Kinematic Analysis Software

Kinematic Analysis Software
Version 7.2 – for HDV Flash card video cameras
Table of Contents
PREFACE ...................................................................................................... VII

SUMMARY OF FEATURES AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS .................................. IX
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................... IX
PROGRAM COMPONENTS ........................................................................................... IX
KAVIDEO SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ........................................................................ X
Manual Installation of Selected KA Example File Image Sets ...........................................xii
KAVideo Setup Troubleshooting Guide ........................................................................... xiii
Problems with Windows XP and Limited User Accounts............................... xiii
KAVideo Installation Issues ............................................................................ xiii
Change a Limited User Account to an Administrative Account in XP ........... xiv
CHAPTER 1 – KAVIDEO INTRODUCTION .............................................. 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1
KAVIDEO OVERVIEW ................................................................................................. 1
GETTING STARTED ..................................................................................................... 2
KAVideo .............................................................................................................................. 2
Optional Utilities ................................................................................................................. 2
KATutor ............................................................................................................................... 3
Joint Torque Calculation (JtCalc software) ........................................................................ 3
Hydrodynamic Analysis (HA software) ............................................................................... 3
BallFlight ............................................................................................................................ 3
VecCalc ............................................................................................................................... 3
KAVIDEO PROGRAM OPERATIONS............................................................................. 3
Main Toolbar Options ......................................................................................................... 5
Video Data Review Toolbar Options................................................................................... 6
Program Launch Toolbar Options ...................................................................................... 7
File Menu ............................................................................................................................ 7
View Menu........................................................................................................................... 7
Edit Menu ............................................................................................................................ 8
Help Menu ........................................................................................................................... 8
KA File Management .......................................................................................................... 8
KA Program File Types and Folders .................................................................. 9
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................ 12
CHAPTER 2 – RECORDING VIDEO DATA ............................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1
VIDEO TAPE DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES ......................................................... 1
Camera Set up for 2D Data................................................................................................. 1
Camera Set Up for Front / Side View Data ......................................................................... 3
Video Collection for Rotated Reference Data ..................................................................... 5
Camera Settings .................................................................................................................. 5
3D Time Synchronization Information ................................................................................ 7
Subject Markings / Background Coloring ........................................................................... 7
Video Day Adjustments ....................................................................................................... 9
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2D Video Collection ........................................................................................... 9
3D Video Collection ......................................................................................... 10
CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER 3 – AVI FILE PROCESSING ...................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
AVI FILE BASICS ......................................................................................................... 1
Interlaced AVI File Processing ............................................................................................ 2
Processing Video from HDV and HS Flash Memory Cameras............................................ 3
HD VIDEO PROCESSING SETTINGS.............................................................................. 3
Video File Management .......................................................................................................5
File Rename Procedure ..................................................................................................... 10
AVI File Inspection within KAVideo .................................................................................. 14
CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 17
CHAPTER 4 – CREATING PROJECT DEFINITION FILES .................... 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
WORKING WITH PROJECT FILES .................................................................................. 1
Basic Project Definition File Data Entry ............................................................................. 2
Custom Project Definition Files........................................................................................... 8
Point Category Information................................................................................. 8
Segment Category Information ......................................................................... 11
Joints Category Information .............................................................................. 13
Stick Category Information ............................................................................... 15
Events Category Information ............................................................................ 16
Rates Category Information .............................................................................. 18
Setup Category Information .............................................................................. 21
Names Category Information ............................................................................ 23
Edit an Existing Project File .............................................................................................. 24
CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 26
CHAPTER 5 – IMAGE SET PREPARATIONS ............................................ 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
Preparing Scale Pole JPG Files (Flash Card / Hard Drive Cameras) ................................ 2
Scale Factor File Details .....................................................................................................5
Prepare an AVI file for processing ...................................................................................... 7
Single File Preparations ...................................................................................... 9
Dual File Preparations ....................................................................................... 10
Entering Trial Information ................................................................................ 13
Create Image Sets .............................................................................................................. 14
Check Image Sets ............................................................................................................... 15
KAVIDEO IMAGE FILE FORMATS – HD VIDEO ......................................................... 18
MOVING IMAGE SETS ................................................................................................ 20
CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 20
CHAPTER 6 – THE KAVIDEO PROGRAM ................................................ 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
IMAGE SET VIEWING ................................................................................................... 1
IMAGE SET ADJUSTMENTS .......................................................................................... 3
THE EDIT MENU .......................................................................................................... 3
Brighten............................................................................................................... 4
Contrast ............................................................................................................... 4
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Gamma ............................................................................................................... 4
Sharpen ............................................................................................................... 5
Mirror ................................................................................................................. 5
Black and White ................................................................................................. 5
The Trim Menu .................................................................................................................... 5
Rename Menu ...................................................................................................................... 5
THE FILE MENU .......................................................................................................... 5
The Zip Option .................................................................................................................... 5
Copying Image Set Zip Files to Flash Drive / CD-R.......................................... 7
Copying Image Set Zip Files from a Flash Drive / CD-R to your Home PC ..... 8
The UnZip Option ..............................................................................................................10
THE DG OPTION ....................................................................................................... 10
THE REDG OPTION ................................................................................................... 15
THE EXIT BUTTON .................................................................................................... 17
CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 17
CHAPTER 7 – VIDEO DIGITIZER SOFTWARE ....................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1
Starting the Digitizing Tutorial ........................................................................................... 1
Entering Events .................................................................................................. 1
Digitizing Body Landmark Points ....................................................................................... 2
Scale Factor Data Entry / Ending Digitizing ...................................................................... 7
File Management ................................................................................................................ 8
HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO DIGITIZING ......................................................................... 9
CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 10
CHAPTER 8 – AUTOMATIC DIGITIZING ................................................ 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1
VIDEO PREPARATIONS ................................................................................................ 1
AUTODG SETTINGS .................................................................................................... 2
THE AUTODG PROCESS .............................................................................................. 3
CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER 9 - THE KA2D PROGRAM......................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1
Single File Mode Display .................................................................................................... 1
Point Selection .................................................................................................... 2
Segment Selection .............................................................................................. 4
Joint Selection .................................................................................................... 5
XY Component Data .......................................................................................... 6
File Compare View ............................................................................................................. 7
KA2D Plot Pull Down Menu Items ..................................................................................... 9
File Command Menu Options ............................................................................................. 9
Open Primary File .............................................................................................. 9
Secondary File .................................................................................................... 9
Run KA3D .......................................................................................................... 9
Run KAVideo ................................................................................................... 10
Run MakeHold ................................................................................................. 10
Run MakeJTD .................................................................................................. 10
Run MakeSEG .................................................................................................. 10
Run JtCalc ........................................................................................................ 10
Run BallFlight .................................................................................................. 10
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Exit .................................................................................................................... 11
Data Command Menu Options........................................................................................... 11
Pattern Point Selection ...................................................................................... 11
Segment Selection ............................................................................................. 11
Joint Selection ................................................................................................... 11
View Command Menu Options........................................................................................... 13
Video Update On/Off toggle ............................................................................. 13
Stick Figure Quality/Speed toggle .................................................................... 13
Help Command Menu Options ........................................................................................... 17
Short Cut Key Summary ..................................................................................................... 17
CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 18
CHAPTER 10 - THE KA3D PROGRAM ....................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
Single File Mode MultiView Plots ....................................................................................... 1
Point Selection .................................................................................................... 2
Segment Selection ............................................................................................... 2
Joint Selection ..................................................................................................... 3
XYZ Component Data ........................................................................................ 3
File Compare View .............................................................................................................. 4
KA3D Plot Pull Down Menu Items ...................................................................................... 5
File Command Menu Options .............................................................................................. 6
Open Primary File ............................................................................................... 6
Secondary File..................................................................................................... 6
Create 3D File ..................................................................................................... 6
Run KA2D .......................................................................................................... 6
Run KAVideo ..................................................................................................... 6
Run MakeHAD ................................................................................................... 7
Run HA ............................................................................................................... 7
Run VecCalc ....................................................................................................... 7
Exit ...................................................................................................................... 7
Data Command Menu Options............................................................................................. 7
Pattern Point Selection ........................................................................................ 7
Segment Selection ............................................................................................... 7
Joint Selection ..................................................................................................... 8
Position Curve ..................................................................................................... 8
Number Grid ....................................................................................................... 8
X, Y, Z Component Data Display ....................................................................... 8
Magnitude Data ................................................................................................... 8
Export to File ...................................................................................................... 8
Smooth ................................................................................................................ 9
Clipboard Copy ................................................................................................... 9
View Command Menu Options............................................................................................. 9
Video Update On/Off toggle ............................................................................... 9
Stick Figure Quality/Speed toggle ...................................................................... 9
Compare Mode .................................................................................................... 9
File Info ............................................................................................................... 9
Show Vector ...................................................................................................... 10
Quick Pick Viewport ......................................................................................... 10
Zoom ................................................................................................................. 10
Set 800x600… 1920x1200................................................................................ 10
Image ReSize .................................................................................................... 10
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Refresh.............................................................................................................. 10
Playback Speed: Decrease ................................................................................ 10
Playback Speed: Increase ................................................................................. 11
Help Command Menu Options ...........................................................................................11
Short Cut Key Summary .....................................................................................................11
CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER 11 - THE JTCALC PROGRAM ................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1
File Compatibility Issues ..................................................................................................... 1
JtCalc Basics ....................................................................................................................... 1
Alternate Display Modes ..................................................................................................... 3
Dual File Display Mode ...................................................................................................... 4
Menu Options ...................................................................................................................... 5
File, Open Primary File ...................................................................................... 5
File, Secondary File ............................................................................................ 5
File, Run KA2D.................................................................................................. 5
File, Run KAVideo............................................................................................. 5
File, Exit ............................................................................................................. 5
Data, Pattern Point .............................................................................................. 5
Data, Export to File ............................................................................................ 5
View, Video Update On / Off toggle .................................................................. 5
View, Zoom ........................................................................................................ 5
View, Set HHH x VVV ...................................................................................... 5
View, Refresh ..................................................................................................... 5
Help, Show Help ................................................................................................ 6
Help, Hide Help .................................................................................................. 6
Help, About JtCalc ............................................................................................. 6
CHAPTER 12 - THE HYDRODYNAMIC ANALYSIS PROGRAM.......... 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1
HA Eligible Files ................................................................................................................. 1
HA Kinetic Data Measures ................................................................................................. 2
Dual File Mode Display ...................................................................................................... 3
Menu Options ...................................................................................................................... 4
File, Open Primary File ...................................................................................... 4
File, Secondary File ............................................................................................ 4
File, Run KA3D.................................................................................................. 4
File, Run KA2D.................................................................................................. 4
File, Run KAVideo............................................................................................. 5
File, Exit ............................................................................................................. 5
Data, Pattern Point .............................................................................................. 5
Data, Segment..................................................................................................... 5
Data, Joint ........................................................................................................... 5
Data, X Component Data ................................................................................... 5
Data, Y Component Data ................................................................................... 5
Data, Z Component Data .................................................................................... 5
Data, Magnitude Data ......................................................................................... 5
Data, Export to File ............................................................................................ 5
Data, Smooth ...................................................................................................... 5
View, Video Update On / Off toggle .................................................................. 5
View, Stick Figure Quality / Speed toggle ......................................................... 5
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View, Compare Mode ......................................................................................... 6
View, File Info .................................................................................................... 6
View, Quick Pick Viewport ................................................................................ 6
View, Zoom ........................................................................................................ 6
View, Set HHH x VVV ....................................................................................... 6
View, Image Resize ............................................................................................ 6
View, Refresh...................................................................................................... 6
View, AutoRedraw Toggle ................................................................................. 6
Help, Show Help ................................................................................................. 6
Help, Hide Help .................................................................................................. 6
Help, About HA .................................................................................................. 6
CHAPTER 13 - THE VECCALC PROGRAM .............................................. 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
DATA ENTRY EXAMPLE .............................................................................................. 2
SUPPORTED OPERATIONS ............................................................................................ 5
FILE IMPORT ................................................................................................................ 6
SHOWGRAPH ............................................................................................................... 8
REMOVE VECTOR / REMOVE MAGNITUDE .................................................................. 8
ADVANCED FEATURES ................................................................................................ 8
CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 10
CHAPTER 14 – KA UTILITY PROGRAMS................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
KAVIDEO .................................................................................................................... 1
TimeCode ............................................................................................................................. 1
KA2D .......................................................................................................................... 2
FixTreadMill ........................................................................................................................ 2
RLSwap ................................................................................................................................ 3
FlipX ....................................................................................................................................3
KA3D .......................................................................................................................... 4
Distance ............................................................................................................................... 4
MakeK2D ............................................................................................................................. 5
MakeK3X.............................................................................................................................. 5
CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................. 6
APPENDIX A - VIDEO SETUP LABORATORY ......................................... 1
APPENDIX B – PANASONIC HD SETUP GUIDE ...................................... 1
APPENDIX C – PAZERA FREE SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ............. 1
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Preface
The Kinematic Analysis Software (KA) is a video data acquisition / analysis program designed
for use by students and researchers in biomechanics, physical therapy and related areas. The
software has been specifically developed to meet the needs of undergraduate students in the San
Francisco State University Kinesiology Department. In turn, our students have provided
feedback that has helped us to develop a “user friendly” software package that is still powerful
enough to handle advanced research projects.
When a biomechanics student begins work on a video analysis project, the most frequently
asked question is: “where can I find published research on my movement?” It is routinely
assumed that detailed research is available on a wide variety of human movements.
Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. A student who is interested in a movement as
common as a slice tennis serve will have great difficulty finding detailed information on the
three dimension pattern of motion information, racket velocity and arm joint angle data in the
literature.
This lack of access to detailed information on human movement presents a significant problem
to faculty and students alike. The considerable expense associated with the printed publication
of movement sequence photographs and graphical representations of movement data presents an
obstacle to all textbooks in Kinesiology. Further, the printed media itself is detrimental to the
communication of the dynamics of human motion. Those seriously interested in the scientific
visualization of human movement can purchase DVD’s and find amateur videos on the Internet,
but these media rarely combines the video image data with kinematic and kinetic measurements.
Computer software that combines both video images and graphical representations of
movement data would appear to be the ideal solution to the movement visualization problem.
Sophisticated software is available in many college laboratories now that could potentially assist
all students in biomechanics. Large problems still remain however. Most biomechanical
analysis hardware / software systems are extremely expensive (typically $10,000 - $100,000)
and no student would ever dream of using the software on a home PC. Further, even if a school
laboratory has purchased a commercial analysis program, data cannot in general be shared with
other labs because each commercial program uses its own proprietary file format for storing
data.
We at SFSU have been working for years to solve the high cost and accessibility problems
associated with movement data. Twenty-five years ago, the most economical video analysis
computer systems in our lab still cost nearly $10,000. Today, given recent advances in
“multimedia PCs”, any school that owns a PC and a digital video camcorder can create a video
analysis workstation simply by installing the KAVideo software. Students can capture video
clip files on a variety of DV/HDV cameras and copy them to a PC in a matter of minutes. The
video clip files can then be converted to standard Windows graphical files and copied (by
network connection or removable media) to other satellite PCs in the lab for in-depth analysis.
Further, students in the school can transfer image set files from school lab PCs to their home
PCs on a flash drive and conduct advanced video analysis research at their leisure.
Bob Schleihauf
San Francisco State University
Department of Kinesiology
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Summary of Features and Installation Instructions
The software can be used in two ways:
 To acquire / process original video data; i.e., on a school laboratory PC.

 To review existing video files; i.e., on a student home PC. Students can process an
original video trial on a school laboratory PC, generate a KA image set, and transfer
these images to their home PC on a flash drive or CD-R disk. Once the images are
uploaded onto the student home PC, all digitizing work and analysis can be performed
at the student's home. The student can also review image sets from the KA installation
DVD-Rom, perform class assignments, and study model technique from our library of
movement data files.
Hardware Requirements
A listing of the software / hardware requirements is as follows:
School Lab Image Capture Station PC:

 Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7 / 8 PC with Core 2 Duo or better CPU and 2 Gb
memory
 10 Gb available disk space, DVD-R drive
 Digital Video (DV) or High Definition Video (HDV) camcorder for capture of video in
NTSC or PAL format. NTSC: 60 field per second (or better) recording speed and
640x480 or 1920x1080 image size. PAL: 50 fields per second or better and 720x576 or
1920x1080 image size. Selected “still shot” digital cameras that support high speed
video collection such as the Casio Exilm (120 pps / 640x480 progressive scan) are also
supported.
 Firewire PC connection (for use with normal DV tape based cameras).
School Satellite PC / Student Home PC:

 Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7/8 PC with 2 GHz Intel/AMD CPU and 2 Gb memory
 5 Gb available disk space, DVD-R drive
Note: In order for the KAVideo and BHMViewer programs to run properly, the Display
properties must be set to “smaller” (100%) or “medium” (125%) font size.
Note: The KAVideo software must be run by a user who is logged on through an account that
has Administrator privileges.
Program Components
The software includes 3 main modules:

 KAVideo for digitizing (manual and semi-automatic)
 KA2D for data review of video, stick figure and 2D kinematic data
 KA3D for data review of video, stick figure and 3D kinematic data
The video-digitizing portion of the software processes HDV and DV format Windows AVI
files. This version of the KAVideo manual discusses the processing of video files that have been
stored on the camera’s flash memory or hard drive storage system. This is the standard system
used by virtually all of today’s HD video cameras. These video files are typically copied to the
computer from the camera flash memory card (or hard drive) via a USB cable. Once the original
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video files have been copied to the PC, they must be preprocessed by Windows utility software
to form AVI files (see Chapters 3 and 5 for details).
Important Note: This version of the KAVideo Manual does not discuss the process of
acquiring video from tape based DV video cameras. See the KAManual12.pdf file for details on
working with older types of video cameras.
Once AVI format video files are available on a PC, the KAVideo software processes the AVI
file and produces a series of JPG files that can be digitized. Note: KAVideo works with both
progressive scan (i.e., 60p) and interlaced video formats (i.e., 60i). The resulting XY coordinate
values are then sent to KA2D and KA3D for analysis.
KA also works with cameras such as the Casio EXFH25 and other digital cameras in their DV
format (640x480) progressive scan high speed mode movies (be sure to use cameras that
include manual shutter controls in high speed video mode). These cameras record video files on
flash cards that can be renamed, converted from MTS or MP4 to AVI format and then
processed normally by KA.
The quality of the AVI file is especially good in HDV mode. On a PC with a 1920x1200
resolution monitor or better, KA shows the HDV video image in their native full size mode for
digitizing. On a PC with a lower resolution (as low as 1024x768) KA rescales the HDV images
down to fill the available space on the screen.
KA stores normal DV video as a full video frame in a 640x480 pixel format. KA supports
digitizing in 960x720 and 1280x960 resolutions through enlargement of the original DV
640x480 video images.
The KA2D and KA3D analysis programs support computer screen resolutions of 1024x768,
1280x1024, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1080 and 1920x1200 (higher resolution displays
show KA in a window). The KA2D and KA3D programs are best displayed in 1024x768 or
higher resolution, although a low quality 800x600 mode is available for those who elect to do
secondary analysis and term paper creation on a Netbook.
KAVideo Software Installation
The KAVideo DVD-Rom holds the KAVideo program files and about 120 MB of example
image set files that will be used for BHMViewer example files. When the program and data
files are expanded, they will take about 400 MB of space on drive C of your PC. Virtually all
PC purchased in the last 5 years will have ample space for all KA files.
If your PC is very old and you do not have at least 1.5 Gb of free space on your drive, you
should install the main program and tutorial image files only. To minimize storage space
requirements, you can install the other example image sets one by one as they are needed for
homework assignments, and then remove them from the hard drive to regain space.
The instructions below detail the installation procedure:
1) If a prior version of KA is installed on your PC, use the Windows Add/Remove Programs
option to uninstall the existing version of KA. (When prompted, select “No to All” to leave
shared programs on the hard drive.) Note: only the program files for the prior version of KA
will be removed by the uninstall procedure. Prior data files will be left on the PC.
2) Put the BHMViewer / KAVideo DVD-Rom disk into your DVD drive. Run the Windows
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Explorer program. Right click on the drive C: icon in the left side “Folders” column. Select
“Properties” from the context menu. The free space on hard drive C: will be shown:
If you have less than 1.5 GB (1,500 MB) free on Drive C:, you will not have space to copy the
KA example image sets to your drive.
Note: The KAVideo software must be run by a user who is logged on through an account that
has Administrator privileges.
To install the KAVideo program, do the following:
a) Use Windows Explorer to show the contents of your DVD-Rom drive.

b) If you are using Vista or Windows 7 / 8: Right click on the KAVideoSetup.exe file and
choose the “Run as Administrator option”. If you are using XP: Double click on the
KAProSetup.exe file.
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c) Close the Explorer window (and any other open application windows).
d) Click “Yes” to continue with the installation
e) Accept the defaults to install the KA software.
f) When the DVD installation procedure, is complete, accept the Run KAVideo option. You
will be prompted to install the KA Example files. If you intend to use the BHMViewer
textbook, be sure to accept the creation of the KA example data files.
Manual Installation of Selected KA Example File Image Sets
If your hard drive is low on space you can install and remove any KA Example image set on
your PC one by one as needed. Image sets can be added to your PC in 2 ways: 1) You can copy
any example file from the \KV\XDat folder on the BHMViewer/KAVideo DVD-Rom disk to
your hard drive. 2) You can copy an image set from a CD-R disk that has been prepared by your
course professor (i.e., the files for your course term project).
The following steps describe how to expand an image set from a KA ZIP file (this file may be
copied from the KAVideo DVD disk or prepared by your course professor).
1) Copy the image set zip file(s) to the C:\KV\XDat folder on your PC.
2) Run the KAVideo program and select the File, UnZip image set option.
3) Select the ZIP file(s) and click the Expand Zip File(s) button.
The image set(s) will be installed on your PC. Stick figure KA2D files will also be installed if
your ZIP file came from the KAVideo Movement Library. Stick figure files will not be installed
if the image set is for your own project that has been recently video-taped – your job as a
researcher will be to digitize the trials to produce the stick figure information and move on to
KA2D and / or KA3D analysis.
To selectively install image set files for use by the BHMViewer program, read the file name
from the KA Exercise section of the chapter and then install the appropriate file from the
BHMViewer/KAVideo DVD-Rom. For example, Chapter 5 in the BHMViewer software
includes a KA exercise that makes use of the AKTenF1S image set (a tennis serve video clip
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and stick figure file). The filename for the exercise image set is shown at the end of the chapter
in the KA Exercise section:
Before you run the first exercise (Ch05-1-Velocity) you must install the AKEenF1S image set
files. To perform this single image set install operation, do the following:
 Put the KAVideo DVD-Rom disk in your DVD drive.

