Rodolfo Vastola

Use of Optoelectronic Systems for the Analysis of Technique in Trials

Optoelectronic systems represent the gold standard of technologies used in the motion analysis for the evaluation of kinematics. Trials, a specialty of mountain biking, differ a lot from other cycling specialties, because in addition to pedaling, they require jumping techniques to overcome obstacles that involve the whole body. In this sport, more than in others, the evaluation of technical movements using optoelectronic systems goes far beyond simply assessing the biomechanics of pedaling or the correct positioning on the bike. Starting from a previous study conducted with video analysis technique applied to the lateral jumping technique, two versions of this technique were compared, considering the kinematics of the act, taking into account both the data relating the subject and the bicycle. The joint angles of the lower limbs and the angles described by the bicycle on the three space plane were considered. The major differences have been found in the “leap over” phase, about the bending of the lower limbs and the angles described by the bicycle.

New Technologies for Writing and Drawing Evaluation

Movement analysis is generally considered the analysis of walking, with the first workshops not by chance being called Gait Analysis Laboratories. Improvement of the technical specifications of these tools and the simplification of user interfaces have allowed these tools to be applied to other motor actions apart from walking. Simple or complex movements of the upper or lower limbs have become the object of movement analysis. The areas of interest range from sports to the clinical. This possibility to refer to several motor actions as well as different areas has meant that these laboratories are now known as Movement Analysis Laboratories. Is it possible to consider the use of these systems in the evaluation of the writing skills of the child. The specific research is part of the screening of special needs education, highlighting important information that is subject to the planning and production of the drawing. The project starts from the desire to investigate the possible integration of the traditional rating scales with digital systems, for this reason, and in order to be a predictive tool of the writing skills of children, the VMI test has been adopted as a working basis. In particular, attention has been given to the first page of the test.