In addition, younger Australians are very technology savvy, and are motivated by new technologies and gadgets which may provoke an increase in physical activity.

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