 Copy the AKTenF1SSml.zip file from the \KV\XDat folder on the DVD drive to the
C:\KV\XDat folder on your PC.
 Run the KAVideo program and select the File, UnZip image set menu option.
 Select the AKTenF1SSml file and click the Expand Zip File(s) button.
The tennis image set and stick figure files will be installed and you will be able to perform the
KA Exercise.
Once you have completed the exercise you can optionally remove the AKTenF1S image files
from your hard drive to regain free disk space:
Use Windows Explorer to show the contents of your C:\KV\XDat folder. Select and delete the
AKTenF1S folder, the AKTenF.kap file, and the AKTenF1SSml.zip files.
Repeat the above procedures for any KA Example files you would like to use.
KAVideo Setup Troubleshooting Guide
Problems with Windows XP and Limited User Accounts
The KAVideo software must be run by a user who is logged on through an account that has
Administrator privileges. If you are unable to move from chapter to chapter and save bookmark
settings, change your account settings in XP to include Administrator privileges.
KAVideo Installation Issues
If you share a computer with another person on a PC with Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7,
and you have a “limited” account, you will have problems running the KAVideo and
BHMViewer software. These scientific data analysis software programs make extensive
modifications to various files in the KA7 and BHMViewer folders. In order for these programs
to run smoothly, you must have “administrative rights”.
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The first person on your system will have administrative rights. If that person (the
administrator) creates a separate user account for you, this account will most likely be a “limited
account”. If you log on to a limited user account and try to install the software, you will get an
error message similar to the during the installation.
If you log on as an administrator, you will be able to install the software. However, if you
subsequently log on with a limited user account and then try to run the software, you will get
the following error message:
You can change your account to have administrative rights (and therefore solve the problem) by
doing the following steps:
Change a Limited User Account to an Administrative Account in XP
Log on in administrative account (the account of the primary computer user)

Click Start, Settings, Control Panel
Click Performance and Maintenance
Click Administrative Tools
Double click Computer Management
Double click Local Users and Groups
Double click Users
Double click “Your Account” (where “Your Account” represents your account name)
Click the “Member Of” tab
Click the Add… button
Click the Advanced… button
Click the Find Now button
Click Administrators,
Click OK, OK, OK
Close Computer Management Window
Close Administrative Tools Window
Restart your computer
You will now be permitted to write files in the KA7 folders and the programs will function as
expected.
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Chapter 1 – KAVideo Introduction
Introduction
The KAVideo Software is a suite of video analysis programs designed specifically for the
analysis of human movement. The software is now in its 7th version (KA7) and the current
version includes features designed specifically to assist students in Biomechanics. Most
important, KAVideo is available to educational institutions via a free site license agreement that
makes it possible for the software to be copied and distributed to all students who are enrolled in
the participating university. In addition, KAVideo works with current HDV camcorders as well as
the original DV format camcorders (for details on processing DV video from tape based video
cameras, see the KAManual12.pdf document). High definition video files are typically copied to
your PC from the HDV camcorder with a USB cable.
The KAVideo software is designed to process these video files and produce two and three-
dimensional analysis of virtually any human movement. The suite of programs consists of three
parts:
KAVideo - prepares video clip files for analysis and makes it possible to “digitize the movement”
(determine the XY coordinates of body landmarks) on the PC screen.
KA2D - allows you to inspect stick figure / video clip animations of the movement in conjunction
with a wide variety of kinematic measures (measures of velocity, acceleration, joint angle etc.)
KA3D - allows you to combine front and side view video files to produce a full set of three-
dimensional kinematic data.
The theory behind the biomechanical analysis procedures employed in KAVideo is detailed in the
Biomechanics of Human Movement textbook viewer (BHMViewer) software. This software is
included along with the KAVideo software on the distribution DVD-Rom. For details on the
BHMViewer software, see the BHMViewer Guide document on the KAVideo DVD. Laboratory
exercises focused on data analysis procedures in KA are detailed in the BLCViewer software.
This software is typically installed on PCs at your university.
KAVideo Overview
The process of quantifying human movement from video involves six stages:
1) Record Video of movement trials

This stage involves subject preparations (applying markers to body landmarks), camera set up and
the process of recording video data on a camcorder. The details associated with this stage are
covered in Chapter 2 – “Recording Video Data.”
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KA Video Introduction
2) Capture video clips of movement trials on the PC

The video for a given movement trial must be transferred to the PC’s hard drive by a USB cable.
The details associated with this stage are covered in Chapter 3 – “AVI File Processing.”
3) Create a KA Project Definition file

Information specific to each project (i.e., point names, segment names, event names) must be
defined for each KA project. Chapter 4 – “Creating Project Definition Files” describes the
process of generating this file for your KA project.
4) Create a KA Image Set

The full frame video clip for a given movement trial must be split into still frame video images
and processed by KA before it can be digitized. The details associated with this stage are covered
in Chapter 5 – “Image Set Preparations.”
5) Digitize (determine XY coordinates for body landmarks) the captured trials

Given a sequence of video fields for a movement, the XY coordinates for all body landmarks are
determined by manually locating the mouse cross hair over the landmark and clicking the left
button. This step in the video analysis process results in quantification of the movement. The
details associated with this stage are covered in Chapter 6 – “The KAVideo Main Menu”, Chapter
7 – “Video Digitizer Tutorial” and Chapter 8 – “Automatic Digitizing.”
6) Analyze the resulting kinematic data

Given X and Y values from video image files, a wide variety of kinematic variables are computed
for the movement. These data are illustrated with our KA2D and KA3D software programs. The
details of the KA2D and KA3D software are covered in Chapters 9 and 10 of this manual.
Getting Started
If your system has been prepared in accordance with the KA Administrator’s Guide Document,
the KA program icons will be shown on the Windows desktop of your PC. Alternatively, you can
access the KAVideo program through the Start menu or Start Screen.
Each desktop icon represents a program that can be used to conduct work on a KA video project.
A brief summary of the role of each program is provided below:
KAVideo
Double click on this icon to begin work in KAVideo. The KAVideo menu provides access to a
range of utility programs that allow you to capture, process, digitize and inspect video data. Each
step in the creation of a video project is covered in chapters 2-8 in this manual. KAVideo also
provides access to the data analysis programs in the KA Suite: KA2D, KA3D, JtCalc and HA.
Optional Utilities
A number of other KA utility programs are available for use by users of KAVideo. A brief
summary of these utility programs is provided below:
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KATutor
The KATutor is a video-digitizing tutorial that allows you to practice digitizing before you begin
work on a serious project. A detailed discussion of the KATutor is provided in Chapter 7 of this
manual.
Joint Torque Calculation (JtCalc software)

The JtCalc software displays ground reaction force, joint reaction force and leg joint torque data
for running and jumping movements. See Chapter 11 for a detailed discussion of this software.
Hydrodynamic Analysis (HA software)

The HA software displays hand propulsive force and related measures for swimming motions.
See Chapter 12 for a detailed discussion of this software.
BallFlight
BallFlight displays data for projectile motion problems. This program is included in the KAVideo
suite to provide support for biomechanics students who are using the Biomechanics of Human
Movement multimedia textbook. (See chapter 8 in the Biomechanics of Human Movement
textbook for details on the BallFlight program.)
VecCalc
Given data on a 3D trial, the VecCalc program allows you to perform vector algebra operations
on position, velocity and acceleration data. This program uses a spreadsheet / hand calculator
interface to allow you to perform custom analysis of KA data. See Chapter 13 for details on the
VecCalc program.
KAVideo Program Operations

The KAVideo menu provides a starting point for video processing and digitizing operations. This
section will briefly introduce the options available with KAVideo. You can supplement this
introduction by “playing with” some of the sample data files included on the KA installation
DVD-ROM.
To start KAVideo, double click the desktop KAVideo icon. The following screen shows a sample
KAVideo screen:
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The list boxes on the right side of the window are used to select the current KA workgroup (a
folder where all the files for a given class or research project are stored) and the current file for
display in KAVideo. The following screen shot show the WorkGroup list box with the LFiles
(laboratory exercise data file) workgroup folder selected for display:
Once a given workgroup is selected, any of the image sets available in the workgroup folder can
be selected for display. The following screen shot shows the Files list box with the RPKickRN
image set being loaded for display in KAVideo.
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Once an image set is selected for display, it can be manipulated with the controls below the video
image and / or the mouse. To animate the video image forward, hover the mouse over the middle
of the image and depress the left mouse button. To move the images backward, depress the right
button. Alternatively, you can hover the mouse over the Play button and depress (and hold down)
the left button on the mouse to play the video forward. Depress the right mouse button to play the
video backward. Finally, you can left click the mouse on the Step button to move forward one
image at a time or right click the mouse on the Step button to move backward one image at a
time.
Main Toolbar Options
The KAVideo program is used to capture and process digital video (DV). The left portion of the
KAVideo toolbar shows the main functions of the program.
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The Capture button is reserved for processing DV video from tape based / Firewire cameras.
This feature remains in the software to provide support for legacy video hardware (see the
KAManual12.pdf document for details on using this option). This version of the KAManual
describes the use of flash memory / hard drive video cameras with KAVideo.
High definition cameras now capture video directly to flash memory or a hard drive on the
camera itself. Thus, the local capture option within KAVideo will not be used. However, the
process of Importing video files from a camcorder will be discussed at length in Chapter 3.
The Define option allows you to define the project information that is specific to your video
camera setup and project design. For example, you specify the body landmark points that will be
digitized with this option.
The Prep option is used to set the start and end frame numbers of captured video files. You are
also prompted to enter the following trial specific information: Researcher name, Subject name
and trial condition.
The Create option creates image sets (a collection of individual video field files that are easy to
work with and digitize) for one or more AVI files that have been prepared with the Prep option.
The DG option is used to digitize the coordinates of all body landmarks associated with an image
set. This program performs a set sequence of operations:
 Define event frame numbers (i.e., the frame number of “ball impact” or “right heel strike”
etc.)
 Digitize the first landmark point for the image set
 Digitize each successive landmark point for the image set
 Digitize the scale factor frame
When digitizing is complete, the XY coordinate values are stored in a KA ".K2D" file, and stick
figure data and kinematic data can be reviewed with the KA2D program.
The ReDG option allows you to correct individual points at selected ranges of motion. This
option allows you to quickly clean up errors that stem from visualization difficulties in the normal
digitizing process.
Video Data Review Toolbar Options
The ImageSet#1 option is used to select an image set for display and for use with the other
KAVideo program options. This option is also used to set the current Workgroup folder. The
files that are accessed by this option are actually the folder names of the KA image sets. The
example data image sets are stored as sub-folders of the \KV\XDat folder. To display the files
from a different WorkGroup, double click on the workgroup name on the left most column.
The ImageSet#2 option sets the secondary image set for display on the KAVideo screen. When
this option is selected, two small video playback views are shown side by side on the KAVideo
screen.
The Avi#1 option sets the primary Avi file for display on the KAVideo screen.
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The Avi#2 option sets the secondary Avi file for display on the KAVideo screen. When this
option is selected, two small Avi file playback views are shown side by side on the KAVideo
screen.
Program Launch Toolbar Options
The KA2D option is used to launch the KA2D program and display the kinematic analysis data
(position, velocity and acceleration) measures for the various point involved in your project.
Note: the KA2D data for a given image set cannot be shown until all points (and the scale pole)
have been digitized.
The KA3D option is used to launch the KA3D program and display the three dimensional
analysis data for any front view / side view image set pairs.
The Exit option is used to end work with KAVideo.
The remaining paragraphs discuss the KAVideo pull down menu options.
File Menu
Open - Loads an image set for display.
Zip Image Set - Creates a Zip file of an image set and its associated files. This Zip file is stored
in the \KV\YourWorkGroup folder and can be used to transfer you image set and digitizing work
to another PC.
UnZip Image Set - Expands previously Zipped image set files for use on the current PC. This
program looks for files to unzip in the \KV\YourWorkGroup or \KV\XDat folder.
Print Image Set Report - Creates a printed report of the pictures in your image set on the
Windows default printer.
Run KA2D - Launches the KA2D program file.
Run KA3D - Launches the KA3D program file.
Run KAConfig - Launches the KA configuration program. Use this program to set the KA
window size, default font size and workgroup information.
Exit - Ends the KAVideo program.
View Menu
View Image Set - Loads an image set for display.
View AVI File - Loads an Avi file for display.
View Movement Library Files – Displays image sequence figures and participant information
for all files in the DVD based movement library (the KAVideo DVD must be in your DVD drive
for this option to function).
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Edit Menu
Edit Image Set - Runs the KA image set editor. This program allows you to modify the
brightness, contrast, gamma, black and white, and mirroring of the currently loaded image set.
Trim Image Set - Crops images from the beginning or end of an image set. Use this option to
reduce the size of an overlong image set.
Rename Image Set - Changes the name of an image set. This option can also be used to create
a new copy of an image set (under a new name).
ReSync Front and Side Views - Makes fine correction (to the nearest field) of the
synchronization for the front and side view files used in a 3D project. In order to use this option,
the front and side view files for a given 3D trial must be shown on screen (through use of the
ImageSet#1 and ImageSet#2 toolbar buttons).
Help Menu
The help menu provides access to the Show Help, Hide Help, Help About and the Run DG
Tutorial options. The DG tutorial provides a short introductory exercise in digitizing techniques.
KA File Management
In many respects, KA is a very simple program. It has a very limited feature set of less than 100
things that it can do. A typical Windows word processor, on the other hand, has hundreds of
program options that you can use to control the appearance of a printed document. Thus, KA
should be very easy to learn, especially if you have prior experience with a PC.
There is one aspect of the KA software that does require fairly advanced computer knowledge.
The software stores image data, research project settings, digitized XY coordinate data, 3D XYZ
coordinate data and individual trial archives in a number of specific files and folders on your hard
drive. Unlike your word processor, that requires you to manage only one file, KA will require
you, at times, to create and work with about 6 different file types. In this respect, KA is more like
a typical research data collection program that, on one hand, gives you the power to work with
large quantities of information, and on the other hand, requires you to manage and understand
large collections of data.
The KA software will allow you to conduct a research study with very little manual data file
handling (i.e., in Windows Explorer) and it will maintain your files for you transparently. Your
Lab manager / KA Supervisor will make decisions about where your files will go on the hard
drive and when they will be removed (i.e., at the end of a semester for a class using KA).
However, there will be times when it will be very important for you to know details about KA
data files. For example, when you are creating a research report on your data analysis you will
want to include still frame video files in your word processing document. To accomplish this you
will need to know where these files are stored and what their names are. Further, you may want to
back up your digitizing work on removable media to assure that your work is not lost (as a result
of a hard drive failure or an accidental erasure). For this you will again need to know the names
and locations of these XY coordinate data files.
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KA Program File Types and Folders
A figure of an Explorer screen listing the files and folders for a simulated KA software
installation is shown below:
The above listing shows the main folders on a lab PC that is shared by 4 classes / groups of
students. The KA program files and folders may also be stored on drives D or E, depending upon
the preferences of your laboratory instructor.
The four classes that are using this PC are denoted by short codes: A680 for Kin 680 (Advanced
Biomechanics), B485 for Kin 485 (Biomechanics), LFiles for laboratory exercise work in the
biomechanics class, and S697 for a research seminar class. Standard KA example data files are
stored in the XDat folders.
The KA software uses three basic groups of files: AVI video clip files, KV (KA Video image set)
files and KA7 program files. The AVI video clip files for each group are stored in the folders
\Avi\A680, \Avi\B485, etc. The contents of a typical grouping of \Avi\B485 files are shown
below:
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These AVI files were imported from an HDV camcorder and then renamed for use with KAVideo
analysis. The AASkimAF.avi file requires more than 75 Mb to store a trial of video data. A 20
second video clip will require nearly 70Mb of disk space for storage. The JPG files are single
video frames showing the scale pole for each trial. These scale pole still frames are extracted
from a video clip of the scale pole (this video file is originally recorded and stored on your
camcorder and later imported into KAVideo folders). Finally, the VIF files store (in NotePad
readable ASCII format) the information needed to create an image set for digitizing.
Each AVI file contains the many fields of video data that comprise a KA image set. An image set
is a collection of JPG files that have been extracted from the original AVI video file. These image
sets are stored in folders under the D:\KV folder on a typical laboratory PC. The image sets for
each workgroup are stored as sub-folders of \KV\A680\, \KV\B485\, etc. The files in the TutorS
example data image set are shown below:
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The image set consists of five basic file types: the “I” (Image) format files (I0001TutorS.JPG –
I0022TutorS.JPG) are the individual video fields that were extracted from the AVI file. Each
video field contains a full video field of 1920x1080 pixels (for HDV) or 640x480 pixels (for DV
format video). The TutorS.JPG file is the scale pole file; this file is a full DV video frame
(648x480 pixels) stored in 24 bit color mode. Finally, the TutorS.vif file stores basic research
information (researcher name, subject name, etc) as well as information on the current state of
progress in video digitizing. The digitizing work is stored in the Event.dat file (the event frame
numbers) and the Holdnn.XYD files (where nn represents the digitized point number). Thus, the
XY coordinates for the first point (right toe) on this TutorS file are stored in Hold01.xyd.
The KA program files are stored in sub-folders under the KA7 (KA version 7) folder. The image
processing and digitizing programs are stored in the \KA7\KAVideo folder. The two and three
dimensional analysis programs are stored in the \KA7\KA2D and \KA7\KA3D folders
respectively. The same workgroup folders that are present in the AVI and KV folders are also
present in the \KA7\KA2D and \KA7\KA3D folders. The following figure shows the XY
coordinate K2D data files for the XDat (example data) folder. These files contain the results of
your digitizing work, and they should be backed up on flash drive when your digitizing work is
complete.
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Conclusion
We have now completed a broad overview of the KAVideo software. A discussion of the details
of conducting a video analysis project is presented in the remaining chapters. The next chapter
discusses the first stage of a video analysis project: the collection of video data on flash memory
cards or the camera hard drive storage system. The remaining chapters in this manual cover
each successive step in the collection and analysis of video data.
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Chapter 2 – Recording Video Data
Introduction
The first stage of a video analysis project involves three important challenges: 1) Decide on the
movement to be analyzed; 2) Establish the research design for the project; and 3) Record video
data for each participant in the project. For the purposes of this chapter, we will assume that you
have selected an interesting movement for analysis and you have established an insightful
research design that will likely produce revealing results. The last remaining challenge for this
early stage of the work will be for you to carefully record your movement trials. The success of
your project rests upon the foundation of this video data. You will need to assure that your
cameras are properly placed, the camera shutter speed and focus are properly set, and other
factors such as the recording of the scale pole are properly done. The following sections provide
step by step guidelines that will allow you to collect good quality video data that will yield valid
research data.
Video Tape Data Collection Procedures
The following discussion will cover the collection of both two dimensional video data (from a
single camera) and three dimensional video data (from a two-camera set up). Two-dimensional
data collection usually involves collection of side view data on the performer, although any
standard view (front, right side, rear or left side) can be used in your data analysis.
In the simplest case, a 3D video project collects data from front view and right side view cameras
simultaneously. The KA software allows you can collect data from four types of camera set ups:
Front – Right, Front – Left, Rear – Right or Rear – Left. The KA-3D software can also accept
data from "rotated" reference frame camera positioning. For example, 3D data can be collected
from two diagonal view cameras, with one camera placed midway between the front and right
side positions and another camera placed midway between the right side and rear view positions.
This option is discussed under the "Video Collection for Rotated Reference Data" section below.
Camera Set up for 2D Data
KA Video data can be collected in the laboratory or in the field provided a few simple guidelines
are followed. First, the camcorder must be carefully aligned and held fixed during the recording
of all trials. If your project proposes to collect side view data, care must be taken to assure that
the camera optical axis is aligned at right angles to the subject's direction of progress. Often the
camera line of sight can be set with the aid of floor markings (in the gym) or even with the aid of
tile lines on a tiled floor. Tape markings should be placed on the floor to mark the beginning and
ending points of the subject's line of progression, the center of field of view, and the midpoint
beneath the legs of the camera tripod.
The remaining paragraphs provide an overview of the issues in video camera setup. For a very
detailed description of video camera setup, see Appendix A – “Video SetUp Lab”. Students at
SFSU perform this lab each year prior to data collection.
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Recording Video Data
The camera's line of sight must be leveled and set at a height that will fall in the middle of the
vertical range of motion. For example, on a throwing motion with a 6 foot tall subject the camera
should be set about 3 feet above the floor. This line of sight will allow points from the toes up to
the hand at the point of ball release to be well centered on the video screen. Once a 3 foot high
camera height is set, a level line of sight can be assured by aiming the camera at an additional
“targeting” tripod adjusted with its platform height 3 feet off the floor (this tripod must be placed
within the side view plane of motion, about midway between the start and end marks for the
motion. There must be a right angle formed between the side view camera location point – center
of field of view point line and the side view plane.
The zoom lens on the camera can be used to zoom in on the center of field of view “targeting
tripod” and then the camera tripod platform can be adjusted for pan and tilt until the target is
centered and focused in the viewfinder. Then the camera lens can be zoomed back and data
collected.
See Appendix A for details.
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Camera Set Up for Front / Side View Data
Three-dimensional data can be collected from front and side view cameras by following the
normal procedures recommended above for each camera. In addition, you must verify that the
lines of sight of the two cameras intersect at a 90, and you must measure the horizontal distance
between each camera lens and the center of field of view marker. The center of field of view
marker for a 3D study should be a tape mark on the floor directly below the point of intersection
of the camera lines of sight. The procedure for setting up cameras is as follows:
1) Mark two spots on the floor to define the start and end points of the participant’s line of
motion. Ideally, this line of motion should be parallel to a wall in the room or a line marking
on the floor. When possible, the line of motion points should be placed near a corner of the
room and the walls behind the movement area should be uniformly colored. The following
figure shows an overhead view of a typical study:
Given start and end points, the center of view mark should be placed near the center of the range
of motion (this will result in a minimum number of “wasted pixels”):
The above figure shows a camera set up for a back somersault study. Notice that the range of
motion of the movement is centered in the picture, both in the vertical and horizontal dimensions.
For some movements, the start point should be shifted horizontally to assure that data for all
landmark points is available. Consider the following camera set up for a kicking study:
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For this movement, the participant’s motion occupies the left 2/3rd of the picture. The right most
1/3rd is left open to assure that information on the ball velocity will be available (if the ball is not
seen on at least 3 fields after impact, the estimation of ball velocity will be inaccurate).
Given start point, center of view, and end point marks, the front view camera is placed along the
movement line of motion and far enough away from the participant to avoid extreme wide angle
lens settings. If floor markings are available (i.e., in a gym or on a tiled floor), they should be
used to assure that the line of sight for each camera intersects at a 90 angle. If floor markings are
not available, the camera lines of sight may be set as parallel to the room side walls by using the
same offset measurement for both the center of the field of view and the tripod center marks.
Alternatively, a laser level device may be used to assure a 90 angle between cameras.
When both cameras are in place, tape marks should be placed at the center of each tripod
location. The distance between the center of field of view mark and the camera lens then must be
recorded for each camera. (This distance will be equal to the distance between the tripod center
mark and the center of field of view mark, less the distance between the camera lens and the
tripod center.)
As with a 2D project, the line of sight for each camera should be leveled, and the camera height
should be the same for both cameras. If a level surface is being used for taping, identical camera
heights can be set by adjusting tripod heights for both cameras while they are side by side. The
height of each camera should also be marked on a third tripod (the targeting tripod). The third
tripod can then be moved to the center of the field of view and the cameras can be zoomed-in on
the camera height mark. Fine adjustments can then be made to the tripod camera level adjustment
to assure that the camera height mark falls at the center of the field of view for each camera. (See
Appendix A for details.)
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Video Collection for Rotated Reference Data
A rotated reference frame can be set up during 3D video data collection to facilitate the
visualization of data points during digitizing, or to protect the cameras from damage (i.e., baseball
line drives). Under this scheme you are free to rotate the front and side view camera lines of sight
by any given angle with respect to the traditional front and side view lines (although a right angle
must still be formed between the two camera lines of sight). This flexibility in camera positioning
can greatly enhance the ease of data collection and the visibility of digitized data. Let's consider a
tennis serve project to illustrate the rotated reference frame strategy of data collection.
The following figure shows a view of a tennis court rotated view camera setup.
This study has been designed to study serves that are hit “up the middle” into the duce court. To
minimize the possibility of having a camera hit by a ball, the camera lines of sight have been
rotated. The rotated front view camera line of sight is actually part way between the true front
view and the true left side view. The rotated left side view line of sight is actually part way
between the true left side view and the rear view. The angle of rotation for both cameras is
exactly the same. As a result, the angle between the two cameras is still 90, and 3D data can be
computed as well for this camera setup as for any other.
The camera rotation angle is defined as positive if the rotated front view camera line of sight is
displaced in a counter clockwise direction (as seen from above) with respect to the true front view
line of sight. The angle is defined as negative if the rotated front view camera line of sight is
displaced in a clockwise direction with respect to the true front view line of sight. In the above
figure,  is positive. Given information on this camera rotation angle, the KA3D software will
“un-rotate” your XYZ data and allow you to inspect your stick figure data from the normal front,
side and overhead viewpoints.
Camera Settings
Camera settings such as zoom, focus and shutter speed must be carefully set and checked each
time the camera power is turned on. Be sure to switch your camcorder to manual focus; if auto-
focus is turned on your subject will go out of focus if objects move in the vicinity of the camera
during data collection. You should bear in mind that some cameras will “lose their focus” when
the camera powers-down or goes into standby mode. As a result, the focus should be checked
before each set of trials. A detailed list of instructions on camera settings for a Panasonic HD
camcorder are included in Appendix B. Each camera used in your laboratory should have a
similar “camera specific” setup guide.
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The zoom setting should be set once for each subject. Be sure to zoom in as much as possible
without losing data out of the field of view. A scale reference (a meter stick, or better yet a 1.6
meter or longer "human sized" reference length) must be shot before any change in zoom setting
is made. This scale pole must be held in the plane of view of the movement (i.e., either in a
vertical or in a horizontal position) for a 2D study. For a 3D study the scale reference must be
held at the center of field of view mark for both cameras and it must be held along a vertical line
(the scale pole must be held within the plane of view of both cameras). The scale pole front
surface must be pointed at each camera while the pole is held at the center of field of view mark
and in a vertical position.
The scale pole must be shot at the end of each participant’s data collection time and each time a
zoom lens setting is changed during data collection. Thus, if you are collecting data on a throwing
motion and your first subject is 6' 6" tall you may have to "zoom back" to get this subject in the
field of view. At the completion of this subject's trials you must shoot the scale reference length.
If the next subject is 4'6" tall you can lower the camera by adjusting the tripod center post height,
re-check tripod pan and tilt adjustments, and zoom in closer for the data collection trials. At the
end of data collection you will need to re-shoot the scale reference for this new zoom lens setting.
As long as you record the scale reference for every zoom settings used in data collection, you will
be able to compute a scale factor for your data and, in turn, compute good values for XY, and/or
XYZ data.
The shutter speed should be set each time the camcorder is turned on. Many camcorders will turn
off the shutter setting when they are powered down. As a result, if you set the shutter at the
beginning of your data collection session, note that it may be turned off if the camera is powered
down between subjects or trials. Note: many cameras will power down automatically if they are
on but are not in record mode for a two minute period. If you turn the camera power back on but
forget to reset the shutter speed, all subsequently collected data will be useless if high movement
speeds are involved.
In general, you should use as high a shutter speed (up to 1,000th second) as the lighting conditions
will allow. If the existing lighting is dim and the movement is fast you should consider supplying
supplemental lighting to assure that your data is bright and sharp.
Once the camera shutter, focus and zoom are set, record a minimum of 5 full seconds of “dead”
video footage before and after each movement trial is recommended. You will be able to trim this
extra video footage from your trial when the KA image set is prepared.
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3D Time Synchronization Information
For a 3D study, time synchronization information must also be placed on the video record. This
sync event may be embedded in the movement (i.e., ball impact on a soccer kick). If the
movement does not involve a clear event, one must be added to your video collection procedure.
A synchronization event (sync event) can be recorded by simply bouncing a tennis ball in the
center of the field of view for both cameras just prior to the beginning of the movement. This
synchronization event will be used to determine the phase difference between the front and side
view time code records. Ideally, you should record a synchronization event at either the beginning
or end of each trial of data – this will make it easy for you to capture synchronized video clips for
processing.
For some movements (i.e., a tennis serve) the synchronization event is automatically included in
every trial. For movements with no clear synchronization event (walking), a ball bounce should
be added within 5 seconds of the movement beginning or movement end. During the video
capture process, you will need to capture both the movement and the ball bounce information in
one single AVI file. If the ball bounce is more than 10 seconds before or after the movement your
video file will be unnecessarily large. On the other hand, the participant should not feel pressured
to begin the movement very quickly after the ball bounce occurs. Your experiment should be
structured to assure that the participant moves naturally and at his/her own pace.
Subject Markings / Background Coloring
Ideally, your subjects should be dressed in tight fitting clothing and tape marking should be
placed at critical body landmarks (see the photo-figures at the beginning of this chapter). The
color of the tape markings should contrast with the subject's clothing. In turn, the color of the
subject's clothing should be selected to provide good contrast with the background color (it is
usually easier to change the color of clothing than the color of a wall or, even worse, the sky).
Ideally, the field of view behind the subject should be uniformly colored. Positioning the subject
in front of a uniformly colored wall, or hanging a tarp behind the subject can greatly help the
visibility of body landmark points.
With two-dimensional projects, where the movement is isolated in the plane of the camera, the
external body landmark can be placed on the joint axis and the marker and joint center can be
considered to be the same point. This approximation is improved if long camera distances and
telephoto lens settings are used. The following figure shows the use of point markers for use with
automatic digitizing:
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Note that the location of the hip joint marker is best determined when the participant is in a seated
position. The hip joint center should be set at the intersection point of the mid-thigh segment line
and the mid-trunk segment line. This approach to determining the hip joint center should be used
for all types of video projects (2D and 3D). Further, note that the hip joint center is not located on
the iliac crest.
Three-dimensional projects cannot assume that both cameras will see a marker at a location that
approximates the true joint center. A good solution to this problem involves placing a loop of tape
around the joint. The researcher can then visualize and digitize the center of the ring (or the center
as defined by two loops of tape) for both the front and side view cameras to attain a reasonable
approximation of the joint center in 3D.
With a 3D study, it is especially important to recognize that external body markings are to be
used as guides in the determination of joint center XY data. Thus, in a walking study, a dot of
white tape could be placed on the patella to indicate the location of the knee joint center for the
front view camera. On the side view, the same white marker cannot be used to indicate the
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location of the knee joint center - it will appear on the outer edge of the body, several centimeters
away from the true joint center as seen by the side view.
In reality, purely planar movement almost never occurs in realistic human movement and the use
of separate front / side view markers is short-sighted. The goal in 3D digitizing is not to
determine the location of external body-markers, it is to determine the location of internal joint
centers. Body-markers can be used to assist in the digitizing process but they should never be
thought of as interchangeable with joint center locations.
Given all of the variables associated with video data collection, it is a good idea to conduct a dry
run to test the quality of your video data, prior to the collection of "real" video data. The dry run
video should be studied frame by frame for problems in lighting, shutter speed and the visibility
of all critical landmark points.
Video Day Adjustments
The first step in your video session involves setting up the cameras and placing markings on your
participants. The second step involves the actual collection of video data. This step will involve
important adjustments.
2D Video Collection
The collection of data for a 2D video analysis can begin when a single camera (typically a side
view) is adjusted as specified above. Subtle adjustments may be needed to accommodate different
participants: i.e., lower the camera and zoom in for a shorter participant; raise the camera and
zoom back for taller participants.
While the participant performs warm up trials, make final adjustments to the tripod height and
zoom. It is important to avoid “wasted pixels” where an unnecessarily wide zoom lens setting is
used. Often it is possible to adjust the camera height or participant starting position to allow the
movement to better “fill” the video image.
The following two figures show the first frame, and a frame near the end of a throwing video.
Note that the video is poorly centered. Because the participant is standing in the middle of the
field of view on frame one, there is very little “room” for the rest of the throw to “fit” onto the
screen. The researcher has zoomed back to help get the ball in the picture, but did not zoom back
far enough (to get a good measure of ball velocity, the ball must be seen on 3 pictures after it
leaves the hand). To improve this video, the researcher should have lowered the camera and
shifted the starting position of the performer back about 5 feet. The researcher could then have
zoomed in more (to get a video that could be more easily digitized) and still seen the full
movement. In effect, the “wasted pixels” at the left and top of the video image could have been
eliminated.
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After the starting position and zoom are adjusted, verify that the shutter and focus are set
properly. Then instruct the performer that several trials will be collected (a term paper pilot
project should record two “good” trials). When the performer is ready, press the record button
and then tell him/her to begin the movement when ready (do not say “Go!” as this may cause the
participant to rush the beginning of the movement).
About 5 seconds after the movement is complete press the record button again to stop the
recording of the first trial. Continue this process until two “good” trials are collected. To
determine if the trial is “good”, for many movement you need only ask if the movement felt good
to the performer; for other movements, like baseball batting, the outcome of the movement will
determine if the trial is worthy of analysis or not.
When all of the movement trials for a given participant have been collected, be sure to shoot a
brief (5 second) video of the scale pole. Be especially careful to shoot the scale pole before the
camera zoom setting is changed for the next participant. Verify that the scale pole is held within
the plane of the video and then press the record button. Wait 5 seconds and press the record
button again to end the scale pole recording.
Repeat the above procedure for each participant / condition in your study. Note that, if the zoom
lens setting does not change, it is not necessary to shot the scale pole more than once. However, it
is good practice to shoot the scale pole for each individual participant, and to have that participant
stand next to the scale pole (for use in the event that measures of the participant’s height and
segment lengths are necessary).
3D Video Collection
The collection of video data for a 3D project is virtually identical to that of a 2D project, except
that two cameras are used. However, several important issues must be addressed:
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 The front and side view cameras must both collect the same number of trials for all
participants / conditions.
When 3D data is computed, it will combine the 2D information from two simultaneously
collected video trials. If the side view camera is used to record 5 video trials but the front view
has only 4, it will not be clear which trials were shot at the same time. To avoid this problem, the
lead researcher from your group should call a “count-down” to allow both camera operators and
the participant to know when the trial should start. To avoid a rushed start by the participant, the
count should be:
“One” – if a camera person is not ready he would let it be known now;

