INTERACTIVE 3-D COMPUTER ANIMATION AND ANALYSIS OF SPORT

MORE AMERICANS THAN EVER BEFORE ARE PARTICIPATING IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS, AND THE NUMBER OF SPORTS-RELATED INJURIES HAS INCREASED TO ABOUT 17 MILLION PER YEAR. FOR THE ELDERLY, SUCH INJURIES OFTEN SIGNAL AN END TO VIGOR, PRODUCTIVITY, AND ENJOYMENT OF THEIR LIFESTYLE. AT THE SAME TIME, AMERICAN PERFORMANCE IN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS COMPETITION SEEMS TO BE DECLINING IF ONE IS TO JUDGE BY OLYMPIC MEDALS, DAVIS CUP, RYDER CUP, WORLD CUP SKIING, AND THE LIKE. THE FIELD OF COMPUTER BIOMECHANICS HAS PROVED USEFUL BOTH FOR IMPROVEMENT IN ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AND FOR ANALYSIS OF INJURY-CAUSING MOTION. HOWEVER, APPLICATION OF THE METHOD IN SPORTS MEDICINE IS HAMPERED BY THE LACK OF A BASIC MEASUREMENT TOOL-A GENERAL METHOD FOR DIGITIZATION OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN BODY THAT IS ACCURATE, RAPID, AND INEXPENSIVE, I.E., AUTOMATIC. THE LONG-RANGE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT (PHASE II) IS TO PROVIDESUCH A METHOD AND PUT IT ON THE MARKET. IN PHASE I, IT IS PLANNED TO CARRY OUT THE BASIC FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR THE VIDEO IMAGING METHOD OF JOINT CENTER COORDINATE DETERMINATION AND TO FIELD TEST, REFINE, AND EXPAND PILOT 3-D BIOVISION SOFTWARE FOR COMPUTER ANIMATION AND ANALYSIS OF TOP PROFESSIONAL GOLF MODELS.