Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
Displacements in Virtual Reality
for Sports Performance Analysis
Richard Kulpa, Benoit Bideau and Sébastien Brault
Abstract
In real situations, analyzing the contribution of different parameters on
sports performance is a difficult task. In a duel for example, an athlete needs to antic-
ipate his opponent's actions to win. To evaluate the relationship between perception
and action in such a duel, the parameters used to anticipate the opponent's actionmust
then be determined. Only a fully standardized and controllable environment such as
virtual reality can allow this analysis. Nevertheless, movement is inherent in sports
and only a system providing a complete freedom of movements of the immersed
subject (including displacements) would allow the study of the link between visual
information uptake and action, that is related to performance. Two case studies are
described to illustrate such use of virtual reality to better understand sports perfor-
mance. Finally, we discuss how the introduction of new displacement devices can
extend the range of applications in sports.
13.1 Introduction
Sport is gaining an increasing place in nowadays societies, not only as an entertain-
ment but also as a socio-economical matter. There is now overwhelming evidence
that regular physical activity has important and wide-ranging benefits on health [
14
].
Moreover, sport offers great pedagogical values for young people. It conveys moral
values and requires appropriate behaviors in groups. As a consequence, studying
sports becomes more and more important, not only to better understand performance
(
B
)
·
B. Bideau
·
S. Brault
M2S Lab, University of Rennes 2, Avenue Robert Schuman, 35170Bruz, France
e-mail: richard.kulpa@univ-rennes2.fr
B. Bideau
e-mail: benoit.bideau@univ-rennes2.fr
S. Brault
e-mail: sebastien.brault@univ-rennes2.fr
R. Kulpa