“Two” – both camera people start recording;
“Three” – the cameras are rolling; and
“Anytime you are ready” – to encourage the participant to move normally.
 A separate sync event may be necessary.
If a synchronization event (i.e., ball impact, heel strike) is not embedded within the movement,
it will be necessary to add your own sync event to the movement. Tossing and bouncing a ball
within the field of view on the count of “Three” (as mentioned above) will allow the front and
side view videos to be synchronized during the image set creation process.
 The scale pole must be rotated to face each camera as the front and side view scale pole
videos are shot in turn.
The scale pole must be vertical and positioned over the center of field of view mark when the 5
second scale pole videos are shot. Have the front view camera operator verify that the scale pole
is in a vertical position when the side view scale video is shot. Have the side view camera
operator verify that the scale pole is in a vertical position when the front view scale video is
shot.
Conclusions
The discussion of video data collection procedures is now complete. The next chapter describes
the process of preparing video clip data files for use by KA.
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Chapter 3 – AVI File Processing
Introduction
The prior chapter has described the steps needed to shoot your video trials. The next step in your
data processing will involve the transfer of your video files from the camcorder to a PC. Once the
video files are on the PC, they will need to be converted to AVI format and then renamed for
processing by KAVideo.
Note that KA supports only “standard” HDV and DV file formats:
 Normal NTSC DV – 720x480, 640x480

 Normal PAL DV – 720x576
 High definition DV – 1920x1080
KA supports these formats in both interlaced and progressive scan modes, and with a variety of
sampling rates including 60, 120, 200 and 240 pictures per second. Finally, KA displays video
images for digitizing on a variety of PC monitor resolutions (ranging from 1024x768 to
1920x1200) in full size or in reduced / enlarged sizes to accommodate any given PC’s monitor
resolution setting.
AVI File Basics
KA works with AVI (Microsoft’s Audio Video Interleave) format files. The information
contained in the video signal lies at the heart of the movement analysis process and deserves
careful scrutiny. In the United States, NTSC format video is the accepted standard for all
televisions, camcorders and VCRs. The normal NTSC HDV video format involves a maximum
resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and records video at 60 pictures per second. The PAL DV
format (used in Europe, Canada and other nations) has the same resolution (1920 x 1080) but
records video at 50 pictures per second. The KA software works with these HDV format AVI
files and produces image set files that show full sized video pictures for digitizing on larger
format monitors (1920 x 1200 or larger). This format has a 1:1 aspect ratio (the vertical and
horizontal dimensions provide a non-distorted picture).
Another important issue stems from the method of recording: progressive scan or interlaced. An
HDV video file that has been recorded in 60p mode (progressive scan), records 60 full
1920x1080 pictures every second. This 60p recording mode is available on almost all mid to high
end HDV cameras that are available today. The older standard: 60i video formats record 30
frames per second and 60 fields per second. Each field is composed of every other horizontal line
from the video frame. As a result, 60i video is not quite as good as 60p video, and it will soon be
completely supplanted by 60p cameras.
KA supports the analysis of both progressive scan and interlaced video. With progressive scan
video, KA simply extracts each full frame video image from an AVI file and then creates an
image set that has a separate JPG file for every frame in the video. For interlaced video, KA de-
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AVI File Processing
interlaces the video and extract each field from every video frame (and line doubles each field) to
create an image set with 60 full sized video images per second.
Because interlaced video is still being used by relatively new cameras, we will now discuss the
de-interlacing issue in detail (using examples taken from DV format interlace video clips). If your
lab has upgraded to progressive scan cameras, skip ahead to the next section heading.
Interlaced AVI File Processing
An illustration of a single full frame of interlaced NTSC DV video is shown below:
Note that this video frame is composed of two interlaced fields of information. The even lines
show the first field in the frame; the odd lines show the second field in the frame. The above
video frame was extracted from a video clip file captured from a DV camcorder. An HDV
camcorder, recording in 60i format (60 fields per second in interlaced format) will involve the
same type image, only larger. If you try to display a frame like this in Windows Media Player or
on your DV VCR, you will probably be unsuccessful. Most medial players and video tape deck
manufacturers design their equipment to show individual fields (or alternate fields) when “stop
action / frame advance” controls are pressed. The first field of data (representing a 1/60th second
time interval) can be extracted from the full frame by removing the odd lines from the frame and
redrawing the even lines (shifted down one line) a second time in their place. An illustration of
the end result of this “de-interlace” process for both the even and odd fields is shown below.
The above images are both composed of 640 x 480 pixels but it is interesting to note that there are
only 640 x 240 pixels of unique information in each field because each line has been doubled.
This implies that the quality of our digitizing data for 60i video formats will be slightly better
along the horizontal axis than it will along the vertical axis.
Newer cameras now support a non-interlaced video format called progressive scan. Cameras that
support 60p (60 pictures per second in progressive scan mode) record 60 full resolution pictures
every second. With these cameras, de-interlacing is not necessary and the quality of the video
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AVI File Processing
image is noticeably better. The progressive scan video format is now common in both HDV
camcorders and digital cameras that offer high speed video collection options.
Processing Video from HDV and HS Flash Memory Cameras
Good quality HDV cameras (with manual focus, manual shutter and a 60p video recording rate)
are now readily available in the $500 - $1000 range. The combination of video quality and
reasonable cost has made the HDV format the standard of choice for many movement analysis
projects.
For those projects that require higher speed video collection, digital still cameras are now
available that record high speed video at a resolution of 640x480 or better. The current crop (circa
spring 2013) of consumer grade high speed video cameras does not include any cameras that
support a manual shutter in high speed video mode. Hopefully this will change in the future. We
are using the Casio Exilim EX-FH25 (now discontinued) camera in our lab; this camera does
have manual shutter support in 640x480 120 pps mode. This 640x480 video image size is
comparable to the normal DV videos and is easily processed by KA. Further, the double speed
120 picture per second video is ideal for studying fast moving or short duration movements.
More expensive ($10,000 and up) high speed camera are available that shoot video at speeds of
200 pps and up. It is possible that the video from these cameras can be processed by KA if they
follow industry standard conventions (they can be played back in Windows Media Player) and
they meet the size specification specified at the beginning of this chapter.
HD Video Processing Settings
The KAConfig program (accessible from the KAVideo, File, Run KaConfig menu option) may
need to be adjusted to assure that image sets for HD video will be created as expected. In
particular, the Advance Delay option may need to be increased to a value as high as 10 on any PC
that is using a “slow” or nearly full hard drive. PCs that are using SSD drives can use low
Advance Delay values (2 or 3) even with HD video.
The KAConfig program has also been modified to allow storage of video settings for up to three
cameras that you use in your lab:
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AVI File Processing
The lower left corner of the first KAConfig screen allows you to specify the video rate (Frm/Sec)
and Progressive scan settings for up to 3 cameras. The three cameras shown above are those we
are currently using at SFSU. The information on these cameras is necessary to assure that KA
will know the playback frame rate of AVI files produced by these cameras. Note: this is
particularly important for high speed cameras; they often record in a high rate but provide no
information in the AVI concerning the playback value of the video rate.
Our first camera is a Panasonic TM900. It records HD video in 1920x1080 60p mode. When the
KA AVI viewing programs display video that is 1920 pixels wide, they will assume a video speed
of 60 pictures per second in 60p mode.
The second camera is a classic Sony DV camera that we still use in our underwater video
housings. When KA processes video that is 720 pixels wide, it will assume that the video is best
played back at 30 interlaced frames per second (60i). When the Frm/Sec textbox is set to 30, KA
will correctly set the frame rate to 30 and the field rate to 60. With this setting in effect the
KAVideo, AVI option will “know” the correct length of all video files shot with this camera.
The third camera is a Casio Exilim EX-FH25 inexpensive high speed (120 pps at 640x480 in
progressive scan mode) that we use in our lab. The AVI files produced by this camera do not
provide information on the actual frame rate of the video. The Frm/Sec value of 60 for this
camera was determined through trial and error. Various settings were tried in KAConfig and
then sample videos were viewed with the KAVideo, AVI option. With the setting of 60 in effect
the KAVideo, AVI option “knows” the correct length of all video files shot with this camera.
It is important to note that the Frm/Sec values that work for the KAVideo AVI option do not
necessarily need to reflect the true frame rate. The actual frame rate used in the data analysis for
any video project is derived from the project file for that project. The KAVideo, Define, Camera
Setup window allows you to specify the field/sec value (the number of pictures per second for
progressive scan video / the number of fields per second for interlaced video) that is appropriate
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AVI File Processing
for any given camera. The Progressive Scan check box on this screen must also be set correctly to
assure that the project image set will be generated as expected.
Video File Management
A review of existing flash drive type cameras indicates that no single recording file format is used
by all camera makers. Some cameras create AVI format files; others store MTS format files; still
others use the MP4 format to store video on their flash drives. It is important to note that the
quality of the video file formats is nearly identical (assuming the camera includes a manual
shutter control) for most cameras. The only problem that exists for KA users is that the file format
type of their particular camera’s video files must be converted to AVI before they can be
processed by the KAVideo Prep program.
This problem is easily solved with the Pazera Free MP4 to AVI free file format conversion utility.
This free program can quickly convert virtually any type of video file (MTS, MP4 and others) to
identical AVI format video files. Once the Avi file format conversion is performed by the Pazera
program, the video file can be processed normally by KA.
The Pazera Free MP4 to AVI program is normally installed on a school PC by your KA
Administrator. For details on the installation of the Pazera Free software, see Appendix C.
To convert a camcorder video file to AVI format, do the following:
1) Connect your camera’s USB cable (or insert the camera’s SD card into your PC’s SD
card reader). The PC will recognize the camera storage device and prompt you to begin
the upload process. Select the “Open folder to view files” option to begin work:
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AVI File Processing
2) Windows Explorer will show the root folder of the camera’s storage media / SD card.
Navigate to the camera storage media sub folder that stores your project’s video files. For
this example (with the Panasonic TM900 HDV camcorder), those files are stored in the
“I:\AVCHD\BDMV\STREAM” folder:
3) Note that the files are already sorted by date. Click on the first file from your video
session (use the date and time information to distinguish your files from others on the SD
card). Shift-click on the last file from your session.
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AVI File Processing
4) Press <Ctrl-C> to copy the selected files to the clipboard buffer. Use Windows Explorer
to display the contents of your target AVI folder. In this example, the D:\AVI\A680
folder is being used. Press <Ctrl-V> to paste the video files to your workgroup folder on
your PC’s hard drive (the workgroup folder for our Kin 680 at SFSU is being used in the
below figure):
Note that the files above are from a single camera “side” view 2D study. The camera has
applied an arbitrary naming scheme to the video files that we will modify shortly. Bear in
mind that the camera’s initial naming scheme could potentially cause a serious problem
on a two camera 3D study. If the front view camera happens to use the same file name as
the side view camera on any trail, that trial will be written-over when the second
camera’s files are copied to the PC. To eliminate this possibility, it would be best to
create temporary sub folders (in this example, under the D:\AVI\A680 folder) named
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AVI File Processing
“Side” and “Front”. The separate side and front view files can then be processed and
renamed (all side and front view trials will be given unique names) as described below
and then moved to the required KA workgroup folder (for this example, that folder is
D:\AVI\A680.
5) Use the Windows Remove Hardware option to disconnect the camcorder from the PC:
6) Use the Windows, Start, Programs command to run the MP4 to AVI program.
7) Click the Add Files toolbar button, navigate to the D:\AVI\A680 folder, set the “Files of
type” pull down list option to “All video files” and select the MTS file to be converted.
The following figure shows the resulting MP4 to AVI screen:
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AVI File Processing
8) Click the Open button to add the files to the MP4 to AVI main window.
9) Leave the default processing options as shown below. Click the CONVERT toolbar
button to begin the conversion process.
10) Click the Close button and exit from the MP4 to AVI program when the conversion is
complete.
11) Note that the newly created AVI files have the same base file name as the original MTS
files:
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AVI File Processing
The newly converted AVI file will be compatible with KA and Windows Media Player. Double
click on each AVI file to view the video in Media Player.
If a file is revealed to be “bad” (i.e., an aborted movement attempt) through your inspection,
remove that file in both the MTS and AVI formats. For the purpose of the remaining discussion,
we have removed the 00005.avi / MTS trial from the list.
File Rename Procedure
As a final step, you must now use Windows Explorer to manually rename the AVI files in
accordance with KA conventions (i.e., for John Smith’s soccer kick study, side view trail for
participant A; rename the CameraCodedFileName.avi file to JSKickAS.avi).
Note:
 the first 2-4 characters in the filename should consist of researcher name initials;
 the next characters should be a brief description of the movement,
 the second to last character should be the participant code
 and the last character should be the view code “S” for side, “F” for front or no character
for a 2D file (the final S / F character is not needed for a 2D project).
 If multiple trials are collected for a given participant, those trial numbers should follow
the participant letter code and precede the Side / Front view letter.
Thus, participant A’s first side view trial name should be: JSKickA1S.
The actual renaming work will be done in Windows Explorer. To simplify the work, create a
D:\AVI\A680\Bkup folder and move the MTS format files there (when work on the project is
complete, it will be appropriate to discard these files).
 Use the New Folder button to create the Bkup folder.
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AVI File Processing
 Sort the Explorer list by file type:
 Select the MTS files and move them to the Bkup subfolder.
 This will cut the file list for our example down to 6 trials:
 Select the first file (for our example, file “00006.avi”) and press F2 to begin the file
rename operation.
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AVI File Processing
 Enter the base filename as “JSKickA1S”

 The file will be dynamically sorted to the bottom of the list:
Repeat the renaming process for all movement trial video files. To save keystrokes, select the first
file for editing and copy the base name of the project (JSKickA) to the clip board buffer. Then
use Windows paste (Ctrl-V) to paste the base name onto the camera file name during editing.
Then add the final characters (2S, 3S, 4S…) and press <Enter> to save the file with a new file
name.
If necessary, double click on a file to verify that it holds the movement trial associated with its
name. The last trial on our list is the scale factor file. If we double click on this file we can
confirm its contents:
Rename the scale pole video file as follows (again using the JSKick project as an example):
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AVI File Processing
If all side view AVI files have been shot with the same zoom lens setting and camera position,
rename the scale pole AVI file to: JSKickSSF.avi. The last two characters in the AVI file name
must be “SF”. The trial number information is not needed – it is assumed that the same scale is
used for all trials of a given participant.
If the scale factor is different for some of the movement trials, a scale factor video clip must be
recorded and processed for each scale factor condition. For example, if trial one is for a tall
participant, and trial two is for a short participant, two different scale pole videos must be shot
(each with the same zoom lens setting as the movement trial). In this case, the two scale factor
files must be named: JSKickASSF.avi and JSKickBSSF.avi. In these file names, the “A”
character represents participant “A” and the “B” character represents participant “B”. It is
assumed that the same zoom lens setting is used for all of the trials for a given participant and
only one “SF” video must be available for participant A or B. Similar scale factor video files must
also be made for the front view trials, where the last three letters of the file names must be “FSF”.
These scale factor AVI files must be processed by the KAVideo Prep program before the normal
movement trial video clips are processed. The Prep program will recognize them as scale factor
AVIs and will extract the still frame scale pole files that are needed for your normal video
movement trial videos. The normal side and front video files cannot be processed by the
KAVideo Prep program until the needed scale pole still files have been created in the
\AVI\YourWorkGroup\ folder.
When the scale pole AVI file has been processed by the KAVideo Prep program, your video files
should all have similar base names. For a 3D project, the file names must be similar to the
following. Note, the researcher is John Smith; these files are for participant A in his analysis:
JSKickAS.avi – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s side view video clip
JSKickAS.jpg – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s side view scale pole still frame
JSKickAF.avi – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s front view video clip
JSKickAF.jpg – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s front view scale pole still frame
If multiple trials are collected for participant A, then the first of those files should be named:
JSKickA1S.avi – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s side view video clip
JSKickA1S.jpg – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for A’s side view scale pole still frame
JSKickA1F.avi – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s front view video clip
JSKickA1F.jpg – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for A’s front view scale pole still frame
Note: It is essential that the base name of all movement trials is exactly the same as the base name
of all scale pole files.
The scale factor AVI file for a multi-trial study of data for participant A, should be named:
JSKickASSF.avi. When processed by the Prep and Create programs, the appropriate scale pole
JPG files will be generated for all trials of participant A’s data.
Note that, because many flash drive cameras create progressive scan videos, it is essential that the
project file associated with the image set (see Chapter 4) has the Progressive Scan checkbox
checked when appropriate. Finally, be sure to enter the appropriate film speed value for high
speed video trials into this project file.
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AVI File Processing
AVI File Inspection within KAVideo
KA has been upgraded to allow quick review of video files (this is particularly handy for HD
files). The new keyboard shortcut / rapid advance keys are shown at the bottom of “normal size”
video displays in the KAVideo, AVI window:
The rapid advance keystrokes are:
Single file mode

End – go to last frame
Home – go to first frame
Minus – go to middle frame
Number Zero – advance forward by 10% of the video length increments
Numbers # (1 – 9) – advance # frames forward.
<Shift ZeroKey> - move backward by 10% of the video length increments
<Shift #> - move backward # frames
Dual file mode

