MOTION CAPTURE SYSTEM AS A TOOL FOR IT PROJECT RESEARCH

Curricula of both Engineering and Master's IT programs include practical classes. These classes usually take the form of projects. They create new challenges for the Higher Education Area (HEA). In these classes students create project groups. Each group is assigned a unique task. Students work two semesters on developing a solution. This article presents the opportunity to create a next generation classroom. In conformity to the new HEA standard, these classes can be thought of as a modern motion capture laboratory where sophisticated projects can be implemented. These projects focus mainly on 3D applications, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary problems. In other words the projects integrate classroom work and research in a scientific laboratory. This task area is listed in the Computer Science Curricula 2013 in GV/Computer Animation. The motion capture laboratory allows for capturing 3D motion, and in some cases, accompanying analog data. Further analysis of the recorded data is possible with professional software. The laboratory described in this paper as an example is located at Lublin University of Technology and is equipped with top-of-the-line hardware. Eight cameras have a maximum frame rate of 512Hz at full resolution. They offer real time motion capture. The laboratory setup also includes a wireless EMG system and two bio-mechanical platforms. This is the only such laboratory in Eastern Poland; only 9 similar research centers are in other parts of the country. The limiting factor preventing motion capture laboratories from becoming more popular is the high equipment cost. This article presents a new program for project classes based on an example problem that needs to be solved. It also describes procedures students need to follow while working on their IT projects in the laboratory. The new generation classroom, as presented in this paper, will give the students skills that can be very useful in their future careers.