Kinovea software

Using Kinovea software

How would you use the software/app?

Kinovea is used in analysis for both qualitative and quantitative research, it can be used for tracking the movement of an object or joint, measuring the distance or speed that something moves, or to slow down a sporting action. To use it, it requires filming a video clip of the movement that you would like to analyse in depth, then uploading it onto the downloaded software. See the video below for a tutorial on the software

Why would the software/app be useful?

This software would be useful if an individual wanted to focus on a specific action within a sport and provide an athlete feedback on how to improve it. For example, a place kick could be analysed in rugby, by using kinovea to measure ball velocity, angular displacement and angular velocity. This could then be done on an elite athlete performing the same skill, the researcher would then be able to compare the results and provide the athlete with the strengths and weaknesses of their kick.

How would the use of the software/app impact on biomechanical analysis?

Using kinovea can impact biomechanical analysis as it allows a researcher to collect numerical data of the skill. This makes it easier to compare to an elite athlete as it is clear what areas are similar or different. Using this instead of providing feedback of what can be seen in real time means that it is more specific to a certain area of the skill and there is evidence of it. The use of the software also broadens the coaching that can be used.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the software/app? How might the advantages and disadvantages of the software/app impact on its use?

Advantages

·         Free software- This means that it is more accessible for all researchers to use, and means it can even be used at the grassroots level so that coaches can give specific feedback to their athletes.

·         Possible to analyse all the movements- This allows you to look at different components of a skill at a time

·         Synchronise two videos- using two videos at once on the software allows a comparison between two different people to be made, making it easier to give feedback based on an elite model

Disadvantages

·         Highly based on video quality- this means is the original video is not in a high frame per second then it will mean when analysing the skill in slow motion the video will appear jumpy and be difficult to work with.

·         Some video files have to be converted in order for Kinovea to work- This means that some pre-existing videos will have to go through a longer process to be analysed than others.

·         Kinovea could be more user friendly- By including more visual icons it will make the software easier to use for those not familiar with it, therefore making it more popular.