Single file keystrokes – advance / move back both files
<Ctrl- Minus> - move to middle frame for left side video
<Alt-Minus> - move to middle frame for right side video
<Ctrl #> - move the left side video as specified for single file mode
<Alt #> - move the right side video as specified for single file mode
To inspect the videos discussed in the prior section, we will make use of the KAVideo AVI#1 and
AVI#2 toolbar buttons.
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AVI File Processing
Run KAVideo and load any file from the A680 workgroup to make that workgroup the default.
Click the AVI#1 button and select the JSKick1S file for display. If your monitor supports
1920x1080 or better, a full sized video image will be shown:
If your project involves 3D (two camera data), use the KAVideo, View, View AVI File #2 menu
option to select the front view video (JSKickA1F.avi) for review in dual file mode:
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AVI File Processing
The researcher can inspect this trial and make notes. In this instance, the researcher is looking for
the trial with the most forceful foot impact with the target. As all six trials are reviewed, the
researcher will be able to identify the “best” trial. Once this is done, the “other” trials should be
removed from the \AVI\A680 folder and copied back to the \AVI\A680\Side or Front folders for
temporary backup.
For this example, trial 4 was selected as best, and trails 1-3 for the front and side views were
removed to a backup folder. The resulting \AVI\A680 folder is shown below. The trial numbers
in the AVI file names, have little significance. The front and side view AVI files have been
renamed JSKickAF.avi and JSKickAS.avi to remove unnecessary detail from the project file
names.
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AVI File Processing
Note: The above screen shot shows the folders for a 3D version of the JSKick study. This version
has both front and side view video clips. To simplify processing (and assure that no files are over-
written) the original MTS files were copied to the \AVI\A680\Side and \AVI\A680\Front view
folders. The following steps were then performed:
 The MP4 to AVI program was then run to create the AVI files.
 These AVI files were renamed within the separate Side and Front subfolders.
 The renamed files were then copied to the base \AVI\A680 folder to allow for easy
inspection within KAVideo.
 Finally, the “best” front and side view pair was left in the \AVI\A680 folder and,
 The remaining files were moved back to the Side and Front subfolders for archival
storage.
Conclusions
Our work with video file processing is now complete. We have seen that digital video can be
easily prepared for use with biomechanical data analysis. The next chapter discusses the creation
of KA project definition files.
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Chapter 4 – Creating Project Definition Files
Introduction
Once video data is collected and edited, the next step in a video analysis project is to create the
project definition file. Before we can digitize the video data, we need to define the number of
points and the point names that will be digitized from the videotape. We also need to specify the
recording frame rate (film speed), the length of the scale reference, and information about how
the stick figures and movement patterns should be drawn.
Once a project definition file is created it can be used for as many trials of data as you like. As
long as the point names, event names, film speed, camera set up and scale reference length
remain the same, there is no need to recreate another project definition file. As a result, the
project file is normally run only once for a research project. You may run the Studio DV program
many times to capture front and side view videos for every trial in your project, but you should
normally use only one project file for all of these files. Most important, if you are working on a
3D data file, the project definition file for both the side view trial and the front view trial must be
the same.
Bear in mind, the digitizer program can work with virtually any kinematics data project. It will
accept XY coordinate entry for 1 - 99 points per frame. Further, the point names can be defined as
any string of characters (wrist, ankle, elbow...). The details of any given project are made
available to the digitizer program through the project definition file.
Working with Project Files
Note that the “Current Workgroup” label in the above figure shows that the default “Save in”
folder for your project file is set as the “Example Data” folder. If the shown folder is not correct,
select the folder for you class / research project. This will set the default “Save In” location for
your project file to be set for the appropriate folder.
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Creating Project Definition Files
When the Define option is selected, the following program screen is shown:
There are three ways to work with project definition files:
1) You can select the Create New File option to enter a new project definition file and accept
the default values associated with a number of pre-defined KA project types. This option is
discussed in the “Basic Project Definition File Data Entry” section below.
2) You can select the Create New File option to enter a new project definition file and specify
every value that will be included in the file. This option is discussed in the “Custom Project
Definition Files” section below.
3) You can select the Edit Existing File option, make changes to this file, and then save the new
file. This option is discussed in the “Edit an Existing Project File” section below.
Let's consider each of the above options. The first option is the simplest.
Basic Project Definition File Data Entry
The following paragraphs describe the process of entering a simple project file. The next section
will discuss more advanced project file data entry.
To create a new project file, click the <Create New File> button. A screen similar to the
following will appear (if you are on a PC with 640x480 display resolution the help text box on the
right side of the screen will not be shown).
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Notice that the category bar at the top of the frame shows that there are 8 categories of
information in a project definition file:
Points - Landmark point names (Rfinger, Rwrist, etc.).
Segments - Body segment names (Rforearm, Rupperarm, etc.) and implement names (baseball
bat, tennis racket).
Joints - Body joint angles (elbow joint, etc.) and angles between any two defined segments (i.e.,
golf club – right forearm angle).
Stick - Stick figure definition information.
Events - Names for critical instants in time during the movement; i.e., ball impact, heel strike, toe
off, etc.).
Rates – Quick digitizing sampling rates. These settings allow you to digitize slow moving points
less often, and as a result will save you time in digitizing.
Setup – Camera set up information.
Names – Researcher name, participant name and other project information.
Notice that the upper left corner of the form shows a Project Type pull down list box. This list
includes a number of pre-defined sets of project information that are commonly used in KA
projects. The first, most generic project type is “Full Body” and the points for this project type are
shown in the above figure.
If you click on the Project Type pull down list arrow, a list similar to the following will appear:
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You may use this list to change the points (and other default project variables) to any of a number
of standard types. For example, if Tennis is selected, the program screen changes as shown:
The new list of points includes the default points for a tennis study. Similar “custom defined”
point sets are available for each project type listed in the pull down menu.
Assuming that the points shown for the project type are what we need, we can accept a long list
of defaults and jump to the camera Setup entry screen by clicking the <Accept Defaults> button
(on the lower left side of the screen).
A screen similar to the following is shown:
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Notice that the check boxes next to each of the first six items in the category bar are now
checked. This indicates that default values for each category have already been entered and only a
few remaining project specific variables must be defined. If you want to see the default
information for any category, click on the category name on the category bar. You can also use
the Back and Next buttons on the bottom of the form to step backward and forward one category
at a time through your project information.
Entry of information on the SetUp screen begins at the upper left corner and proceeds downward.
The Camera Setup frame allows you to select from 5 camera positioning options. For example, if
your video was collected with a rear view camera and a right side camera, click the Rear / Right
option button.
Note that the overhead view of the camera positioning figure now shows the selected camera set
up. The overhead view picture of your camera set up should help you visualize the camera
distance information that must be entered in the Rear (or Front) View and Side View text boxes.
You can enter this information in meters (to the nearest millimeter) if the M (meter) option button
is set on. Click the Ft (feet / inches) option button if you want to enter the camera distance data in
feet / inches.
The scale pole length is entered next. This length can be entered either in feet/inches or in meters.
The scale pole length represents the distance between the two points that are digitized for scale.
The upper and lower points on the scale pole below are 1.6 meters apart:
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The “film speed” value is entered next. This film speed entry represents the field rate of your
video camera. This value is 60 for NTSC video (USA) and 50 for PAL video (Europe). JC Labs
High Speed Video cameras use 200 fields per second.
The Skip interval sets the number of fields that will be advanced between sampled fields. Enter 1
to collect data from every field in your video. This skip rate number determines the "effective
film speed", or the inverse of the time interval between each successively sampled video image
used in your project. For example, if you shoot video data at 60 fields per second, but you choose
to digitize data on every third field, then the effective film speed is 20 images per second (60
divided by 3). If you are studying a movement with medium to fast body landmark movement, it
is best to use 1 as your skip rate (and 60 fields per second as your effective film speed). If you
movement is slow, you can use higher skip rate values (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 15, 20, 30 or 60). For
example, if you set the skip rate to 2 with 60 field per second video, the Create Image Set
software program will extract every other field of video from your AVI files when it makes your
image sets. Thus, a 3 second AVI file will produce a 90 picture image set with the skip rate of 2
setting.
In general, try to pick a skip rate value that will give you between 60 and 120 images for analysis.
If you are looking at a fast movement (i.e., golf) but the complete movement spans more than 2
seconds consider cropping off extra frames of video from the beginning or end of the movement
to keep the video clip length close to 2 seconds. It would be a mistake to study a golf swing with
less than 60 pictures per second because the movement of the club and ball during the critical
range of motion is very fast.
When the skip rate value is set, enter the camera rotation angle (if any) and click the <Next>
button to accept the remaining defaults and proceed to the last project file information screen:
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Enter your name (in Firstname - space - Lastname format) in the Project File Author text box.
Select your project workgroup from the workgroup pull down list:
Enter the project file name with same naming convention that you plan to use with your image set
and KA2D / KA3D files. Use your initials for the first two characters; use the next four - eight
characters to identify your project. For example, the project file name for John Smith's cartwheel
study could be: JSCHWL. This project file will be used with all front and side view image sets in
the cartwheel project. The image set name for the side view trial one data would be:
JSCHWL1S. The image set name for the front view trial one data would be: JSCHWL1F.
Similarly, the front and side view files for the second trial would be JSCHWL2F and
JSCHWL2S.
For most laboratories, you will be able to accept the default values for the remaining text box
entries on the Names form. (If your laboratory makes use of a variety of cameras or digitizer
boards, you will need to specify the appropriate names before proceeding).
Click on the <Save and Exit> button to save your project file on disk. You will be able to run the
project definition program in the future to edit many of the values in this file. In fact, you can
change any item in your project file during the time period before you begin digitizing landmark
points. Once digitizing work has begun, however, you may not change the name or number of
landmark points in your project. In addition, you may not change the number of events in your
project. If you do make changes in these two critical elements of your project file you will need to
begin your digitizing work again from the beginning.
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Custom Project Definition Files
The following paragraphs describe the process of entering a complete project definition file (the
Accept Defaults option will not be used). The forms for each project information category have
numerous text entry boxes and command buttons that are used to set project variables. To
simplify the discussion of each project variable, we will add identification (ID) numbers to the
figures in this section and then discuss each project variable in ID number order.
Point Category Information
The Point project category form is shown below:
Project Type Pull Down Menu – Click on the pull down menu arrow to select from a list of pre-
defined point sets. Each time a new project type is set, the point names list box and body
picture box changes to reflect the currently active points. As of the date of this writing, the
following project types are available: Full body, Tennis, Golf, Baseball batting, Throwing,
Kicking, Swimming, and Unilateral body (see figure below). Each of these project types has
unique points and events that will be good for most KA projects. There is also a User Defined
project type that allows you to enter a complete set of unique points.
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Remove Points option – Click this option button to remove one or more points from your
project. When this option is set on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize
the point marker to be removed…” Click the red dot next to the point name(s) you would like
to remove. When the point remove process is complete, click the Done button (ID number 6)
to end the point removal process.
It should be noted that the selection of point names is not entirely arbitrary in KA. If you
want to compute the body CG for a bilateral data set the following point names must be
included in your project file:
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Bilateral point names:

RWrist LWrist
RElbow LElbow
RShoulder LShoulder
RHip LHip
RKnee LKnee
RAnkle LAnkle
RToe LToe
The order of these point names in your definition file list is arbitrary. Further additional point
names (i.e., hockey puck, ball, bat, racket head) can be included with these body landmarks. The
spelling of these point names is important however. If a point name is misspelled, KA will not
compute the body CG location.
If you want to compute the body CG for a unilateral set of landmarks your point name list must
include the following names (spelling counts):
Wrist
Elbow
Shoulder
Hip
Knee
Ankle
Toe
Add Points option - Click this option button to add one or more points to your project. When
this option is set on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize at point
marker location…”. Click the mouse at a spot in the body picture box where you would like
the point name to appear. A red dot will be placed at the selected location and you will be
prompted to type the point name in a text box. Press the Tab key when the point name has
been entered. You can repeat this process to enter more points. When the point addition
process is complete, click the Done button.
Edit Name option – Click this option button to edit the name of an existing point. When this
option is set on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize the point marker to
be edited…”. Click the mouse on the red marker dot of the point to be edited. You will be
prompted to type the new point name in a text box. Press the Tab key when the point name
has been entered. You can repeat this process to edit more point names. When the point name
edit process is complete, click the Done button.
Move Points option – Click this option button to change the location (in the body picture box) of
an existing point. It is sometimes necessary to change the location of point markers to
enhance the visualization of your custom defined project body types. When this option is set
on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Drag the point marker to be moved…”.
Click and hold down the left mouse button on the red marker dot of the point to be moved.
The picture box top line prompt will change to show: “Move the … point to the new
location…”. Drag the point marker to the new location and release the mouse button. The
point marker and point name will be relocated and the top line prompt will change to remind
you that you can move another point now. When the point move process is complete, click
the Done button.
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Done button – This button is not shown unless one of the option buttons (ID 2-5) is set on. When
one of this options is selected, the Done button is used to end the point modification process.
Accept Defaults button – As mentioned in the last section, this button is used to accept standard
defaults and jump ahead to the project setup category.
Back button – Click this button to go back to the prior form and start over.
Next button – Click this button when the point information is correct. You will advance to the
Segment category entry form.
Refresh button – Click this button reset the default points for the chosen project type. Any work
you have done on point modification will be lost when this button is pressed.
Abort button – Click this button to abort work on a project definition file and return to the
KAVideo, New sub menu.
Segment Category Information
The Segments project category form is shown below. Note that the default body segments are
shown by green lines between the segment distal and proximal points. The segment markers are
shown as green boxes.
1) Project Type - This label reminds you of the current project type; it cannot be changed on
this form.
2) Remove Segment Option - Click this option button to remove one or more segments from
your project. When this option is set on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt:
“Digitize the segment marker to be removed…”. Click the green box next to the segment
name(s) you would like to remove. When the segment removal process is complete, click the
Done button (ID number 5) to end the segment removal.
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3) Add Segment option - Click this option button to add one or more segments to your project.
Note that you cannot add a segment unless it’s distal and proximal points are already defined
for your project. (If you have omitted a point from your project you will need to press the
Back button to return to the Point category.) When the Add Segment option is set on, the
body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize the distal point…”. Click the mouse on
the point marker of the segment distal point. The top line prompt will then change and prompt
you to “Digitize the proximal point…” When you click on the segment proximal point, a
green line will be drawn for the segment and you will be able to enter the segment name in a
text box. Press the Tab key when the segment name has been entered. You can repeat this
process to enter more segments. When the segment addition process is complete, click the
Done button.
4) Edit Name option – Click this option button to edit the name of an existing segment. When
this option is set on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize the segment
marker to be edited…”. Click the mouse on the green marker box of the segment to be edited.
You will be prompted to type the new segment name in a text box. Press the Tab key when
the segment name has been entered. You can repeat this process to edit more segment names.
When the segment name edit process is complete, click the Done button.
5) Done button - This button is not shown unless one of the option buttons (ID 2-4) is set on.
When one of this options is selected, the Done button is used to end the segment modification
process.
6) Set Known Lengths check box - This check box can optionally be used to enter the known
lengths of any clearly seen segments in your project. If one or more segments can be very
well seen in all pictures in your image set (for both front and side views) you should enter
their known lengths under this option. This segment information is used to make fine
adjustments to scale in the calculation of 3D data.
7) Back button - Click this button to go back to the prior form and start over.
8) Next button – Click this button when the segment information is correct. You will advance
to the Joints category entry form.
9) Refresh button – Click this button reset the default segments for the chosen project type.
Any work you have done on segment modification will be lost when this button is pressed.
10) Abort button – Click this button to abort work on a project definition file and return to the
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Joints Category Information
The Joints project category form is shown below. Note that the default joint markers are shown
by red circles with red dots and the segment markers are also shown:
Note that the joint angle list includes both hinge and ball and socket joints. The hinge type joint
angles (elbows and knees) are measured as the angle between the distal and proximal segment
lines. The ball and socket joints (shoulder and hip) and the ankle joint angle are more difficult to
define. The KA program defines these joint angles as the angles between the following distal and
proximal segments:
Joint (R&L) Distal Segment Proximal Segment

ShoulderJt TrunK UpperArm
HipJt ThigH TrunK
AnkleJt FooT ShanK
These joints are three dimensional and could be defined in other ways. For example, if you are
interested in the shoulder joint angle as measured between the upperarm segment and shoulder
segment (the line between the two shoulder points), you will need to add this joint angle to the
list. If you need to define anatomically based joint angles (i.e., shoulder internal / external
rotation) you will need to use the KA companion program VecCalc to perform a custom vector
analysis on your data. The remaining paragraphs discuss the variable entry information in the
joint category:
this form.
2) Remove Joint Option - Click this option button to remove one or more Joints from your
project. When this option is set on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize
the joint marker to be removed…”. Click the red dot next to the joint name(s) you would like
to remove. When the joint removal process is complete, click the Done button to end joint
removal.
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Add Joint option - Click this option button to add one or more segments to your project. Note
that you cannot add a joint unless it’s distal and proximal segments are already defined for
your project. (If you have omitted a segment from your project you will need to press the
Back button to return to the Segment category.) When the Add Joint option is set on, the body
picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize the distal segment marker…”. Click the
mouse on the marker of the distal segment. The top line prompt will then change and prompt
you to “Digitize the proximal segment marker…” When you click on the proximal segment
marker, a joint marker will be drawn for the joint and you will be able to enter the joint name
in a text box. Press the Tab key when the joint name has been entered. Note: if the two
segments associated with a joint do not have a point in common, the joint marker will appear
on the upper left side of the body picture box. For example, if you add a “TrunkTwistJt” joint
to your project (based upon the angle between the hip and shoulder segments) the maker for
this “joint” will be shown at the upper left side of the body picture box.
You can repeat the above process to enter more joints. When the joint addition process is
complete, click the Done button.
Edit Name option – Click this option button to edit the name of an existing joint. When this
option is set on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize the joint marker to
be edited…”. Click the mouse on the red dot joint marker of the joint to be edited. You will
be prompted to type the new joint name in a text box. Press the Tab key when the joint name
has been entered. You can repeat this process to edit more joint names. When the joint name
edit process is complete, click the Done button.
Done button - This button is not shown unless one of the option buttons (ID 2-4) is set on. When
one of this options is selected, the Done button is used to end the joint modification process.
Back button - Click this button to go back to the prior form and start over.
Next button – Click this button when the joint information is correct. You will advance to the
Stick figure category entry form.
Refresh button – Click this button reset the default joint for the chosen project type. Any work
you have done on joint modification will be lost when this button is pressed.
Abort button – Click this button to abort work on a project definition file and return to the
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Stick Category Information
The Stick project category form is shown below:
this form.
2) Remove Line Option - Click this option button to remove one or more lines from the stick
figure. When this option is set on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize
line point #1…”. Click the red dot on one end of the line you would like to remove. The top
line prompt then reads “Digitize the line point #2…” Click the red dot on the other end of the
line you would like to remove. You may continue this process to remove more lines. When
the line removal process is complete, click the Done button.
3) Add Line Option - Click this option button to add one or more stick figure lines to your
project. Note that you cannot add a line unless it’s distal and proximal points are already
defined for your project. (If you have omitted a point from your project you will need to press
the Back button three times to return to the Point category.) When the Add Line option is set
on, the body picture box shows the top line prompt: “Digitize line point #1…”. Click the
mouse on the marker of the distal segment. . The top line prompt then reads “Digitize the line
point #2…” Click the red dot on the other end of the line you would like to add. You may
continue this process to add more lines. When the line addition process is complete, click the
Done button.
4) Done button - This button is not shown unless one of the option buttons (ID 2-4) is set on.
When one of this options is selected, the Done button is used to end the joint modification
process.
5) Point Sequence List – This text box shows the “connect the dot” point name sequence in
your stick figure specification. For example, the portion that reads “Rankle, Rheel, Rtoe,
Rankle, Rknee…” will cause the drawing pen to be placed down on the Rankle point, and
lines to be drawn to the Rheel point, Rtoe point, Rankle point and the Rknee point. (A
triangle will be drawn for the right foot and the right shank will be drawn as a single line).
The portion that reads “Rfinger, -Lheel, Ltoe,…” indicates that after the line is drawn to the
Rfinger point, the pen will be lifted up (as indicated by the minus sign “-“ before the Lheel
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point name), placed down on the Lheel point, and then the consecutive line drawing sequence
will resume.
6) Pattern Point – The point name shown in this pull down list box will be the default pattern
of motion point in the KA2D and KA3D programs. If you want to change this point, click the
pull down list button to display a complete listing of the points in your project. Click on an
item in this list to set a new pattern of motion point name. Bear in mind that you can see the
pattern of motion for any point in the KA2D and KA3D programs simply by selecting Point
command. This setting only sets the pattern of motion point that is displayed by default when
a data set is loaded.
8) Next button – Click this button when the stick figure / pattern of motion point information is
correct. You will advance to the Events category entry form.
9) Refresh button – Click this button reset the default stick figure for the chosen project type.
Any work you have done on line modification will be lost when this button is pressed.
Events Category Information
The Events project category form for a soccer kick study is shown below:
1) Event Name Grid – A maximum of 15 events can be included in a video project. The event
names for the Kicking project type is shown above. The default events for the kicking project
type are (see figure below):
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a) right foot toe off (as the participant strides toward the ball)
b) left foot “foot down” (as the foot plants next to the ball)
c) back swing end (as the right leg swings behind the body)
d) ball impact (at the foot makes contact with the ball)
You may accept the default events shown for your project type, or you may edit the list. To edit
an item in the list, click the mouse in the grid cell. Delete the current entry. Enter the new event
text and press Tab. If you want to remove any of the default event names from your project you
must remove all of the text in their cells. Do not leave any cells blank in the middle of your event
name list. It is important to enter the event names in lower case letters with 2 or 3 strategically
placed capital letters. Only the capital letter event "code names" will be shown on the KA2D and
KA3D variable plot graphic curves.
2) Select Avi button – The button at the upper right hand corner of the form allows you to
specify an AVI file for display. The use of this command is optional – you do not have to
have any AVI file shown in order to enter event names. Showing an AVI file may help you to
decide on the events that happen in your movement. There is one restriction on AVI file
display: the AVI file must be saved in 640x480 format. Many video capture cards use wider
formats (i.e., 704x480) when they capture video. The normal procedure followed in KA
projects is to edit the original AVI files and save them in 640x480 Indeo format (see Chapter
3). If your AVI files are not in 640x480 format, you will have to edit them before they can be
used in this program.
3) Avi Player – This picture box shows the images in your video. You can “play” the video by
using the Avi Player scroll bar (discussed below).
4) Avi Player Scroll Bar - Click the scroll bar forward and back buttons to display successive
video frames from your AVI file. Drag the scroll bar thumb to jump to any spot in the video.
6) Next button – Click this button when the event information is correct. You will advance to
the Rates category entry form.
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Rates Category Information
The Rates category form is used to specify Quick Digitizing settings for your project. Quick
digitizing is a strategy that is designed to reduce the amount of work that must be done in the
collection of medium and large sized projects. The quick digitizing option requires slightly more
work on your part when you initially set up your project, but it can save you substantial quantities
of time when you later digitize (the more trials you digitize the more time will be saved).
Quick digitizing allows you to digitize on a point by point rather than frame by frame basis. To
understand the difference between these approaches, assume that a trial of tennis data has 87
frames of video data with 19 landmark points (Rackethead, RWrist, etc.) to be digitized on each
frame. In old fashioned (movie film type) frame by frame digitizing, frame one (the beginning of
the movement) is displayed and you are required to digitize all points (the body points, the racket
points and ball) on frame one in succession. When the digitizing for frame one is complete you
can then move on to digitize the same points on frame two. The process would continue until all
87 frames were digitized.
In point by point digitizing, you digitize point one (the rackethead point) for all frames (1-87),
followed by the racket right edge point (again for frames 1-87) and the other racket, body
landmark and ball points would be digitized the same way. One advantage of this strategy is that
your attention is focused on one point at a time. For example, when you digitize the rackethead
point, frame one is initially shown and you move the cross hair to the rackethead point and click
the mouse. As soon as the mouse is clicked, the KA program will display frame two and you are
prompted to digitize the rackethead on this frame. Each time you digitize the point, the frame
automatically advances and you are asked to digitize the same point on the next frame. This
digitizing strategy allows your mind to focus on one point at a time and this in turn helps your
digitizing to be more consistent. Point by point digitizing is particularly helpful with body
landmarks points that are difficult to visualize on your video.
In its simplest form, point by point digitizing will not save much time over frame by frame
digitizing. If you digitize a sequence of 87 frames for 19 points in standard point by point
digitizing you will click the mouse button 1,653 times. Similarly, if you digitize 19 points on a
frame and repeat the process 87 times (frame by frame digitizing) you will also click the mouse
button 1,653 times to complete the digitizing of a trial. The real advantage of quick digitizing
comes from the variable sampling frequency option associated with quick digitizing.
The variable sampling frequency option in quick digitizing takes advantage of the fact that many
landmark points in a project move more slowly than the "critical" points. For example, in a tennis
serve project, the racket and right arm points (for a right hander) will move quickly and will
require a high sampling frequency (60 Hertz) during the critical range of motion of all trials. On
the other hand, the left toe point also needs to be digitized for our tennis stick figure, but it is
either motionless, or moving very slowly during the service action. Thus, if we digitize the left
toe for every field of the movement we will be doing alot of unnecessary work. Collecting data
for this point from every sixth or tenth frame will be enough to get a reasonable estimate of the
point's motion.
Further, even the racket points do not have to be digitized for every field during the "slow
moving" parts of the tennis serve. We can save digitizing work by sampling the rackethead data
from every forth field during the very slow phase of movement which occurs between the start of
motion and the ball release event. During this phase of motion, tennis players move the racket
very deliberately and slowly, and it is not necessary to digitize data at every 60th of a second.
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As a result, the best way to digitize will be to use different sampling frequencies for different
points and to further employ different sampling frequencies within points to accomodate slower
phases of motion. The Rates form allows us to specify digitizing “skip rates” that are optimized
by the point and the phase of motion. Using this strategy, the amount of digitizing work need to
complete a tennis serve project can be more than cut in half.
For a tennis serve project there are five columns of rate information that represent the five phases
of motion in this project (as implied by the event information):
Phase# Phase name

1 Start to BallRelease
2 BallRelease +1 frame to TopofBackSwing
3 TopofBackSwing +1 frame to BackScratch
4 BackScratch +1 frame to BallImpact
5 BallImpact +1 frame to End
There are also 24 rows - one row for each landmark point. The data entry screen below shows a
spreadsheet grid of sampling frequency skip rates numbers for each point during each phase of
motion. For a typical KA project all sampling frequency skip rate values are initially set as one,
although you can easily enter a new value in any cell of the grid. A sampling frequency skip rate
of one means that we will digitize from every single frame of data on the video. If our film speed
is set as 60 we will be using a sampling frequency of 60 hertz when the skip rate is set as one.
Sampling frequency skip rates greater than one will result in frames being skipped between
successively digitized points. Thus, a sampling frequency skip rate of 4 means that we will
digitize from every forth frame (at a frequency of 15 hertz for a 60 frame per second film speed).
To enter skip rate data in a cell you can click on the cell in question and type in the new skip rate
value. The following screen shows sampling frequency skip rate data for a tennis study where the
right arm and racket are collected with "high data collection resolution" and the remaining
landmarks are collected with medium and low sampling frequencies:
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A review of each area on the Rates form is given below:

1) Default Skip Rate – The skip rate for digitizing specifies the number of images that are
advanced between successively digitized points. The default value is normally set to 1. You
may enter any number into the text box to set the skip rate for all points and phases. You can
then make adjustments for selected points and phases as needed.
2) Phase numbers – The number of phases in a project is equal to the number of events plus
one. The Start event is set by default as frame 1 and the End event is set automatically as the
last frame. The movement phases in a project occur between successive events. For example,
in tennis, there are 4 events: Ball Release (when the ball leaves the hand as it is tossed into
the air), Top of Backswing (the high point of the racket motion during the backswing motion,
Backscratch (the moment when the racket drops furthest behind the back) and Ball Impact.
As a result, there are five phases, as indicated on the top 2 rows of the skip rate entry grid.
Abbreviated phase names such as ST-BR (Start – Ball Release) are shown on the second row.
The first row shows the phase number and it also stores the full phase name as pop up tool tip
messages (move the mouse over a phase number to see the full phase name).
3) Skip Rate entry grid – To change a skip rate value in any cell, click the mouse on the cell to
make the cell active. Then type a new skip rate value in from the keyboard. The skip rate
values for a tennis serve are shown in the above figure. Notice that all points on the racket
and right arm are collected from every frame from the backscratch event through to the end
of motion. The left toe, on the other hand, is digitized less frequently (because it moves less
distance) to save digitizing work. The sampling frequencies shown for this project file are
"aggressive" in that they will result in a substantial savings of digitizing time. For these
frequencies, there will be a 58% savings in digitizing time if quick digitizing is used instead
of frame by frame digitizing (i.e., your digitizing time will be more than cut in half). It must
be noted that "less aggressive" sampling frequencies would be necessary if you intend to
perform a detailed analysis of leg and ankle joint actions - the above frequencies may miss
subtle changes in these joint angles. Further, for motions where all body landmarks move
extensively (i.e., running), higher sampling frequencies will also be necessary. On the other
hand, if your concern is focused primarily on the racket and arm motion, these are ideal
sampling frequency skip rate numbers.
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4) Grid Scroll Bar Control – Click the down arrow scroll bar control to inspect the skip rates
for the complete set of points in your project.
6) Next button – Click this button when the skip rate information is correct. You will advance
to the camera setup category entry form.
Setup Category Information
The Setup project category form is shown below:
1) Camera Setup – Choose one of the five camera setup options to define the camera
positioning for your project. Note that the Overhead View picture box changes each time a
new camera setup option is set. If the 1 camera / 2D option button is set on, the Overhead
View picture box is hidden from view.
2) Overhead View Picture box – This box illustrates your camera setup. Note that the
definition of “Front” and “Side” are determined from the movement direction and not from
the portion of the body as seen by the camera. Thus, a front view camera for a pitching
motion would be placed behind home plate in spite of the fact that the pitcher initially stands
with his body facing third base. If there is no clear movement direction in the horizontal plane
(i.e., skipping rope) the identification of front and side is arbitrary.
3) Direction of Motion options - The Overhead View picture box sets the direction of motion
to the right by default. If you envision the movement as moving to the left, click the Left
button to change the overhead view graphic.
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4) Camera Distance – Enter the distance from the center of field of view to the front / side view
camera lens in these text boxes. This information is used in the correction for perspective and
must be entered in all 3D projects.
5) Meters / Feet – Inches options – The units for camera distance and scale pole measures are
set as meters by default. Click the Ft option button to change the units to feet / inches. Note:
you may enter camera distance measures in feet and scale pole length measure in meters if
you like.
6) Scale Pole Length – Enter the distance between the top and bottom point of the scale pole
used in your project. Be sure to digitize the same top and bottom points at the end of
digitizing for all trials in your project.
7) Camera Field Rate / Skip Interval - Enter the field rate value for your video camera. Note
that normal DV interlaced video is shot with 60 fields per second. Progressive scan normal
DV video is shot with 30 pictures per second. High speed video cameras like the Nikon P500
shoot normal size (640x480) video in progressive scan mode with 120 pictures per second.
Enter the skip interval to specify sampling interval between successive images in your image
set. Enter 1 to get every field from your standard NTSC video clip. Enter 2 to take every
other field from the video. Enter N to sample from every Nth field.
8) Camera Rotation Angle - If your 3D camera setup has been rotated in the horizontal plane
(see Chapter 2) enter the rotation angle in this text box. Note: counterclockwise rotations (as
viewed from above) are positive and clockwise rotations are negative.
9) Special Settings Check boxes – These four check boxes are used for special settings. The
Use AutoPhase Correction box is set on by default. Uncheck this box if your cameras are
genlocked, or if there is very little vertical motion in your video and you want to synchronize
your camera views manually. The AutoPhase program will only process files that have image
counts of 21 or more.
The Use Automatic Digitizing check box is set off by default. Check this box only if your
video has very clearly seen white sphere markers surrounded by black for most points.
The Two Camera Z Data check box is on by default. Leave this box checked if the points in
your 3D project are well seen by both the front and side view cameras. Uncheck this box if
the points in your project are better seen by the side view camera.
Turn on / off Progressive Scan. Leave this box un-checked if your project is shot with normal
interlaced DV video settings. Check this box if your video is shot in progressive scan mode.
Be sure to set the Camera Field Rate as the number of pictures per second that are shot with
the progressive scan video or the number of fields per second that are shot with interlaced
video.
11) Next button – Click this button when the skip rate information is correct. You will advance
to the names setup category entry form.
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Names Category Information
The Names project category form is shown below:
1) Project File Author – Enter your name as the researcher in charge of the project in this text
box. Use a Firstname Lastname format. Take the time to type in your full first and last name;
this information will appear in reports and file listings for all programs in the KA suite. The
laboratory manager at many KA sites will delete project files that are associated with
anonymous or cryptic code word “authors”.
2) Project Workgroup – Verify that your workgroup is shown in this text box. If you need to
change the workgroup name, click on the pull down menu arrow and select your workgroup
name from the list. This setting indicates the folder name for your project file. You will need
to save your AVI files in the same workgroup that is listed here.
3) Project File Name - Enter the file name for your project file in the third text box. The
recommended naming convention is as follows: For John Smith’s kicking study use the name
JSKick. The image set names for this project can then be set as JSKick1F (for trial 1, front
view), JSKick1S (for trial 1 side view) etc.
4) Front / Rear / Side Camera aspect ratio and Field Order – Specify the aspect ratio of the
Front and Side view cameras. Note that most HDV camcorders have aspect ratio values of
1.000. Set the aspect ratio correction factor that is associated with both of these cameras
(Note: a 3D project must have identical camera characteristics for the front and side view
cameras). The field order value will be used with interlaced video. If progressive scan video
is used, the field order value will be ignored during KA video processing.
5) Custom Origin Point – You may optionally set the point that will be used to define the
origin of your XY and XYZ reference frames in KA2D and KA3D. For example, on a long
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jump study, you can set the origin to be at the toe point on the moment of foot down (prior to
take off). If this option is left as “none” your origin will be set at the minimum value of X, Y
and Z that is found for all points on all frames (all XYZ values will be positive).
Custom Origin Event – This setting is used in conjunction with the Origin Point setting to
set the origin of your XY and XYZ data. If the setting is left as “none” the origin point will be
set as the minimal value found for all points on all frames.
7) Save and Exit button – Click this button when the name information is correct. Your work
in the project definition program will be saved to disk and you will be returned to the
KAVideo, New submenu. Your project definition file will be given the .KAP extension name
and it will be stored in the \KV\yourworkgroup\ folder. It will be available for use with any
video trials you intend to digitize.
8) Abort button – Click this button to abort work on a project definition file, lose any entered
information and return to the KAVideo, New sub menu.
Edit an Existing Project File
A third option for the manipulation of a project definition file is available through the initial
program screen Edit option. You will find this option very helpful if you want to make a small
change to an existing project file, but you do not want to go to the trouble of entering a complete
file from scratch.
When the Edit Existing File button is pressed you are prompted to select a file from the list of
files currently stored in your workgroup folder:
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Choose an existing project file name from the file selection list by double clicking on the file
name or by single clicking on the file name and then clicking the Accept button. Note that the
KA file selection dialog box allows you to manipulate the file listing in several ways. Double
click on a workgroup name to show the project files for a different workgroup. Click on the
Name, Date, or Author column heading to sort the file list by the column information. Click the
List, Details, Properties, or Preview buttons to show different views of the file information.
When a file is selected, you are prompted to select the beginning category for the edit process:
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Double click on the category name that will be used first in the editing work. Note that many of
the project file categories are dependent upon information that is entered in preceding categories.
Thus, if you select the Points category and remove a point from your project all of the other
categories in your project will be influenced. For example, if you remove the Relbow point from
your project, you will have to remove the Rforearm and Rupperarm segments from your project.
Your joint information and rate information will also be affected. When you edit primary
information (like point or event values) the project definition program will reset all “downstream”
dependant entries with their default values. As a result, you should avoid changing the point and
event information in your project after the first project file is created. If you do change the point
or event information after the digitizing process has begun, you will have to begin digitizing
again from the beginning.
You can make changes to the Segments, Joints, Stick figure, Rates, Setup and Name information
at any time. If you make these changes before your digitizing is complete you will see them
reflected in your KA2D and KA3D files as soon as your digitizing work is finished. If you make
changes to your project file after one or more trials in your project have been digitized, your
KA2D and KA3D data will not be immediately affected. You will need to re-digitize a single
point for a single frame (see Chapter 6) in order have your project file settings updated when the
KA2D file is re-computed. You will, in turn, need to re-compute the KA3D file to regenerate a
more up to date file.
When a start category is set for your project file editing session, all of your remaining work will
be as described in the last section.
Conclusions
Our discussion of project definition file creation is complete. Given a project file and an image
set, you may move on to create KA image sets and digitize XY coordinate values.
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Chapter 5 – Image Set Preparations
Introduction
Once your AVI files and a project definition file are available on your PC, the next step will be to
generate an image set – a sequence of still frame pictures that have been extracted from your AVI
files to make digitizing possible. The next two items on the KAVideo Toolbar are used to prepare
Avi files to create image sets:
The Prep option is used to set synchronized start and end frames and to associate critical project
information (project file name, researcher name, subject name, trial condition, etc.) with each
AVI file.
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Image Set Preparations
The Create option is used to batch process image set files on the basis of the information entered
in the Prep option.
You will probably have more than one trial of information for each participant and/or condition.
If you intend to digitize and process a limited number of these trials, use the KAVideo, AVI#1
toolbar button to inspect the various AVI files and select the file(s) that will be processed. Make a
note of the file names that will be processed and specify only those files in the AVI Prep program
(described below).
If you have recorded video on a flash memory / hard drive camera, your first step will be to
convert your scale factor video clips to appropriately named JPG files.
Preparing Scale Pole JPG Files (Flash Card / Hard Drive Cameras)
Cameras that store video clips on external media must store the scale pole information as a short
video file. These short video files should be named YourFileNameSF, where “YourFileName”
represents the base trial name of a file (i.e., JSKick1S) and the last two “SF” characters indicate
that the “JSKick1SSF.AVI” file stores pictures of the scale pole. If you have used this approach
to the collection of your data, you should use KAVideo Prep to prepare the scale factor AVI files
before you begin work on any of the “movement” video files.
When an AVI scale file is processed by the Prep and Create options (discussed below), KA will
automatically copy scale pole JPG files from the exact middle of the scale factor file image set to
the \AVI\YourWorkGroup sub folder. Once these scale pole files are in place, the movement trial
AVI files can be processed by KAVideo Prep. Note: KA will not process a movement AVI file
unless a corresponding scale pole JPG is present in the \AVI\YourWorkGroup sub-folder.
To prepare scale factor files, preform the following steps:
 Use the KAVideo, Define option to create a project file for this project (see Chapter 4 in the
KA Manual for details). Be sure to set the correct field / frame rate and the correct
progressive scan setting for the video.
 Use the KAVideo, Prep option to begin to prepare a short image set for the scale pole AVI
files.
The front view scale factor AVIPrep screen is shown below:
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 Advance the video to a frame that shows the scale pole in an upright position (with the scale
pole isolated in the front view plane).
 Click the SetStart button.
 Use the Step button to advance the video 5 or 6 frames forward.
 Click the SetEnd button.
 On the next AVIPrep screen, enter the Participant name as “Pole” and enter “None” in the
Condition textbox.
 Click the Save / Exit button to exit from AVIPrep. You will be returned to the KAVideo
window.
 Click the KAVideo, Create toolbar button.
 Double click on the scale pole AVI file name to begin Image set processing. A short image
set off scale pole pictures will be created.
 When the image set is created, you will be prompted to “auto-create scale pole files for the
other trials in the project.
 Click the YES button.
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The scale pole image set will be created and a scale pole JPG will be copied to the appropriate
folder (for our example, we are using the \AVI\A680\ folder). Because both a video clip AVI and
a scale pole JPG files are now available, it is possible to use the Create option to generate an
image set for the JSKickAF file. However, we should wait until after the side view scale pole is
ready before we create the image sets for this 3D trial.
Repeat the above steps to generate an image set for the side view scale factor file
(JSKickASSF.avi). When the image set is created, click YES to generate the side view scale pole
file:
The \AVI\A680 folder will now have AVI and scale pole JPG files for both the front and side
view trials (JSKickAS and JSKickAF):
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Given the necessary side and front view AVI and JPG files, it will now be possible to generate
image sets. See the Dual File Preparations section below for details on creating these image sets.
Scale Factor File Details
As mentioned above, the scale factor image sets must be created BEFORE any normal movement
trial image sets are processed. Further, the last two characters in the scale factor AVI file names
must be “SF”. If the movement trial videos include trial numbers, these trial numbers need not be
present in the scale factor AVI file name – it is assumed that the same scale is used for all trials of
a given participant.
If the scale factor is different for some of the movement trials, a scale factor video clip must be
recorded and processed for each scale factor condition. For example, if trial one is for a tall
participant, and trial two is for a short participant, two different scale pole videos must be shot
(each with the same zoom lens setting as the movement trial). In this case, the two side view scale
factor files must be named: JSKickASSF.avi and JSKickBSSF.avi. In these file names, the “A”
character represents participant “A” and the “B” character represents participant “B”. It is
assumed that the same zoom lens setting is used for all of the trials for a given participant and
only one “SF” video must be available for participant A or B. Similar scale factor video files must
also be made for the front view trials, where the last three letters of the file names must be “FSF”.
These scale factor AVI files must be processed by the KAVideo Prep program before the normal
movement trial video clips are processed. The Prep program will recognize them as scale factor
AVIs and will extract the still frame scale pole files that are needed for your normal movement
trial videos. The normal side and front video files cannot be processed by the KAVideo Prep
program until the needed scale pole files have been copied to the \AVI\YourWorkGroup\ folder.
When the scale pole AVI file has been processed by the KAVideo Prep and Create programs,
your video files should all have similar base names. For a 3D project, the file names must be
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similar to the following. Note, the researcher is John Smith; these files are for participant A in his
analysis:
JSKickAS.avi – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s side view video clip
JSKickAS.jpg – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s side view scale pole still frame
JSKickAF.avi – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s front view video clip
JSKickAF.jpg – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s front view scale pole still frame
If multiple trials are collected for participant A, then the first of those trials should be named:
JSKickA1S.avi – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s side view video clip
JSKickA1S.jpg – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for A’s side view scale pole still frame
JSKickA1F.avi – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for participant A’s front view video clip
JSKickA1F.jpg – John Smith’s soccer kick trial for A’s front view scale pole still frame
Note: It is essential that the base name of all movement trials is exactly the same as the base name
of all scale pole JPG files.
The scale factor AVI file for a multi-trial study of data for participant A should be named:
JSKickASSF.avi. When processed by the Prep and Create programs, the appropriate scale pole
JPG files will be generated for all side view trials of participant A’s data. A Windows Explorer
screen shot showing the auto-created scale pole files generated by processing the
JSKickAFSF.avi file for all 6 trials of video data is as follows:
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Note that a scale pole file has been generated for all front view AVI trials (JSKickA1F.avi,
JSKickA2F.avi, … JSKickA6F.avi). All six of these JPG files were generated automatically in a
single pass when the JSKickAFSF.avi file was processed by the Prep and Create options (be sure
to say Yes, when prompted to create these files). The scale pole JPG files for the side view trials
are generated in the same way – by processing the JSKickASSF.avi scale pole video).
Note that it is essential that the project file associated with the image set (see Chapter 4) has the
Progressive Scan checkbox checked when appropriate. Finally, be sure to enter the appropriate
film speed value for high speed video trials into this project file.
Prepare an AVI file for processing
Use the Current Workgroup pull down list (if necessary) to set the workgroup for your AVI,
project and image set files. Click the AVI button to prepare an AVI file for processing. You are
prompted to load the AVI file that will be processed. A screen similar to the following will be
shown:
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Double click on a file name to load your first AVI file for processing. If you will be processing
the video data for a 3D project, select the side view trial for processing. You will next be
prompted to specify your project definition file:
Select your project file from the list. If your project file name does not appear in the listing for
your workgroup, you will need to exit from this program and create the project file (see Chapter
4).
Note: When you run the Prep option for a 3D data set, be sure that both front view and side view
AVI / JPG files exist. For example, for John Smith’s running study, the following files for
participant A must be present in the appropriate workgroup folder (we will use \AVI\A680 for
this example):
JSRunAS.avi
JSRunAS.jpg
JSRunAF.avi
JSRunAF.jpg
If all four of these files are available (with exactly the same base name (JSRunA)), and a project
file (ideally named JSRun.kap) has already been created and stored in the \KV\A680 folder, then
the Prep option will be able to run on this data.
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Note: when you begin processing for these files, select the side view file for processing
(JSRunAS). When you do this the KA Prep program will prompt you to process the data as a 3D
file set or as a single 2D file. When you select the 3D option, you will be able to set
synchronization frames for both the side and front view AVI files and then set the start and end
frames for the duration of the side view trial. When this is done, the Prep option will compute
synchronized start and end frame numbers for the front view trial and the image set preparation
work will be complete.
Single File Preparations
If you are doing a 2D project, the next screen shows your AVI file and prompts you to set the
start and end frames for your image set:
The AVI files created by your video capture program will include extra frames at the beginning
and end of the video clip that are not needed for digitizing. The KAVideo Prep program allows
you to specify the start and end frames for digitizing. To set the start and end frames for you
image set, you must scroll through the AVI file images with the controls below the video image.
Drag the scrollbar thumb right or left to quickly jump to a spot in the video. Use the Step button
to step one frame forward (left click) or one frame backward (right click) in the video. When the
start frame is shown, click Set Start. Then advance the video to the end frame and click Set End.
The start and end frame information for your video will be stored in a KA Vif (video
information) file. The Create program will use this file when your image set is created.
Note: If you are working on a 3D project, it is best to capture both the front and side view AVI
files and then set the start/end frame information for both at the same time. If you set the start and
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end frames for the side and front view videos independently, you will have to assure that your
image sets are synchronized (with the KAVideo, View option) before you begin digitizing.
Dual File Preparations
If you are working on a 3D project (and both your front and side view AVI files are stored on the
hard drive, and the files are named properly – with the characters “F” and “S” set as the last letter
in each file name), you will be prompted to select single or dual file processing mode:
Answer Yes in the above dialog box to process both your front and side view AVI files. This
option allows you to set synchronized start and end frames for both views in your video project.
The next screen will prompt you to set the frame number of the primary view sync event:
The above figure shows data for a martial arts kicking motion. The sync event for this movement
is foot/ball contact (in this movement, it was not necessary for the researchers to bounce a ball at
the beginning of the trail).
The time base for Side and Front view video data can be synchronized through a 6-step process.
The following discussion assumes that the side view Avi is shown on the left and the front view
Avi is shown on the right:
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1) Advance the side view video until the frame showing the sync event is displayed. Click the Set
Sync1 button:
2) Advance the front view video until the frame showing the sync event is displayed. Click the
Set Sync2 button:
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Notice that the sync event frame number is not the same for the side and front view. This is to be
expected. The starting frame for any AVI file is determined by the moment you decide to click
the StartCapture button in the KAVidCap program. It will be very unlikely that you will capture
both the side and front AVI files with exactly the same start frame. Because the front and side
view AVI files are not synchronized, the KAVideo Prep program will have to use the sync event
frame information to create synchronized front and side view image sets.
3) Advance the side view video until the start frame for digitizing is shown (the beginning of the
movement). Click the Set Start1 button.
4) Advance the side view video until the end frame for digitizing is shown (the end of the
movement). Click the Set End1 button.
5) Click the Compute Start/End 2 button to set the synchronized front view start and end frames.
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Notice that the sync information shows that the front view frame numbering is 2 frames ahead of
the side view. As a result, the equivalent start and end frame numbers for the front view are 2
frames ahead of that of the side view (28 and 82 versus 26 and 80).
6) Click the Accept button to accept the start and end frame numbers for both files and continue
with your Avi file preparation work.
Entering Trial Information
The next form prompts you to enter your name, the participant’s name, the participant’s weight
and the trial condition.
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The trial information is stored in the VIF (Video Information File) for each trial. When digitizing
is complete, this information is carried over to the KA2D and KA3D data files.
The Researcher Name information should be specified as the primary investigator’s first and last
name.
The Participant Name should be specified as a code unless the participant has given permission
for his/her name to be distributed with the data.
The Participant Weight can be specified in either pounds or kilograms by selecting the
appropriate option button. The weight information is used by KA add on programs (LeapCalc,
RunCalc, etc.) in the calculation of ground reaction forces. If the calculation of this type of
information is not important, the weight information can be entered as an approximate value.
The trial condition should succinctly identify the experimental circumstances of the trial.
Click the Save/Exit button when all data is entered. You will be returned to the KAVideo, New
sub menu screen. You should now use the Create Image Sets option to generate the video field
image files that will be used in digitizing.
Create Image Sets
The KAVideo, Create option reads your AVI file, splits it into individual image files and creates
an image set folder for your trial under the \KV\YourWorkgroup folder. When the Create option
is run, the screen similar to the following is shown:
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The Create program allows you to process any number of AVI file sets that have been prepared
with the KAVideo Prep program. Files that are ready for processing have VIF files stored in the
\Avi\YourWorkGroup folder.
The image set creation process will typically take 1-3 minutes for each image set. The first form
in the Create program allows you to select one file (by double clicking on the file name), Select
All of the available files (by clicking on the Select All button) or select any number of files (by
Control Clicking on each file name and then clicking Accept).
You will be able to monitor the program’s progress by watching the computer screen. In the case
of interlaced video files, the full frame video images are extracted from the AVI file first. These
full frame images are then de-interlaced to produce a series of video field files. In the case of
progressive scan videos, the image are simply extracted from the AVI file one by one to create
the image set files. The complete image set is stored in the \KV\YourWorkGroup\TrialName
folder.
Image sets include both “I” type (full size “Image” JPG files that are used for digitizing) and “V”
type (reduced size “View” BMP files that are sized to fit within the KA2D, KA3D, JtCalc and
HA program viewports).
In the case of HDV based image sets, the View files are cropped to allow the wide aspect ratio
HDV images to fit within the 4/3 aspect ratio KA2D, KA3D, JtCalc and HA viewports. By
default, the HDV view images are cropped so that the left and right side 12.5% of the originals
are removed. For details on how to make fine adjustments to this HDV View image file cropping
process, see Chapter 9 (the KA2D program; View, Image ReSize menu option).
Check Image Sets
Before you begin digitizing work, you should verify that your images contain no errors. If frames
were dropped during video capture or if your videotape is flawed there could be inconsistencies
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in your image set. To check your data, return to the KAVideo program and use the ImgSet#1
toolbar option to load your side view file.
Depress (left click and hold down the mouse button) the Play button to play the image set
sequence. Make sure the video advances smoothly and there are no dropped or doubled frames. If
you want to inspect a given section of the video more carefully, use the scroll bar control on the
bottom of the form and/or the Step button to advance to any image and to step forward or back on
field at a time.
Once you are satisfied that the side view image set is good, click on the ImgSet#1 button and
load the front view file for inspection. Repeat the above process to verify the integrity of this
image set. Finally, use the ImgSet#1 and ImgSet#2 toolbar buttons to show the front and side
view image sets side by side. Depress the Play button to play both image sets at once. Use the
separate scroll bar controls to advance each image set to a clearly seen event in the movement.
Verify that the image sets are synchronized. The following figure shows a well synchronized pair
of image sets:
Page 5-16
It is possible that your front and side view image sets will be slightly out of synchronization even
if you have done a very good job with the Prep program. Because the Prep program option can
only set the start frame and end frame numbers at normal video frame boundaries, it is possible
that your front and side view image will be one field (1/60th second) out of sync. The following
figure shows a tennis serve project where the side view image sequence is one field out of sync
with the front view:
Page 5-17
Notice that ball impact occurs at picture 76 on the side view, but the racket has not yet touched
the ball on picture 76 on the front view. If the front view is advanced one more field, it is clear
that front view ball impact occurs on picture 77. If you go back to the KAVideo Prep program
and trim one more frame off of the beginning of the side view and regenerate the image set, you
will not solve the problem. The ball impact will then occur on picture 76 for the side and picture
75 for the front (because there are two fields – or pictures – per video frame). This lack of
synchronization can be expected to happen 50% of the time whenever two independent
camcorders are used for video collection (genlocked cameras will not have this problem). In
effect, the front view camera was taking pictures about 1/60th of a second ahead of the side view
camera.
To better synchronize image sets that are about 1/60th second out of sync, use the Edit, “Resync
Front and Side view” pull down menu option. Then advance the front and side view image sets
independently until they are in sync. For example, advance both the side and front view images
until the exact ball impact picture is shown for each (for the above example, we need to advance
the side view to picture 76 and the front view to picture 77). The following figure shows well
synchronized tennis serve image sets:
The “Edit, ReSync Front and Side Views” menu option will make permanent changes to your
image set. For the above example, one frame will be trimmed off of the beginning of the front
view trial and the remaining images in the set will be “shifted back” and renumbered. This
“ReSync” adjustment is ideally done before you start any digitizing work.
If you decide to “ReSync” a pair of image sets after you have begun digitizing work, the program
will also adjust your digitizer XY coordinate and stick figure files (the data in the Hold and K2D
files will be shifted to the new sync). If you have previously computed 3D data for the image sets,
you will need to re-compute the 3D data again to cause the re-synchronized images to be properly
integrated with the 3D stick figures.
KAVideo Image File Formats – HD Video
Playback of high definition image sets within KAVideo is potentially much slower than the
playback of normal DV image sets. To address this problem, KA 7.2 has added a new image set
file format: “K” images. An Explorer screen shot of a short HD image set folder is shown below:
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The “I” format images are full sized 1920x1080 video frames; they are shown during digitizing
and re-digitizing activities.
The “K” format images are sized to fit the KAVideo window with no adjustment (they are
960x540 in size). Playback of these “K” format video images within KAVideo is much faster
than reading and resizing the full sized images on the fly as the user inspects image set files.
The “V” format images are sized to fit the KA2D, KA3D, JtCalc and / or HA program window
viewport. These small sized BMP images allow these programs to display video information very
quickly. It should be noted that the HD wide format aspect ratio is cropped to allow the image set
files to fit within the 4:3 aspect ratio program viewport. “V” format images from HD video can
be shifted right or left to better show the action phase of the movement. See the KAVideo
Manual, Chapter 9, Image Resize section.
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Larger, wide format video images can be shown in KA2D and other programs by using the Zoom
viewport options:
Moving Image Sets
Image sets are initially stored on the hard drive of a video capture station. In some laboratories,
you may be assigned to another PC for your digitizing work. If your lab has a local area network,
you can easily transfer your image set from one PC to another by using the KAVideo, File, Zip
menu option. Simply Zip your new image sets on your original PC. Then use a flash drive, a CD-
R or the laboratory network to transfer your image set Zip files to another computer. Copy the Zip
files to the equivalent folder on the target PC (i.e., copy the Zip files from the \KV\A680 folder
on the original PC to the \KV\A680 folder on the target PC. To complete the transfer, use the
KAVideo, File, UnZip menu option on the target PC to expand your image set (and the associated
support files) onto the appropriate folders on the target PC. Once the image sets have been
properly transferred, you can optionally use Explorer to delete the Zip files and image set folders
from the image capture PC. See Chapter 6 for further details on the image set Zip and copy
process.
Conclusions
Our discussion of image set creation procedures is now complete. The next chapter discusses the
program options that allow you to digitize your work.
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Chapter 6 – The KAVideo Program
Introduction
Given a complete KA image set, your remaining work in KAVideo will be to inspect, perform
special processing, digitize, and re-digitize your images. This chapter discusses the KAVideo
program options that are used to work with your existing image sets: Use the ImgSet#1 toolbar
button to view any existing image set. Use the Edit menu options to edit your image set files. Use
the DG (digitize) and Re-DG (re-digitize) toolbar buttons to digitize your data. Note: none of
these options can be used with a new video AVI file until an image set has been generated (as
discussed in chapter 5).
Image Set Viewing
An image set can be loaded for view by any of three options:
1) Selecting a file from the Files list box (on the right side of the KAVideo window).
2) The ImgSet#1 toolbar button can also be used to select an image set.
3) The File, Open Image set menu option can be used to select an image set:
Note that current workgroup is shown in the left column. To show the files in another workgroup,
double click on the workgroup name. The file name information is shown in Detail view in the
above figure. To sort the file information on the basis of Name, Size, Date or Author information,
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The KAVideo Main Menu
simply click on the column heading.
The four buttons at the upper right section of the window are used to manipulate the file view
format. Click the List button to remove the file details and show only the file name information in
multiple columns. This view is handy if there are a large number of files in the current
workgroup.
Click the Properties button to see a single column of file name information and a separate pane of
information on each file’s settings:
Click the Preview button to show the first image of the file in the right pane:
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Image Set Adjustments

Once an image set is selected for analysis, a number of useful utility programs can be run via the
File, and Edit pull down menu options.
The Edit Menu

The Edit menu provides access to the “Edit”, “Trim” and “Rename” image set options.
The Edit option allows you to modify the appearance of an image set. This option has some of the
features a photo-editing program, but it can work on the 100’s of files that are typically in an
image set, all at once instead of just one at a time. When the Edit option is selected, a screen
similar to the following is shown:
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The frame at the top allows you to select from 6 program options. You can modify the brightness,
contrast, gamma level or sharpness of your image set, or you can create a mirror image file set or
black and white image set from the original files. Of these options, Gamma correction is often the
most useful. We will discuss each option below.
Brighten
Brightness levels (shown above) are selected by dragging the horizontal scroll bar control. When
the brightness level is satisfactory, click the Accept button to have all picture in your image set
brightened at the specified level. If you decide latter that the brightness level is not correct, you
can edit the image set again, but there will be an accumulated loss of quality from setting multiple
levels of brightness. To regain the original files, it is best to re-expand the image set from a
backup Zip file.
Contrast
The Contrast option functions just like the Brighten option. Simply click the Contrast option
button and set the contrast level with the scroll bar control. Once processed, images with dull
white markers surrounded by dark gray will be changed to bright white markers surrounded by
black. This program can be used to improve “automatic hit rates” in automatic digitizing.
Gamma
The gamma correction option allows you to lighten light areas within dark images without
causing a washed out effect. This option is more sensitive than the Brighten option and is
typically more useful than any combination of brightness or contrast adjustments.
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Sharpen
The sharpen option enhances the difference in color at the edges of solid objects. This particular
option is more sensitive to small changes at the upper end of the scale than the Brighten or
Contrast options.
Mirror
The mirror option is included to simplify the visualization of laterality studies. If an image set of
a left handed pitcher is “mirrored” the new images will make the pitcher appear to be right
handed. This option changes all of the files that are displayed by the KAVideo, KA2D and KA3D
programs. As a result, the mirror operation should be performed before any video digitizing work
is done.
Black and White
The black and white option coverts all of the images in your image set to black and white
(grayscale) images.
The Trim Menu
The “Edit, Trim Image Set” menu option is used to trim images from the beginning or end of an
image set. If your image set has too many images, this option will allow you correct the problem.
Rename Menu
The “Edit, Rename Image Set” menu option is used to rename an image set, and to optionally
make a second copy of the image set. This option renames the image set folder and it also
renames every image set JPG file in the folder.
The File Menu
The file pull down menu has two options for working with your image set files.
The Zip Option
The Zip option allows you to take all files from a new or completely digitized image set and
compress them into a single file for archival purposes. This option is a good choice for storing
your image set information onto a flash drive or CD-R disk for transfer from your school’s lab to
your home PC. Before you run the Zip option on a newly generated image set, make sure the
image set is “ready to be digitized”. For example, run the Edit option (above) to gamma correct
dark images. In addition, run the “Edit, Resync Front and Side views” option to synchronize the
front and side view image sets for the front and side view image sets for a 3D trial.
The Zip option is also a good choice for backing up your research data after all of your work is
complete. You can select the picture quality level for the Zip file and you can tag multiple files
for processing. The 100% quality level is highly recommended for all image sets. The files from
an entire class of students can be Zipped with this option and later transferred to removable
storage device (CD-R, DVD-R, flash drive, external hard drive…).
The Zip sub menu screen is shown below:
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The image set names for the currently selected workgroup are shown in the Pick box. Use the
Change Workgroup button to see listings of image sets from other workgroups.
Image sets are normally stored in “full” size with 640x480 pixel images. The Zip Full Set option
allows you to create a single compressed file for a full size image set. Full size image set archive
files are ideal for compressed storage of image sets that will be used for digitizing at a later date.
A full size image set can be converted to “small” size (with 320x240 pixel images) and zipped if
the Zip Small Files option is selected. Small size image sets are a reasonable option if you intend
to use the video images for inspection only (not for digitizing) with the KA2D and KA3D
programs.
The Remove check box can be checked to cause the original image set folder to be removed from
the KV sub folders when the Zip file is created.
Once the image file size and picture quality are set, you can select one or more image sets from
the file pick box (click on the first image set name and control click on additional image set
names to mark multiple image sets for processing). Click the Create Zip File(s) button to begin
the Zip file creation process. The resulting Zip files will be stored in the \KV\workgroup folder.
These Zip files will include every file necessary for KA processing of the data (the image set
files, the KA2D file – if present - and the project (KAP) file.
It takes about 1 minute to process a typical image set. When the Zip file is created, it is stored in
the KV subfolder for your workgroup and the original files are left in place. When all of your
project’s image sets Zip files have been created, you should copy them to a flash drive or
recordable CD-R disk.
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Copying Image Set Zip Files to Flash Drive / CD-R
To copy your image set Zip files to a flash drive do the following:
1) Run Windows Explorer and display the \KV\YourWorkGroup\ folder (the KV folder will
be stored on drive D: for most laboratory PCs).
2) Sort the Windows Explorer files by Type. Scroll to your Zip files.
3) Click on your first Zip file and Ctrl-Click on any other Zip files from your project.
4) Press <Ctrl-C> to copy the selected Zip files to the clipboard buffer.
5) Place a Flash drive or CD-R disk into your PC.
6) For a CD-R, click on the CD drive icon in the Windows Explorer folders pane to show
the contents of the CD.
7) For a Flash drive, use Windows Explorer to show the contents of the drive and navigate
to the folder where your Zip files will be saved.
8) Press <Ctrl-V> to paste the Zip files onto the Flash / CD-R drive. For a CD copy
operation, the files will be shown in a dimmed font to indicate that they are not yet
written to the CD-R disk.
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9) For the CD option, right click on the CD drive icon. Click on the “Write these files to
CD” option. This will cause the files to be permanently written to the CD-R disk.
10) Right click on the CD drive icon and click on the “Eject” option to eject the CD-R disk.
Use the “Safely Remove Hardware” notification area icon to remove the flash drive.
Your image set files are now stored on a Flash drive / CD-R disk. This procedure has
accomplished two things: 1) your video capture work is now backed up (if the hard drive on your
video capture station fails you will not lose your work); and 2) you can now copy your image set
files to your home PC and perform the digitizing work from the convenience of your own home.
Copying Image Set Zip Files from a Flash Drive / CD-R to your Home PC
To copy your image set Zip files to your home PC, do the following:
Note: The following procedures assume that you have installed KA on your home PC.
1) Place your image set Flash drive / CD-R disk into your home PC.
2) Use Windows Explorer to display the contents of the Flash drive / CD-R disk.
3) Select the Zip files and press Ctrl-C to copy them to the clipboard buffer.
4) Use Windows Explorer to display the KV folder on your home PC. (The KV folder will
be on drive C: for most home PC installations.)
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5) The C:\KV\XDat folder will be the only KV subfolder on your PC if you have recently
installed KA.
6) Click on the XDat folder in the contents pane to show the contents of this folder.
7) Press <Ctrl-V> to copy the image set Zip files to the KV\XDat folder.
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The UnZip Option
The KAVideo, File, UnZip menu option allows you to select any Zip files from your
\KV\YourWorkGroup folder for an “UnZip” expansion. When the UnZip operation is
complete, all of the necessary files and folders associated with your image set will be created.
Note: Do NOT use the standard Windows Explorer Zip options to expand an image set Zip
file. The KAVideo, File, UnZip option makes custom alterations to your PC system that
assure that your image set files will be available for the various KAVideo program options.
The following steps show how the UnZip option is used to expand the Zip files that have
been transferred to a student home PC from a CD-R disk:
1) Load a file (i.e., TutorS) from the XDat folder to assure that the \KV\XDat folder is set as
the default image set folder.
2) Run the KAVideo, File, UnZip option. Every Zip file that is stored in the \KV\XDat
folder will be shown.
3) Select your image set Zip files for processing (click on the first file name; Shift-Click on
the last file name). Click the “Expand Zip File(s)” command button.
4) The image set Zip files will be expanded and the Workgroup for your class will be added
to your home PC workgroup list.
5) When the message “Zip file expansion is complete” appears, click the “Exit” button to
return to the KAVideo program.
6) Click on the KAVideo, ImgSet#1 button. If necessary, click on the workgroup name for
your class in the workgroup pane. Your image set file names will be shown. Click on one
of your image sets to load it for processing by KA. Use KAVideo to inspect the image set
files (they should contain exact copies of the images from your laboratory video capture
PC).
Inspect every image set to verify that all of the image files appear as expected. You can now
digitize your image sets with the KAVideo, DG option (this KAVideo toolbar option is described
below).
The DG Option
The DG option is used to digitize the coordinates of all body landmarks associated with an image
set. This program performs a set sequence of operations:
 Define event frame numbers

 Digitize the first landmark point for the image set
 Digitize each successive landmark point for the image set
 Digitize the scale factor frame
The following paragraphs provide an overview of each step performed by the DG program. (See
Chapter 7 for additional information on digitizing.)
If your project has defined Events in your project definition file, the DG program will prompt you
to enter the event frame numbers the first time the DG option is run. A screen similar to the
following will be shown:
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The prompt at the bottom of the screen asks you to advance the video to the image that shows the
Ball Impact event. You can advance the video to the ball impact frame in a number of ways:
1) Position the mouse within the video image and hold down the left mouse button to
advance the video forward.
2) Position the mouse within the video image and hold down the right mouse button to
move the video backward
3) Drag the scroll bar control to quickly jump to any spot in the video.
4) Left click on the Step button to advance the video image forward one frame at a time.
5) Right click on the Step button to move the video image backward one frame at a time.
When the ball impact image is shown (as illustrated above), click the Set Event button to save the
ball impact frame number with your data. Later, when you inspect your digitized data in the
KA2D program, this event will be drawn as a vertical green line on all variable plot curves (i.e.,
the toe velocity curve), as shown below:
Page 6-11
Note that the velocity and acceleration curves on the right side of the figure have a vertical line to
show the Ball Impact event for this file. The above image set is very simple because it has only
one event. Most KA projects involve more than one event. The Digitizer program will prompt
you to enter all event frame numbers for your project before you can advance to normal digitizing
work.
Once the event information for your image set is entered, you are prompted to digitize the body
landmark points in the image set. This digitizing is done in point by point order. Consider a
simple image set with 10 landmark points (Rtoe, Rankle, Rknee, etc.) and 100 images (from 100
fields of video data collected at 60 fields per second). The DG program will prompt you to
digitize point one (the Rtoe) on image 1, 2, 3, ….100. Then you will digitize point two (the
Rankle) on image 1, 2, 3, … 100. The process will continue until all points for all images are
digitized. A typical DG program screen is shown below:
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The lower portion of the screen reminds you to “Digitize the Toe point…”. To digitize the point,
position the mouse over the right toe and click the left button. As soon as the mouse button is
pressed, the next image in the video sequence is shown and you are prompted to digitize the right
toe again. If you make an error, click the right mouse button to go back one frame and re-digitize
the last image.
When the digitizing work for all images on a given point is completed, the XY coordinate values
are written to a file on disk. Thus, if your image set has 100 pictures, your digitizing work for any
landmark point is not saved until the 100th image is digitized. When you finish the first point, the
bottom line prompt asks for the second point and the image sequence is advanced from the first to
the last picture as you digitize. Click the End button to end your digitizing session at the start of
any point sequence. When you run the DG option again, the program will prompt you to begin
work where you left off.
Note that there are controls on the bottom of the digitizer program window that allow you to
modify the digitizing process.
 The Alt, Back Arrow, Forward Arrow, and DG command buttons allow you to browse
through your image set in the midst of a digitizing session. You can click the forward or back
arrow to step through your image set at any time. Often, when a landmark point has become
obscured you can make a better estimate of its location on a given frame by seeing where it
will be in another few frames and where it has come from in previous frames. When your
inspection of neighboring images is complete, click the DG button to resume digitizing at the
spot where you left off. If you are doing a 3D project, there should also be an “alternate”
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image set on disk; i.e., if you are digitizing the side view, there should also be a front view
image set on disk. Occasionally, you will be able to make a better estimation of an obscured
point’s location by inspecting that point’s location in the alternate view (to do this, simply
click the Alt button and advance the images with the arrow buttons). When your inspection of
the alternate view images is complete, click the DG button to resume digitizing on the
primary view.
 The Cursor up and down arrows allow you to display a cursor with a variably size circle at
the center. This option is very handy for use in digitizing ping pong ball sized markers that
are attached to participants.
 The Interpolate check box (not available on all PCs) turns on pattern interpolation.
 The Prior Points check box allows you to turn on / off the display of previously digitized
points. These points are shown as small green crosses on the screen. Leaving this option on
will help you avoid mixing points up during digitizing. You may want to turn this option off
if green cross markings obscure the visibility of your digitizing point.
 The Pattern Trace check box allows you to turn on / off a red line pattern of motion that
shows the history of a point’s motion up to the picture to be digitized. This option should
normally be left on, but you may want to turn it off if the red pattern obscures the visibility of
your digitizing point.
When all points are digitized, the scale pole image is shown and you are prompted to digitize the
top and bottom scale points. Be sure to digitize the two points that define the full length of your
scale pole. If you miss-digitize the scale (i.e., digitize the top and bottom scale points in the same
place) your kinematics data will be seriously flawed. When the scale pole points are digitized,
your digitizing work is assembled into a K2D data file and you will be able to inspect your stick
figure and kinematic variable data in the KA2D program.
A more detailed review of the DG program options is included in the next chapter: Video
Digitizer Tutorial. It is strongly recommended that you read this chapter and practice digitizing
the KA tutorial data set before you do any “real” work with KA digitizing. The remaining
paragraphs in this section discuss procedures that must be followed after an image set is digitized.
When digitizing is complete, the XY coordinate values are stored in a KA “K2D” file, and stick
figure data and kinematic data can be reviewed with the KA2D program.
If you attempt to run the DG option with a data set that has already been digitized, the following
screen will be shown:
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This screen warns you that you are about to perform an unexpected action – if the image set has
already been digitized, why would you want to digitize it again? If you begin digitizing work
over again starting with the first landmark point, all of your prior digitizing work will be lost.
You will be able to digitize the first landmark again, but you will have to digitize all of the
remaining points on the body again before the new stick figure files will be made available.
Very often, people will click the DG button when they really want the ReDG option. The ReDG
option allows you to “jump into” a completely digitized image set at any point. You can then
correct digitizing errors on any sequence of pictures. If this is what you really want, click the
return to KA Menu button above and select the ReDG option.
If you really do want to redo a large portion of your original digitizing work, you can click the
“Redo digitizing work” button and begin work at any point in the sequence of normal digitizing
activities. The one time this option is very handy is when you have made an error with your
project’s scale factor digitizing. You can select this option and start the digitizer process at the
Scale factor point in the sequence. The new scale factor information will then be used with all of
the data in your project’s K2D file.
The ReDG Option
As mentioned above, the ReDG option allows you to correct individual points at selected ranges
of motion. This option allows you to clean up errors that stem from visualization difficulties in
the normal digitizing process. This is a very important (although not time consuming) part of your
digitizing work.
When you interpret the data in the KA2D and KA3D programs, you will naturally assume that the
kinematic data is correct. If you find, for example, that subject B in a kicking study has a faster
ball velocity than subject A, the next logical step will be to look at subject B’s leg point velocities
to see why he/she appears (assuming all other things are equal) to be a better kicker. You will
then base your term paper / research report on the resulting analysis.
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Now suppose that the ball velocity information on subject B is incorrect because of a digitizing
error on one image just after ball impact. Because of this error, your work on the term paper will
be seriously flawed. It is clear that this situation must be avoided at all costs. The ReDG program
is designed to assure that your kinematic data is as good as possible. If you go back and re-
digitize the ball point on a single frame of your image set, the problem will be corrected and
(assuming no other errors exist) your term paper will be based upon valid information.
The recommended procedure for finding and correcting digitizing errors is as follows:
1) Inspect the KA2D data for discontinuities (use 0 smoothing factor)

Be sure your data is smoothed with the default smoothing factor of 0 (activate the KA2D, Data,
Smooth option and set the smoothing factor for all points to zero). Use the KA2D program to
display the stick figures and velocity curves for your data. Be sure to place a high priority on your
project’s “critical points” (the points that will be analyzed in depth – i.e., the toe point in a
kicking study) during the “critical ranges of motion” for the movement (i.e., the action phase of a
kicking movement). Inspect the velocity curves and look for frames where “noise” is evident –
for example, look for spikes in velocity that go up and down for a change in velocity in excess of
1 meter per second over the course of a two frames (a 2/60th second time period).
Use the QuickPick viewport to switch from point to point in your data and repeat your inspect of
the pattern of motion for all points in your project, paying special attention to “critical points”.
Any unexpected discontinuity in movement pattern, stick figure or velocity curve should be
noted.
2) Re-digitize frames with errors

Any frame that is suspected of having digitizing errors should be re-digitized with the KAVideo
ReDG option. Remember, do not use the DG normal digitize option to correct errors in individual
frames, use the ReDG (Re-Digitize) option.
3) Inspect the KA2D data for discontinuities again; repeat step 2 if necessary.
Continue the inspection / re-digitize process until you are satisfied with your data. Be sure to
correct all large errors. Do not be overly concerned with slight discontinuities as they will be
removed when you smooth your data.
4) Smooth data with a factor of 5 or greater; make a K2D file back-up

Run the KA2D Data, Smooth menu option to smooth your data (see Chapter 8 for details). When
the data is smoothed, use Explorer to copy your K2D file and your KAP file to a floppy disk for
back up. The K2D file holds the results of your digitizing work and is stored in the
C:\KA7\KA2D\YourWorgGroup\ folder. The KAP file holds your project definition information
and is stored in the D:\KV\YourWorkGroup\ folder (on some systems this folder may be in drive
C:).
5) Repeat steps 1-4 for front view

In order to complete data collection for a 3D data set, steps 1-4 must be completed for both the
side and front views.
When the ReDG option is run a screen similar to the following appears:
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Select the point to be re-digitized from the list box. Then specify the range of frames to be re-
digitized. This range can span a single frame or the full number of frames in the image set. Click
the Accept button to begin re-digitizing. The digitizing work will proceed as with the DG option,
but it will be limited only to the point and frames specified above. When the specified frames are
re-digitized, your KA2D file will be regenerated and you will be returned to the above screen.
You can then select another point for re-digitizing or end the re-digitizing process by clicking the
Return to Menu button.
It is a good idea to run the KA2D program when your ReDG session is complete. Do not multi-
task between these programs however. The KA2D program loads a file’s kinematic data when it
is first run, and it will not update this information in the background. As a result, you will need to
exit from KA2D and run it again to see the results of your most recent re-digitizing work.
The ReDG program also allows you to edit your project’s scale pole digitizing, event frame
numbers or image set information (researcher name, subject name, condition…). Simply click the
appropriate option button in the Edit Mode frame to correct errors that have been uncovered by
your inspection of the KA2D data.
The Exit Button
Click the Exit button on the KAVideo main menu screen to end your KA work session and return
to the Windows desktop.
Conclusions
Our discussion of the KAVideo menu options is now complete. To get practice on your digitizing
skills, read Chapter 7, and run the KA Digitizer Tutorial.
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Chapter 7 – Video Digitizer Software
Introduction
Video digitizing requires a unique combination of "mouse mechanics skill”, movement

visualization skill and knowledge of basic computer operation techniques. This chapter will
discuss video digitizing techniques in two stages. First, we will discuss the KAVideo Digitizer
tutorial. This simple program allows you to practice your “mouse mechanics” techniques on a
short and simple movement example. Second, we will discuss the advanced features available in
the video digitizing software.
Starting the Digitizing Tutorial

New users of the KA software should develop these skills under a pressure-free environment; i.e.,
your first digitizing experience should not be with data that will be used on an important research
project. Instead, you should "play" with the system and use a short, simple set of images that can
be digitized just for practice. The digitizer tutorial allows you to practice digitizing on a 22 frame,
3 point round house kick image set. You should be able to digitize these images in less than five
minutes. During your practice session, you can perfect all the techniques that will be needed
when you do "real digitizing" for your term paper.
Run KAVideo and select the “Help, DGTutorial” menu option. A screen with instructions about
the tutorial will be shown (these instructions are an abbreviated form of this document). Once you
have read the instructions, click the Run Tutorial button to begin the digitizing session.
Entering Events
The first step in digitizing involves the definition of events that occur during the process of the
movement. Examples of typical events are "ball impact", "right heal strike", "left toe off", etc.
The Tutorial image set has only one event, the ball impact event. The event entry program
prompts you to advance to the ball impact image and mark the event:
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Video Digitizer Software
Note that the prompt on the bottom of the screen reminds you that the Ball impact event must be
entered. The video picture can be advanced by depressing the forward button on the horizontal
scroll bar. Right-click the Step button (on the right side of the scroll bar) to move backward in the
sequence of images. Left-click the Step button to advance forward one image at a time. You can
also drag the scroll bar slider to quickly move to any location in the video sequence.
To mark the ball impact event, advance the video until the image closest to ball impact is shown;
then click the “Set Event” button to enter the data. If your project has more than one event, you
will be prompted to enter subsequent events one after another. The tutorial file has only one
event; when it is entered the program branches to the video digitizing window.
Digitizing Body Landmark Points
During the digitizing of the tutorial files, you are prompted to digitize 3 points (right toe, right
ankle and right knee) for 22 video images. Digitizing will proceed in a point-by-point mode; i.e.,
you will digitize all 22 right toe points first, then all 22 right ankle points and finally all knee
points.
It is important that you develop good "mouse mechanics" for your digitizing. Hold the mouse
with your thumb, pinky and ring finger. Leave the index finger free so that you can move the
mouse to an exact location and tap the index finger down to digitize a point. You do not want to
change your grip on the mouse when you are pressing the left button (the index finger button). If
you make a mistake during digitizing, you can back up and correct your work by pressing the
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right mouse button.
The KA digitizer program screen for point 1, image 1 is shown below:
Note that the bottom section prompt indicates that data for the Toe (right toe) is being digitized
for frame 1 (at this stage of our video analysis the term frame is used to represent a complete
video image, like a film frame). To define the XY coordinates of the toe, move the mouse cross
hair over the end of the right big toe and click the left mouse button.
Note: We will focus on digitizing basics in the next paragraphs; the other controls on the bottom
and right side of the screen will be discussed in the next section.
As soon as you release the mouse button, the video will advance to image 2 and you will again be
prompted to digitize the toe point. As the digitizing process continues, the toe pattern of motion
will be drawn “behind you” as you digitize. You can turn off the pattern line by un-checking the
Pattern Trace check box. The following figure shows the screen after 11 images have been
digitized.
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The pattern should be smooth and continuous for this kicking motion. If you notice irregularities
in the pattern, you should go back (by pressing the right mouse button) and re-digitize the frames
where you had trouble visualizing the movement.
For some ranges of the movement the location of the body landmark will not be clearly shown.
Late in the kicking motion, the toe point cannot be seen without “X-Ray vision”. Nevertheless,
you can make a good estimate of the toe point location through your knowledge of the structure
of the human body. Further, the movement pattern for the previously digitized points provides a
cue that we can use in estimating the location of the next point.
The bottom line on the digitizer program screen has a series of buttons that are designed to assist
you in the visualization of hard to see body landmarks (see figure below).
The first button “Alt” is the alternate view button. This button is used to display the “other” view
in a 3D study; i.e., if you are digitizing the side view, the front view is the alternate view, and
vice versa. The left pointed arrow button is “Frame Back”; it is used to move toward the
beginning of a series of images. The right pointed arrow button is “Frame Advance”; it is used to
move forward through a series of images. Finally, the “DG” button is used to return to normal
digitizing from frame review mode.
If you click on the “Alt” button while you are digitizing the tutorial, a screen similar to the
following will be shown:
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Because the tutorial side view file is part of a 3D project, a set of front view images is available
on disk. Click the “Frame Advance” and “Frame Back” buttons to inspect different front view
images. You can use these front view images to better visualize the location of the side view point
you are currently digitizing. When you are done inspecting the front view data, click the “DG”
button and you will be returned to normal digitizing in the side view at the spot where you left
off.
For some motions, a landmark can disappear temporarily and then reappear again. For example,
in a side view of baseball batting, the bat head will disappear behind the body for several frames
and it will then be clearly visible at the end of the swing. You can use normal review mode to
visualize the bat head point under these circumstances. Simply click the “Frame Advance” button
to switch out of digitizing mode and enter review mode for the side view. When you have seen
enough of the frames in question, click the “DG” button to return to normal digitizing.
Try using the ALT and Review mode (Advance Forward / Advance Back) buttons to see how
they work as you digitize the right toe point. When you encounter a point that is difficult to see,
do your best to visualize the point (using the review mode buttons) and then make your best guess
and digitize the point. If you discover later (even days later) that you have made an error in
visualization it will be very easy to come back and re-digitize the data for the point on the
effected frames.
Students who are new to digitizing often feel that their digitizing work has to be exactly right
even on points that cannot be seen. The truth is, while you are encouraged to use “X-ray vision”
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in your visualization of obscured landmarks you are not expected to be Superman or

Superwoman. When only one or two cameras are used to collect video data there will be ranges
of motion that will not be seen in almost all natural human movement. To deal with this problem,
we position the cameras to assure that the critical range of motion is well seen by the camera(s).
This means that we will be confident about our data during the critical range of motion. It also
means that certain other ranges of motion (the follow through on a baseball batting swing) will
have data that is less than optimal. We can easily live with this situation; it is simply an expedient
way to collect research data. Further, our scientific integrity will not be comprised as long as we
focus upon the critical range of motion in our research paper and we interpret data from obscured
landmark points with caution.
When the right toe point is digitized for all 20 frames the program saves the XY data for the point
and advances to digitizing for the next point (the ankle). The ankle data is entered in the same
way as the toe. This point will provide us with another critical issue in digitizing accuracy. You
will note that the tutor file subject has ring of tape around his right ankle:
If we were doing a study of walking, it would have been appropriate to place a single spot marker
over the ankle joint of the subject. As the leg moves in the side view plane (a reasonable
approximation in walking) we could aim at this external marker and get a good approximation of
the ankle joint center. In turn our ankle joint angle data should be good for the walking study.
In the case of a three-dimensional motion, external spot markers will yield undesirable results. As
the right shank rotates out of the side view plane (see figure above), the external spot marker will
not be in line with the ankle joint center. On the other hand, if we put a “ring” of tape around the
ankle, and if we aim for the center of this ring we will get a better approximation of the true ankle
joint center. The only “drawback” of this approach is that, you – the researcher – will have to use
intelligence in the determination of your landmark coordinate values. Further, the computer will
not do your thinking for you. If this comes as a shock to you, get used to it. True research
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involves a long string of decisions that no computer will ever be able to make for you. Complete
the digitizing of the ankle joint and be careful to aim for the joint center inside the body; do not
aim at points on the outside of the body.
The knee joint center data is entered last. This point has the same 3D visualization / joint center
estimation problem as the ankle point. For some frames, 3D visualization will be essential. Note
the location of the joint center in the following image:
“X-Ray vision” digitizing is certainly necessary here. Incidentally, you could avoid this problem
by literally using X-Ray technology. Simply surgically insert metal spheres in the joint centers of
your subject and record the data with a high speed X-Ray movie camera. These devices are
occasionally used in animal research (with the researchers safely hidden behind a lead wall) but
most human subjects will object to both the surgical marking procedure and the prolonged
exposure to radiation. In the end we see that the use of intelligence in research data collection has
clear advantages over the aforementioned approach.
The tutorial file will show you one other digitizing feature as you digitize the knee. Note that the
stick figure advances two frames each time you digitize a point. This “quick digitizing” feature is
available through settings in the tutorial project definition file. The sampling rate for data
collection on any point can be freely specified in this file. When all points are digitized you are
prompted to enter the scale factor data.
Scale Factor Data Entry / Ending Digitizing
When the scale factor frame is shown, you are asked to digitize the background reference point
and the top and bottom points for the scale pole.
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Digitize the top scale point first (the cross by the subject’s head) and the bottom scale point
second (the cross by the subject’s feet). When this data is entered, velocity and acceleration data
will be computed for the tutor file and you will be sent to the KAVideo program. Use the KA2D
program to view the results of your digitizing work.
File Management
When you complete the digitizing work for a trial, the KAVideo, DG program will create a
“K2D” file of your work. This file will be stored in the \KA7\KA2D\YourWorkGroup folder. It
will have the base file name of your image set and the extension file name “K2D”.
Note: if your computer is set to hide file extension names from view, do the following steps to
cause Windows Explorer to show file extension names:
1) Run Windows Explorer

2) Activate the Tools, Folder Options menu option.
3) Click on the View tab.
4) Un-Check the box: “Hide extension names for known file types”
To back up your digitizing work copy your K2D files to a flash drive or other media, do the
following:
(Note: K2D files are very small; you will be able to store hundreds of them on a flash drive.)
1) Run Windows Explorer

2) Show the contents of the \KA7\KA2D\YourWorkGroup\ folder.
3) Select your file(s) in the Explorer contents pane. (i.e., Click on YourFileName1F.K2D,
then <Ctrl-Click> on YourFileName1S.K2D, etc. to select all of your files.)
4) Press <Ctrl-C> to copy the selected files to the clipboard buffer.
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5) Place a flash drive into a USB port.

6) Show the contents of the Flash drive in Explorer.
7) Press <Ctrl-V> to copy the K2D files to your back up Flash drive.
When you have backed up your K2D files, your digitizing work will be safe. Even if your hard
drive fails, you will be able to restore your work by copying your K2D files to your school lab
PC. If you would like to transfer your work to any other PC (with KA installed) you can copy
your image set Zip files and K2D file from your back up Flash drive / CD-R. You could then use
this new PC to perform all of the rest of the work for your project.
High Definition Video Digitizing
The digitizing procedure for HD video image sets is identical to that used with normal DV files.
The only underlying distinctions between HDV and DV digitizing is that HDV files will make
use of as much screen space as possible during digitizing (and re-digitizing) operations. If your
PC monitor is set to a resolution of 1920x1200 or better, HDV digitizing will show video images
in 100% size during digitizing (as shown below):
KA adjusts the image size down for PC monitors with lower resolutions to take best advantage of
the available screen size (while maintaining the 16:9 aspect ratio of HD video files).
Bear in mind that the wide format (16:9) images of HDV are maintained during the KAVideo
program and its associated programs. When digitizing is complete, the KA2D, KA3D, HA and
JtCalc program “view” files are cropped versions of all HDV image files (the right and left side
12.5% of the image is cropped off). Fine adjustments to these files can be made with the “KA2D,
View, Image Resize” menu option.
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Conclusions
Our discussion of the digitizer tutorial and advanced digitizer options is now complete. Be sure to
run the tutorial at least twice before you digitize a “real” project to assure that your “mouse
mechanics” skill are sufficiently developed. The next chapter discusses the automatic digitizer
option in KA.
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Chapter 8 – Automatic Digitizing
Introduction
Automatic digitizing is activated whenever the “Use Automatic Digitizing” check box is checked
in the project file setup form (see Chapter 4). This type of digitizing is ideally suited to projects
that involve a large number of trials. In addition, automatic digitizing can only be used with video
data that is collected under “laboratory conditions” where clearly seen white landmark points
(ideally white spheres such as ping pong balls) are surrounded by a dark background. This option
is not normally used for 2-4 trial undergraduate research projects, where complete control of
landmark and background colors may not be possible. Automatic digitizing involves more
preparation time but less digitizing time. If you spend extra time preparing your participants and
video collection area, you will save a lot of time in digitizing later.
Technically, the “automatic”digitizing programs make use of semi-automatic digitizing. Under

the best conditions you are required to manually digitize each point on the first frame in an image
set, you then watch the screen as the remaining points are “automatically” digitized (by searching
for light spots). If a point is not “seen” in accordance with settings inside your project file, you
are prompted to manually digitize the troublesome points.
Note: Automatic digitizing of HDV image sets is not supported in version 7.2 of KAVideo.
Video Preparations
The video image background, and body landmarks used with a automatic digitizing project must
be carefully controlled. Ideally, all landmark points should be bright white and surrounded by
black (see figure 1). If a landmark point is temporarily hidden from view during the movement,
automatic digitizing will pause and you will be asked to digitize the point manually. You should
experiment with different lighting strategies. Bright flood lamps will often cause black nylon
clothing and metal surfaces to have white areas of reflection. Figure 1 was shot with only normal
room lighting.
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Automatic Digitizing
Figure 1. The AutoDG program screen.
Note that the body contour of the legs is not clearly seen in the above figure. This will not be a
problem if the landmark points are never obscured. If the landmarks are not seen and you want to
estimate their location on the basis of body positioning, the above image set will be difficult to
work with however.
AutoDG Settings
Once your video is shot, it is processed like that from any other project. If you have a variety of
lighting levels in the various trials for you project, you may want to use the Process, Contrast
option to make each image set appear to have similar background and landmark colors.
When you begin to digitize the first trial, you will need to make fine adjustments to the Automatic
digitizer settings. Nine items of information must be identified for each point in your project:
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a) The Hi-Color cut off is the pixel color number for the center point of each landmark to be
digitized. Automatic digitizing color numbers range from 0 (pure black) to 32 (very
bright white). A number of 20 or greater is appropriate for typical bright spots in video.
Higher values will help distinguish bright white spots from light gray spots in the
vicinity of the point to be digitized. Higher values will also cause more "misses" in the
automatic process. A “miss” occurs when the program searches for a spot with a
brightness of 22 but finds nothing higher than 21 in the search area. In this case, the
program will pause to allow the point to be manually digitized.
b) The DarkColor value for the background points (that surround the white spots) can be set
as another color value. Value of 14-18 are typically good for black clothing on video.
When the program finds a pixel that may be the center of a white landmark spot it checks
to see that this point is surrounded on 4 sides by “dark” pixels. If a landmark center point
is not surrounded on four sides by pixels that have color values less than this number the
automatic digitizing process is paused to allow manual digitizing.
c) The search area is defined for each point as a rectangle of width 2 * DELX and height of
2 * DELY (units are in pixels). Values of 10 - 16 should be good for most body
landmarks. Larger values increase the likelihood of automatically finding a fast moving
point but also increase the chance of mistaking light spots in the background as body
landmarks. In general, a point that is surrounded with large black areas can use large
DELX and DELY values. A point that has smaller black area surroundings will need
small DELX and DELY values to minimize the chance that light spots in the background
will be erroneously identified as a landmark.
d) The Radius value defines how far the program looks from the potential white spot center
to find the dark pixels that must surround a legitimate marker mid point. The image in
figure one has a marker radius of 5. Radius values that are too small will cause the
program to never find the right marker center. Radius values that are too large will have
fewer “hits” because light spots in the background will more likely be seen at the
perimeter of a landmark point. Note also that the radius of a ping pong ball (in pixels)
will vary depending upon the zoom setting used in your project.
e) BorderPts sets the number of dark color points at the perimeter of the circle to be
checked. The default setting is 4; where points at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions are
checked
f) Extrapolate sets a stationary / moving point code for each point. This setting is turned on
(value set to 1) for motion, or turned off (value set to 0) for no motion. The moving point
setting will cause the search region to take into account point velocity as it shifts
forward from frame to frame on a forward moving point.
g) Delay sets time duration between automatically sensed points. The units for Delay are
one tenth second. The default value is 1 (one tenth second delay).
h) The skip rate can be set as in normal digitizing. It is better to leave this value at one for
clearly seen points. The automatic digitizer program can find successive points more
easily if there is less point displacement from the previous frame.
When the AutoDG setting information is modified, every change is written to your Project file on
disk. Thus, if you tweak the setting just right on trial number one, the settings for the remaining
trials should not need much adjustment.
The AutoDG Process
When the AUTODG program is first run, you are asked to manually digitize the first body
landmark on the first frame. You must manually digitize the center of the white dot center for this
first frame. After, this first point is digitized the AUTODG program will search for and attempt to
determine the marker location for the remaining frames in the image set. You will notice a yellow
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rectangle drawn around the background marker point as each frame is displayed. The program
will search within this yellow rectangle to find the highest pixel color value (pixel color values
range from 0 (black) to 32 (bright white)). If the highest color number found is greater than the
color cut off number for the point and other requirements are met the auto digitizer program will
record a “hit” and move on to the next frame. For example, if the color cut off number is set as 22
and the highest pixel value found is 23, a “hit” will be registered. If the highest pixel value found
is 22 or less, a miss is registered, the automatic digitizing process pauses, and you are given time
to manually digitize the point. A cross will be shown on the screen to show the “best guess” for
this body landmark center point. If this cross is at the center of the white spot, press the keyboard
“T” key to take the point. If the cross is not centered on the spot, use the mouse to manually
digitize the point. Once you have entered the point on this frame, the automatic digitizing process
resumes and attempts to find all remaining background reference points automatically.
Depending upon the values stored in your AutoDG settings, you may have numerous misses,
even on clearly seen points. For example, if the lighting for your video was not as bright as
expected, you may have pixel values between 16 and 18 for the marker center HiColor. If this
point’s cut off value was set at 20, you will miss it every time. The obvious solution for this
problem is to change the cut off value to 15 for this point. Note: you can determine the color
values of pixels within the yellow box search area on any frame by inspecting the table of
numbers below the image on the AUTODG screen. Note: every other line is shown because, in
normal digitizing, the field line color values are repeated (line doubled) for every other line.
Let’s now consider the problem of digitizing a body landmark point, such as the hip joint in a
walking study. For most of the movement, this hip point may be clearly seen, but there may be
one or more time periods where the hip is obscured by the arm and hand as the subject swings the
arm. There will be a normal “miss” if the hip point is covered by the arm on any given frame (no
white spot will be seen within the search area). Given this “miss”, the program will pause and
allow you to estimate the location of the obscured point. If the blue cross is at the correct location,
press the keyboard “T” key to take the point. If the blue cross is at the wrong spot, manually
digitize the correct point. Another, more difficult problem could also occur. As the hand swings
by the hip, the hip marker could be covered and the light colored skin on the hand (or the
reflective marker on the wrist) could fall within the search area for the hip point. This light spot
will be seen as a “hit” by the program, and the automatic digitizing process will go off course and
follow the wrong white spot. Such a digitizing error is a “false positive”.
The false positive error is annoying because the digitizer program will not pause to allow you to
correct the mistake, but will instead proceed to make numerous successive errors. You can stop
the automatic digitizing process by tapping the right mouse button until the digitizing process
stops. When automatic digitizing is stopped, the control box at the upper right corner of the
monitor changes to show that you are now in Manual digitizing mode. You can then click the
right mouse button to back up to the point of the last correctly digitized point and manually
digitize the hip point. Continue manual digitizing until the hip point is clearly seen again. To
resume automatic digitizing, click the Auto/Manual button to resume automatic digitizing.
You should bear in mind that there will be times when a given point cannot be digitized for the
entire range of motion automatically, no matter what AutoDG settings you use. Imagine, for
example, that you have good hit rates on the wrist of a runner during the normal arm swing.
When the subject recovers the arm in front of the body the forearm swings out of the side view
plane and the point marker for the wrist becomes smaller and dimmer. If you adjust the color cut
off to a lower value you will in some instances find the wrist even when it is in front of the body,
but you will also increase the number of “false positives” in other parts of the movement. If the
wall behind the runner for a given frame has a pixel value of 16, and the reflective marker for this
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frame has a color value of 15 (or if it is obscured), a false positive could be recorded and the
automatic digitizer program will “go off track” and start identifying points on the back wall as the
wrist point. For this example, you should increase the color cut off setting above 16 and do
manual digitizing on the part of the movement where the wrist point is difficult to see.
The current AUTODG program allows you to work with “hybrid” data sets, where some points
are automatically digitized and others are manually digitized. To mark a point in your project for
manual digitizing, simply set the color cut off value to a value of 40. The program will then
require you to digitize the point in manual mode. Note: the quick digitizing skip rate for the point
will be set as a single value for all phases in the movement, and that single value will be taken as
the skip rate for phase number 1 as entered in the project file. Thus, you can use quick digitizing
with a skip rate of 2 for any manually digitized point in your image set by setting the SkipRate
AutoDG setting to 2.
Conclusions
Our discussion of Automatic digitizing is now complete. Install the AutoTest image set (from the
program CD or KA web site to see a typical AutoDG image set. Digitize this image file and make
adjustments to the AutoDG settings to see their influence on your hit rate percentage.
The next chapter covers the KA2D two dimensional data analysis program.
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Chapter 9 - The KA2D Program
Introduction
The KA2D program allows you to display video images, stick figures, velocity curves,
acceleration curves, angular data and numeric data simultaneously on the screen. Further, data
can be displayed for a single file (single file mode) or for two files at once (file compare mode).
We will discuss the highlights of the single file mode and the file compare mode options in the
following two sections. When the discussion of "highlights" is complete we will conclude our
discussion of the KA2D program with a point by point review of all pull down menu options.
Note: you can use KA2D to inspect the data from your own project as you read this chapter.
Simply verify that your K2D files have been created on (or copied to) your PC.
Single File Mode Display
When the KA2D program is run you are initially placed in single file mode. In single file mode
the screen is divided into 9 viewports (Vp). The display layout is as follows:
Vp1: alternate video image Vp2: primary video Vp3: position curves
Vp4: project information Vp5: stick figure Vp6: velocity curve
Vp7: variable selection lists Vp8: numeric data Vp9: acceleration curve
The following figure shows data for the side view trial of a rope skipping project.
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KA2D
To move the stick figure forward, simply position the mouse cursor in a picture, stick figure or
function plot viewport and press the left mouse button. To move the stick figure backward, press
the right mouse button. If you hold the mouse button down, the data and images will move
continuously. To move one frame at a time forward, left click the Step command button (or press
<PgDn>). To move one frame at a time backward, right click the Step command button (or press
<PgUp>. The keyboard top row number keys can also be used to animate the stick figures. For
example, press 9 repeatedly to advance each stick figure forward with an increment of 9. Press
<Shift-9> to move the figures backwards 9 frames at a time.
Note that there are two check boxes on the right side of the screen: QwkStk and QwkPic. These
boxes influence the “playback speed” of stick figure animation. If the QwkPic box is checked, the
stick figures will move quickly when the mouse button is held down, but the video images will be
updated only when the mouse button is released. To see “continuous video playback” click the
mouse on the QwkPic option to uncheck the box. This setting will cause the video and stick
figure images to advance simultaneously when the mouse button is held down (but overall
playback speed will decrease). You can “toggle” the QwkPic setting by pressing the <F4> key.
The QwkStk setting toggles the quality / speed of stick figure animation. When the check box is
checked, stick figure play back is rapid but when stick figure lines cross, white pixels are drawn
at the points of intersection. When the check box is unchecked the stick figure lines are always
solid but playback speed is decreased. You can toggle the QwkStk setting by pressing the <F5>
key.
The “Play” and Playback speed controls are shown at the upper right corner of the KA2D
window. Click the Play button to cause the video and kinematic data to play back on a continuous
loop. The Play button is renamed the “Pause” button while continuous playback is engaged. Click
this Pause button to return to still frame playback mode.
The Playback speed control is used to modify the default rate of continuous playback. This
control allows KA to playback data on older “slow” PCs nearly as well as it plays data for a brand
new “fast” PC. Drag the slider control to the right to increase the speed of playback on a “slow”
PC. Drag the slider control to the left to slow down the playback speed on a “fast” PC. The
default playback speed value is set in the KASetup program (run the KAVideo, File, Run
KASetup menu option) under the “Default Playback Speed” item.
When the stick figure and video images are advanced, a highlight bar is moved on the position
curve, the velocity curve, the acceleration curve and the numeric data chart. This highlight bar
indicates the instantaneous kinematic values associated with the current variable (i.e., the rope
end point variable is shown above). Thus, you can use KA2D to move through the motion and
simultaneously see the video image, velocity and acceleration data change as the movement
progresses. Given this display layout, dozens of kinematic variables can be displayed and
analyzed by using the Quick Pick selection viewport in Vp7 or the Point, Segment, and Joint
command buttons located on the right side of the screen.
Point Selection
As mentioned above, the position, velocity, acceleration, and numeric data viewports display data
for the movement pattern point shown in the stick figure. You can use the Quick Pick Viewport,
the Point command button, the Data, Point pull down menu, or the <Ctrl-P> short cut key to
select a different point for display in the data viewports. The Quick Pick viewport (at the bottom
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KA2D
left corner of the screen) provides the quickest way to select a new point. The contents of the
Quick Pick viewport will depend upon your system’s screen resolution and the file you have
loaded. The above figure is taken from a 1024x768 resolution display. As a result, there is room
to show all point, segment and joint names within the limits of the viewport. If your PC uses a
lower resolution (800x600) the joints and segments may not be shown.
The body center of gravity data for the MCLacros2S example file is shown below. Note that the
movement pattern for the stick figure has been changed to show the center of gravity point.
Similarly, the velocity, acceleration, and numeric data have changed to show values for the center
of gravity.
Any point can be set as the default for display by KA2D by clicking the point name in the Quick
Pick viewport. You can also use the Point command button (or press <Ctrl-P>) to select the point
name from the pop up list box:
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This selection mode allows you to select any single point by clicking on the point name. You may
also select multiple points by <Ctrl> clicking one or more points and <Ctrl> double clicking on
the last point in the list. The following figure shows the right toe point, right wrist point and ball
point patterns of motion:
Segment Selection
To display angular kinematic data in the position, velocity, acceleration, and numeric data
windows, click on the segment name in the quick pick viewport or click on the segment
command button (you can also activate the Data, Segment pull down menu or press the <Ctrl-S>
short cut key).
For the gold project shown below, 16 segments have been defined for analysis. The angular
kinematic data for the golf club long axis segment is shown below:
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Note that the right side viewports now show angular kinematic data for the stick segment. The
stick figure and movement pattern window has changed to show the selected segment in bright
green and the remaining windows now display angular position (in degrees), angular velocity (in
radians/second) and angular acceleration (in radians/second2) for the selected segment.
The short cut keys for the Point and Segment selection options are <Ctrl-P> and <Ctrl-S>
respectively. These keystrokes will allow you to quickly review any kinematic parameter
associated with a data set. Further, the nine viewport display makes it easy for you to see the
relationship between the movement itself and the velocity, acceleration and numeric data for any
point or segment in your data set.
Joint Selection
Data on joint angles (i.e., elbow joint angle, knee joint angle...) are selected with the quick pick
viewport, the Joint command button (or the Data, Joint pull down menu option). For example, to
display the right knee joint angle data for the ATVBJump1S data set, click on the KneeJT item in
the quick pick viewport. The selected joint is shown by bright green lines in the central stick
figure viewport. The upper right viewport shows an enlarged stick figure of the joint segments
only with the pattern of the distal segment distal point. The angular data (in degrees) for the right
knee joint is displayed in the middle right window and the rate of change of joint angle (JtV) data
(in radians per second) is shown in the bottom right window:
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Note that the velocity and acceleration columns in the numerical list viewport have been changed
to show the joint angle and JtV data respectively.
XY Component Data
Thus far we have looked only at the magnitude of velocity and acceleration data. Very often
(particularly with body center of gravity data) we need to see the X and Y components of velocity
and acceleration. To display this data, use the Data menu, X Component, Y Component and
Magnitude options. The following figure shows the Y component data for the center of gravity
point.
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Note that the shortcut keys for the X, Y and Magnitude options are Ctrl-X, Ctrl-Y and Ctrl-M
respectively. Our discussion of the highlights of the single file view mode is now complete. The
next section presents the highlight of file compare view.
File Compare View
File Compare View shows two data sets for simultaneous analysis. The file compare option
works only for two files with nearly identical project files (i.e., the point, segment and joint
names must be identical for both files to be compared). Video images and stick figures are shown
in the upper left four viewports. Kinematic variable function plots and numerical data is shown
in the right most column of viewports. A comparison of two participants in a jumping study is
shown below. When the data is shown on the computer screen, the primary file stick figure is
shown in blue and the velocity and acceleration curve information for this file is also in blue. The
secondary files data is shown in pink:
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The first file was loaded into memory with the File, Open Primary file menu command. The
second file was loaded with the File, Secondary menu command. The basic control commands for
stick figure movement remain the same: position the mouse arrow pointer below the menu line
and press the left mouse button to move the figures forward; press the right mouse button to move
the figures backward.
It should be noted that the time duration of the movement will not necessarily be the same across
any two trials of data. For example, the first participant reaches attains peak center of gravity
vertical acceleration at frame 39, while the second reaches peak CG Ay at frame 54. Because of
this inherent "lack of synchronization" between the two trials, additional controls are necessary to
"get the data in sync". Use the Step1 and Step2 command buttons to move each trial
independently; use the left mouse button for forward motion and the right mouse button for
backward motion.
The keyboard top row number keys can also be used to animate each individual stick figure.
<Ctrl> shifted number keys will move the primary stick figure. <Alt> shifted numbers will move
the secondary stick figure. For example, press <Ctrl-9> repeatedly to advance the primary stick
figure forward with an increment of 9. Press <Shift-Ctrl-9> to move the primary figure backward
9 frames at a time.
Finally, any variable, including segment or joint data may be selected for display through use of
the Segment and Joint command buttons (or their corresponding Data pull down menu
commands).
Our discussion of the "highlights" of the KA2D single file and compare file modes is now
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complete. Each item on the KA2D plot pull down menu system is discussed in the following
section.
KA2D Plot Pull Down Menu Items
The following discussion provides at least a brief description of every item on the pull down
menu system.
File Command Menu Options
Open Primary File
The "Primary file load" command allows you to select a data set for display in all nine viewports
in single file mode. The Primary file load command is also used to get out of file compare mode
and return to single file mode. For example, if the files JDJump1 and JDJump2 are loaded in file
compare mode, you can return to single file mode for the JDJump1 data by selecting the Primary
file option. The short cut key for the Primary file load option is <F2>.
When the Primary file listing is shown, you can use the normal file sorting / display options. To
see the data files in a different workgroup, double click on the new workgroup name.
Secondary File
The "Secondary file" command allows you to select a data set for display in the center viewports
in dual file mode. This command presents a pick box filled with file names just like the Primary
file command. The Secondary file load command will allow you to select a "compare file" that is
"incompatible" with the currently loaded primary file. Compatible files must have identically the
same point names, segment names, joint names and event names. If you load an incompatible file
with the Compare file load command, the data will be displayed but your ability to display
comparable data may not be possible. Thus you could compare right elbow joint data between the
two files but if the right elbow joint data is not present in the second file, the first joint in that file
will be shown instead.
The easiest way to assure compare file mode "compatibility" is to use the same project definition
file for all files you intend to compare. This is not really a major restriction, because any research
project involving multiple trials of data is expected to treat (and analyze) each trial of data in the
project the same way. This is assured when the same project file is used for all data sets in a
project. One notable exception to this rule comes up with laterality studies. If you are comparing
a right arm throwing motion to a left arm throwing motion, it will not make sense to compare
velocity curves for the right wrist (the throwing wrist) on one file, to the right wrist (the non-
throwing wrist) on the other file. This problem can be overcome by using two "mirror image"
project definition files where the same points, segments, joints and events are used but the camera
set up information is different. Further, when digitizing the non-preferred side movement trial,
you should swap the body side for all points; i.e., associate the R points with the throwing side
points (Rwrist, Relbow…) for all trials and associate the L points with the non-throwing side for
all trials.
Run KA3D
The "Run KA3D” option closes the KA2D program and loads the KA3D program.
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Run KAVideo
The "Run KAVideo” option closes the KA2D program and loads the KAVideo program.
Run MakeHold
The "Run MakeHold” menu option runs the MakeHold utility program. This program generates
the digitizer program’s “\KV\YourWorkGroup\YourFile\hold??.xyd” files from the information in
the KA2D data file. The MakeHold program is most useful when the digitizing work for a K2D
file is completed on a student “home” PC and the resulting filename.K2D file is transferred to
another PC (i.e., a lab PC) by floppy disk or flash disk. The existence of the K2D file on the lab
PC makes it possible to inspect the project data within the KA2D program. However, the user
will not be able to re-digitize this file with the KAVideo, ReDG option, because the files
generated by the digitizing process will not be present on the lab PC. If the digitizing work
“Hold” files are created by the MakeHold program, you will be able to do re-digitizing work on
the second PC. Note: any digitizing work done on the second PC (i.e., at the lab) will be
embedded inside a newly generated K2D file. However, this digitizing work will not be “known”
by the student’s home PC (the digitizing work on this PC will become “out of sync” with the lab
PC). To solve this problem, copy the lab PC’s newly created filename.K2D file to a floppy disk.
Then transfer this K2D file to the home PC. Then run KA2D and use the “Run MakeHold” menu
option to update the digitizer program Hold files on the home PC.
Run MakeJTD
The "Run MakeJTD” program option allows you to prepare a KA2D file for data analysis within
the JtCalc program. See chapter 11 for details on the types of files that can be processed by the
JtCalc software.
Run MakeSEG
The "Run MakeSEG” program option allows you to set a KA2D file with addition (non-human
body) segments for extended data analysis. A center of gravity point for the system of the human
body plus the additional segment(s) will be automatically computed and merged into the
kinematic data for the file. This option is valuable for use with weight lifting (where the barbell
is added as an extra segment) and for other movements that involve additional loads (walking
with backpacks, exercising with wrist weights, etc.).
Run JtCalc
The "Run JtCalc” program option closes the KA2D program and loads the JtCalc program. If a
JTD file has been prepared (with the Run, MakeJTD menu option) for the current KA2D file, this
file will be displayed within the JtCalc software.
Run BallFlight
The "Run BallFlight” program option closes KA2D and runs the BallFlight program. This
program displays data for projectile motion problems. See the Chapter 8 in the BHMViewer
software for a detailed discussion of the BallFlight software.
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KA2D
Exit
The final option on the File pull down menu allows you to finish work in the KA2D program and
return to the Windows desktop.
Data Command Menu Options
The Data option on the menu bar allows you to select new data for display with the current KA
data file(s). The effect of data commands on the screen display is dependent upon the KA
Window display mode (single file / dual file mode) that is active. In single file mode, any change
in the data display is shown in all nine viewports (the stick figures, velocity curve, acceleration,
and numeric data lists are all effected by the data change). In dual file mode any change in data
effects the two stick figure plots, the variable function plots and the numeric list. The data
commands are also used to toggle between magnitude, X component and Y component data
display modes.
When the Data pull down menu is activated a listing of 12 program options is shown:
Pattern Point Selection
The "Pattern point selection" option allows a new pattern of motion to be selected for the stick
figure plot(s). When this option is selected a pick box of available point names appears on screen.
To select a point, place the mouse arrow cursor over it and click the mouse. When a new pattern
point is selected, the stick figure pattern of motion will change, and any velocity, acceleration and
numeric data will also change to show the data for the selected point.
Multiple patterns can be shown simultaneously by pressing <Ctrl-Click> on a series of points and
<Ctrl-DoubleClick> on the last point in the series.
Segment Selection
The Segment Selection option is similar to the pattern point selection option described above.
When a segment is selected for display the velocity, acceleration, and numeric data displays are
changed to show angular data. Note: Angular position and joint data is expressed in degrees,
angular velocity is expressed in radians per second and angular acceleration is expressed in
radians per second per second by the KA software. The segment selection option will not change
the stick figure pattern of motion shown in the stick figure display(s). The selected segment will
be shown in the stick figure display(s) as a double wide green line. The segment position curve
shows the angle between the segment line (aimed from the proximal to the distal point, as
specified in your project file) and the positive X axis. The segment position curve is drawn to
minimize sudden jumps in position (from just under 360 degrees to just over 0 degrees) by adding
360 degrees to the segment position at the point of any discontinuity. Bear in mind that segment
position data for a 3D motion is often severely distorted in a 2D only study. The short cut key for
the segment selection option is <Ctrl-S>.
Joint Selection
The Joint Selection option allows the joint angle and rate of change of joint angle data to be
shown for any defined joint. When a joint is selected for display the velocity, and acceleration
function plots are changed to show angular position (in degrees) and rate of change of position
(JtV, in radians per second) respectively. The upper right viewport shows an enlarged stick figure
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KA2D
plot of the joint with the pattern of motion set as the distal point on the distal segment. The stick
figure viewports show the selected joint with double wide green lines.
Position Data
This menu option is active in dual file display mode only. Further, it will function only if the X or
Y component of a point is shown in point display mode or if a segment is shown. The short cut
key for the position selection option is <Ctrl-O>.
X Component Data Display
The X component display option shows Vx and Ax data in the velocity and acceleration function
plot viewports and in the numeric data grid. The X component option has no effect on 2D
segment kinematic data or joint angle data.
Y Component Data Display
The Y component display option shows Y data but otherwise performs identically to the X
component option.
Magnitude Data Display
The Magnitude data display option allows you to "turn off" X or Y component displays and
return to vector magnitude data.
Export to File
The Export option allows you to export (create numerical data files) for the currently displayed
data. The exported files can then be imported into a spreadsheet program for customized analysis.
When the Export option is activated, a sub menu showing the following options is presented: X,
Y, Point Velocity, Point Acceleration, Segment position, angular velocity, angular acceleration,
joint angle and joint angle rate of change. When one of these options is selected, the
corresponding data is sent to disk.
The text files are stored in the current workgroup folder, with the primary file name as the
beginning characters in the base file name followed by item specific code characters. The file
extension name is "TXT". The files hold two columns of tab delimited text data. Column 1 holds
the frame number information and column 2 holds the selected variable value. If you drag and
drop one of these files from Explorer to an Excel short cut icon, it will be opened and displayed
as a normal spreadsheet file.
Smooth
The smooth option allows you to change the smoothing level for all kinematic data in the current
primary file. Smoothing levels range from 0 (no smoothing) to 19 (excessive smoothing). You
can change the smoothing factor for all data in the file in one operation or you can set the
smoothing factor for each individual point separately. See the help file that is displayed when this
menu option is selected. Each time the smoothing level is changed, all of the kinematic data in the
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trial is re-computed. The effects of the new smoothing level are shown in all subsequently
displayed data plots.
It is recommended that you smooth typical data sets with a smoothing factor of 5, and then make
further adjustments as necessary. The goal of the smoothing process is to remove "digitizing
errors" from the data without distorting the "true trends" in the data. Higher levels of smoothing
will tend to flatten peak velocity values. Thus, if peak velocities are compared between two trials,
the same smoothing factor should be used for both. High smoothing levels will be necessary to
allow interpretation of acceleration data (this data is normally very noisy).
Clipboard Copy
The Clipboard copy (or the <Ctrl-C> shortcut key) is used to place the currently selected
numerical values from the numeric data viewport into the Windows clipboard buffer. This data
can then be pasted into other Windows programs (i.e., Excel or Word) for display or analysis.
View Command Menu Options
Video Update On/Off toggle
Use this option to turn continuous video display on and off. The fastest display mode allows fast
stick figure motion when the mouse buttons are pressed but does not update the video image
viewports until the mouse button is released. To turn on continuous video, select this option (or
press <F4>). To toggle back to fast video display, select this option again. You can also change
this option with the QwkPic check box.
Stick Figure Quality/Speed toggle
This option turns XOR stick figure graphic line mode on and off. The fastest stick figure mode
(XOR on) produces fast stick figure animation but lines that cross have white pixels at the points
of intersection. The best quality stick figures are shown when the XOR mode is toggled off. The
shortcut key for this command is <F5>. You can also change this option with the QwkStk check
box.
Alt View Pic
The alt view pic option is only available in dual file display mode. This option shows the alternate
view video picture files in the bottom left two viewports (i.e., if side view data files are loaded,
the front view pictures are shown).
Quick Pick Viewport
The Quick Pick Viewport option is used to redisplay the quick pick viewport and switch out of
Alt View Pic mode.
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Show Vector
The Show Vector option allows you to display velocity and acceleration vectors for the currently
selected point within the Stick Figure viewport. The shortcut keys <Ctrl-F6> and <Ctrl-F7>
toggle on and off the display of velocity and acceleration vectors respectively.
Show Grid Toggle
The Show Grid option allows you to turn on and off a grid display within the Stick Figure
viewport. The lower left corner of this grid is set at the origin of the data set’s XY reference
frame. The grid dotted lines are drawn at 0.5 meter increments (i.e., each box on the grid is 0.5
meters square). The following figure shows the stick figure viewport with the grid turned on:
Notice that the XY coordinate location of the racket head point on the grid (about 2 meters in the
X and 1 meter in the Y) corresponds with the XY coordinate value shown in the numerical data
viewport.
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Zoom
The Window, Zoom menu option is used to toggle "zoom" modes on the various viewports.
Activate the Zoom command a second time to "un-zoom" a given viewport. The zoom shortcut
keys are a very good way to quickly toggle the zoom on any viewport. The nine shortcut keys
occupy a 3 x 3 area on the keyboard that is analogous to the video display. Keys E, R, and T
toggle the zoom for the top three viewports. Similarly, keys D,F,G and C,V,B toggle the zoom for
the middle and lower rows of viewports.
The KA3D viewports are abbreviated as: Vp1, Vp2, Vp3 (top row); Vp4, Vp5, Vp6 (middle
row); and Vp7, Vp8, Vp9 (bottom row).
Set 800x600… 1920x1200
These options allow you to resize the KA2D screen to fit any of the listed display resolutions.
Thus, you can change a 1920x1200 display to fit within a 800x600 area of the screen. This option
will resize all of the viewports on the KA2D screen and set the new screen size as the default for
all other KA programs.
Image ReSize
The image resize option allows you to create "view" images for display by KA2D and KA3D.
The size of these viewports depends upon your display resolution. If your system display
resolution is set as 1024x768, each viewport is just under 320x240 pixels in size. This display
mode will allow you to see every horizontal line and every other vertical line in a video field. If
your display resolution is greater than 1024x768, the resize option will scale your image set
“view” files up to fit the larger viewports.
The image resize option provides enhanced control of the display of “view” files from HDV
video projects. Note that normal DV video images have a 4:3 aspect ratio. This image width /
height ratio fits the size of the viewports in KA2D, KA3D, JtCalc and HA exactly. To speed the
display of KA data in these programs, KAVideo automatically creates two copies of the video
data for any given image set. The “I” (image) type files (i.e., the I0001TutorS.jpg file is full size
for DV (640x480). The “V” (view) type files (i.e., V0001TutorS.bmp) are sized to fit the KA2D
viewport exactly. Further, because BMP files load much more quickly than JPG files, this
approach allows for very fast KA2D / KA3D / JtCalc and HA program performance.
This playback speed advantage is especially important with HDV files. By default, KAVideo will
make “View” files for HDV image sets that fit within the KA2D program 4:3 aspect ratio
viewport. However, to make this happen, the Create program must crop off the left and right sides
of the original “I” type image file. This approach works well if the movement is well centered in
the HDV video. If, on the other hand, the participant is off center (i.e., the soccer kick performer
is on the far left side of the video to provide ample room to view the ball flight towards the right
of the screen) the default centering of HDV images will likely crop off part of the participant’s
image.
To address this problem, the “KA2D, View, Image ReSize” menu option has a “Set HD Shift”
control:
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Note that the bottom portion of the above figure shows that the “HD Shift” value is set to 50%.
This default setting will cause the left and right 12.5% of the HD image to be cropped off on all
view files. If this value is changed to 0%, the new View files will show the far left portion of the
HD image, but the far right 25% of the image will be cropped off. Similarly, if the HD Shift is set
to 100%, the left 25% of the image will be cropped off and the rightmost 75% of the image will
be shown by all View files. Alternate HD shift values between 10% and 90% will cause the view
images to be shifted in small increments left / right.
Note that this HD Shift value affects only HDV images. The HD Shift value has no influence on
the processing of normal DV video files.
Refresh
The Refresh option restores the graphical display contents to the stick figure and function plot
viewports. If the KASetup, Very Fast Image Playback setting is turned on, when the KA2D
program is minimized and restored, or if another program window obscures the KA2D window,
the contents of the viewports are not automatically restored (this convention causes substantial
improvement to stick figure play back speed in normal operations). To refresh the display, press
<F5> or activate this menu option.
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Playback Speed: Decrease
The Playback Speed: Decrease option (or the <Ctrl-F11> keystroke) slows down the playback
speed setting by one unit (the playback speed can be set for any integer value between -5 and +5).
Use this option to slow down the playback of KA data on a fast PC.
Playback Speed: Increase
The Playback Speed: Increase option (or the <Ctrl-F12> keystroke) speeds up the playback speed
setting by one unit (the playback speed can be set for any integer value between -5 and +5). Use
this option to speed up the playback of KA data on a slow PC.
Help Command Menu Options
The forth item on the top line menu bar indicates that help is available for the KA2D program. To
activate Help, simply point at the Help menu item with the mouse, click the left mouse button,
and select Show Help. Alternatively, Help may be activated by pressing <F1>. The left side two
viewports are then used to display a scrolling help document file. To turn help off (and restore
image display in the left two viewports), select the Help, Hide Help option.
Short Cut Key Summary
The short cut keys are intended to save experienced users time when working with KA. The short
cut key for each menu item is listed on the right side of each menu pull down box. A summary of
all short cut keys is given below:
Main keyboard keys:

<PgDn> advance stick figures one frame forward.
<PgUp> move stick figures back one frame.
<#> (any keyboard top row number key 1-9) moves the stick figure # frames forward
<Shift-#> move the stick figure # frames back
*each of the above keys can be <Ctrl> or <Alt> shifted to move the first or second files
respectively in file compare mode.
<End> jump to the last frame of data for the data set(s).
<Home> jump to the first frame of data for the data set(s)
Ctrl Shifted keys:

<Ctrl-B> run benchmark option
<Ctrl-J> display Joint angle data
<Ctrl-L> leave the current stick figure shown and advance one field
<Ctrl-M> display the Magnitude data
<Ctrl-P> select new pattern Point
<Ctrl-S> select new Segment
<Ctrl-X> display the X component data
<Ctrl-Y> display the Y component data
Alt Shifted keys:

<Alt-F> activate the File menu item
<Alt-D> activate the Data menu item
<Alt-H> activate the Help menu item
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<Alt-V> activate the View menu item

<Alt-PrtSc> capture the current screen contents into the clipboard buffer (for pasting into other
programs such as Windows Paint).
Function keys:
<F1> activate the Help menu item
<Ctrl-F1> hide help information
<F2> Load a new primary file
<F3> Load a secondary file
<F4> Toggle fast stick figure animation on / off
<Ctrl-F4> Toggle continuous video display on / off
<F5> Refresh the display of all viewports
<F6> Show the alternate view picture in dual file mode
<F11> Smooth the data for the primary file
<Ctrl-F11> Decrease playback speed
<Ctrl-F12> Increase playback speed
Zoom keys:
<E> Toggle zoom of upper left viewport between full screen and normal size
<R> Toggle zoom of upper center viewport between full screen and normal size
<T> Toggle zoom of upper right viewport between full screen and normal size
<D> Toggle zoom of middle left viewport between full screen and normal size
<F> Toggle zoom of middle center viewport between full screen and normal size
<G> Toggle zoom of middle right viewport between full screen and normal size
<C> Toggle zoom of lower left viewport between full screen and normal size
<V> Toggle zoom of lower center viewport between full screen and normal size
<B> Toggle zoom of lower right viewport between full screen and normal size
Conclusions
Our discussion of the KA2D program is now complete. The next chapter will cover the KA
program options that are used in the creation of new data sets.
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Chapter 10 - The KA3D Program
Introduction
The KA3D program is a three dimensional data analysis program that allows you to display video
images, stick figures, position curves, velocity curves, acceleration curves, angular data and
numeric data simultaneously on the screen. Thus, the KA3D program is very similar to (but more
powerful than) the KA2D program. KA3D data can be displayed for a single file (single file
mode) or for two files at once (file compare mode). We will discuss the highlights of the single
file mode and the file compare mode options in the following two sections. When the discussion
of "highlights" is complete we will conclude our discussion of the KA3D program with a point by
point review of all pull down menu options.
Single File Mode MultiView Plots
When the KA3D program is run you are placed in single file mode. In single file mode the screen
is divided into 9 viewports. These viewports (Vp) are numbered (from left to right) as follows:
top row: 1, 2, 3; middle row: 4, 5, 6; bottom row: 7, 8, 9. The display layout is initially as
follows:
Vp1: front video image Vp2: front stick figure Vp3: numerical data
Vp4: side video image Vp5: side stick figure Vp6: velocity curve
Vp7: file information Vp8: top stick figure Vp9: acceleration curve
Note: depending upon the camera setup used to collect data, the “front” view image may be a rear
view, or both views could be rotated to show diagonal views. The following figure shows data for
a spin kick project:
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Stick figure animation is controlled by the same keystrokes / mouse actions at in the KA2D
program: To move the stick figure forward, position the mouse in a video image, stick figure or
function plot view port and press the left mouse button. To move the stick figure backward, press
the right mouse button. If you hold the mouse button down, the data and images will move
continuously. To move one frame at a time forward, left click the Step command button (or press
<PgDn>). To move one frame at a time backward, right click the Step command button (or press
<PgUp>. When the stick figure and video images are advanced, a highlight bar is moved on the
velocity curve, the acceleration curve and the numeric data chart. This highlight bar indicates the
instantaneous kinematic values associated with the current variable (i.e., the right toe point
variable is shown above).
Load the KDSpinKick1 file into KA3D on your Lab (or home) PC to get a “feel for” the special
playback speed controls in KA. Note: these example files by downloading them from the program
CD or by downloading them from the KA Web Site.
Because the KA3D program is showing a lot of information (2 – 320x240 pixel video image
viewports plus 7 other viewports with detailed information) the data processing power of your PC
will be put to a test by KA3D. If the playback speed of your data is slow on your PC, increase the
Playback Speed setting (at the upper right corner of the program window).
As was the case with the KA2D program, you can use KA3D to move through any movement
trial and simultaneously see the velocity and acceleration data change as the movement
progresses. Given this display layout, dozens of kinematic variables can be displayed and
analyzed by using the Point, Segment, and Joint command buttons located on the right side of the
screen. You can also use the View, Quick Pick Viewport menu option to display point, segment
and joint names for single click retrieval.
Point Selection
As mentioned above, the velocity, acceleration, and numeric data viewports display data for the
movement pattern point shown in the stick figure. You can use the Point command button, the
Data, Point pull down menu (or the <Ctrl-P> short cut key) to select a different point for display
in the right two columns of viewports. By selecting different movement pattern points you will be
able to inspect all of the linear kinematic data in your data set.
Segment Selection
To display angular kinematic data in the velocity, acceleration, and numeric data windows, click
on the segment command button or activate the Data, Segment pull down menu. The stick figure
and movement pattern viewports will not change but the numeric grid and variable function plots
will display angular velocity (in radians/second) and angular acceleration (in radians/second2) for
the selected segment.
The short cut keys for the Point and Segment selection options are <Ctrl-P> and <Ctrl-S>
respectively. These keystrokes will allow you to quickly review any kinematic parameter
associated with a data set. Further, the nine-viewport display makes it easy for you to see the
relationship between the movement itself and the velocity, acceleration and numeric data for any
point or segment in your data set.
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KA3D
Joint Selection
Data on joint angles (i.e., elbow joint angle, knee joint angle...) must be selected with the Joint
command button (or the Data, Joint pull down menu option) before they may be displayed. For
example, to display the right elbow joint angle data for the HOGolf1 data set, click on the Joint
command button and select the right elbow joint from the list box. The angular data (in degrees)
for the right knee joint is then displayed in Vp8 and the rate of change of joint angle (JtV) data is
shown in Vp9.
XYZ Component Data
The “normal” display mode for point and segment data is to show only the magnitude of velocity
and acceleration data. Very often (particularly with body center of gravity data) we need to see
the X, Y, and Z components of point velocity / acceleration and segment angular velocity /
acceleration. To display this data, simply use the Data, X Component, Y Component and Z
Component commands (or press <Ctrl-X>, <Ctrl-Y> or <Ctrl-Z>. The following figure shows the
vertical (Z) component data for the KDSpinKick1 center of gravity point.
The KA3D reference axis convention is shown in the lower left corners of Vp2, Vp5 and Vp8.
Thus, the forward back dimension for this data is X, the side to side is Y and the up and down
dimension is Z. You can switch from X, Y, or Z component mode back to magnitude mode by
activating the Data, Magnitude menu option, or by pressing <Ctrl-M>.
When X, Y or Z component data are shown, the position curve can also be shown in Vp3. Note
the first derivative relationships between position / velocity and velocity / acceleration. To switch
Vp3 to numerical data press <Ctrl-N>. To switch back to pOsition data, press <Ctrl-O>.
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KA3D
Our discussion of the highlights of the single file view mode is now complete. The next section
presents the highlight of file compare view.
File Compare View
File Compare View shows two data sets for simultaneous analysis. As with the KA2D file
compare mode, the compared files must have identical point, segment and joint names. Front,
side and top stick figures are shown in the left and center columns of KA3D. Kinematic data is
shown in the right column. Data from the JHKick study are shown below:
The first file was loaded into memory with the File, Primary menu command. The second file was
loaded with the File, Secondary menu command. The basic control commands for stick figure
movement remain the same as those used in KA2D: position the mouse arrow pointer below the
menu line and press the left mouse button to move the figures forward; press the right mouse
button to move the figures backward.
The data in the right column of viewports shows information for both files. On a color monitor
(but not on the printed page) it is easy to see that the first file stick figure and kinematic plot data
is in blue. The second file stick figure and kinematic plot data is in pink. The instantaneous values
for the velocity and acceleration curves are also color coded and shown in the upper right corners
of Vp6 and Vp9 (with file 1 on the left and file 2 on the right).
If you want to display the side view video image in place of the top view stick figure, use the
View pull down menu (or press <F7>). To show the front view video images in Vp7 and Vp8,
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KA3D
press <F8>. To display the stick figure overhead view data again, press <F6>. The KA3D display
with side view video images is shown below:
In order to get file compare mode stick figure in synchronization, you can use the Step1/Step2
command buttons, or you can use Ctrl / Alt shifted keystrokes. The Ctrl key influences the left
stick figure; the Alt key manipulates the right stick figure. Thus, Ctrl-PgDn moves the left stick
figure forward and Alt-PgDn moves the right stick figure forward. The number keys can also be
Ctrl / Alt “shifted”. Ctrl-9 moves the left figure 9 frames forward. Shift-Alt-9 moves the right
figure back 9 frames (Shift is used with number keys to move backward).
The usual (single file mode) keystrokes / commands are used to display point, segment, joint,
vector component, vector magnitude, position and numerical data. Our discussion of the
"highlights" of the KA3D single file and compare file modes is now complete. Each item on the
KA3D plot pull down menu system is discussed in the following section.
KA3D Plot Pull Down Menu Items
The following discussion provides at least a brief description of every item on the pull down
menu system.
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KA3D
File Command Menu Options
Open Primary File
The "Primary file load" command allows you to select a data set for display in all nine viewports
in single file mode. The primary file is shown in the left most column when file compare mode is
active. The Primary file load command is also used to get out of file compare mode and return to
single file mode. For example, if the files JHKick1 and JHKick2 are loaded in file compare mode,
you can return to single file mode for the JHKick1 data by selecting the Primary file option. The
short cut key for the Primary file load option is <F2>.
When the Primary file listing is shown, you can use the normal file sorting / display options. To
see the data files in a different workgroup, double click on the new workgroup name.
Secondary File
The "Compare file" command allows you to select a data set for display in the middle column in
file compare mode. This command presents a pick box filled with file names just like the Primary
file command.
Create 3D File
The "Create 3D" command allows you to select a 2D data set pair (front and side view files) for
3D calculation. The listing of available 2D data files is taken from the workgroup that is currently
open in the KA3D program. When the Create 3D option is run, graphs showing the degree of
front view and side view synchronization are shown. If the final graph (showing a comparison of
the Z data for the front and side view pattern of motion point) is well synchronized, the 3D data
will be computed properly. The following figure shows a pair of well synchronized 2D data files:
If the peaks and valleys of these Z data curves are not in phase, the time code synchronization of
the side and front data files in incorrect and the 3D data will be inaccurate.
Run KA2D
The Run KA2D option closes the KA3D program and runs the KA2D program.
Run KAVideo
The Run KAVideo option closes the KA3D program and runs the KAVideo program.
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KA3D
Run MakeHAD
The "Run MakeHAD” program option allows you to prepare a KA3D file for data analysis within
the Hydrodynamic Analysis (HA) program. See chapter 12 for details on the types of files that
can be processed by the HA software.
Run HA
The "Run HA” program option closes the KA3D program and loads the Hydrodynamic Analysis
(HA) program. The HA software is used to display swimming movements and propulsive hand
force data. If a HAD file has been prepared (with the Run, MakeHAD menu option) for the
current KA3D file, this file will be displayed within the HA software. See Chapter 12 for details
on the HA software.
Run VecCalc
The “Run VecCalc” program option closes the KA3D program and loads the Vector Algebra
Calculation (VecCalc) program. See Chapter 13 for details on the VecCalc software.
Exit
The final option on the File pull down menu allows you to finish work in the Multi View plot
program and return to the Windows desktop.
Data Command Menu Options
The Data option on the menu bar allows you to select new data for display with the currently
selected KA data file(s). The effect of data commands on the screen display is dependent upon
the KA Window display mode (single file / compare file mode) that is active. In single file mode,
any change in the data display is shown in all the right-most two columns (the stick figures,
velocity curve, acceleration, and numeric data lists are all effected by the data change). In dual
file mode any change in data affects the stick figure plots and the variable plots. When the Data
pull down menu is activated a listing of 12 program options is shown:
Pattern Point Selection
The "Pattern point selection" option allows a new pattern of motion to be selected for the stick
figure plot(s). When this option is selected a pick box of available point names appears on screen.
When a new pattern point is selected, the stick figure pattern of motion will change, and any
velocity, acceleration and numeric data will also change to show the data for the selected point.
Segment Selection
The Segment Selection option is similar to the pattern point selection option described above.
When a segment is selected for display the velocity, acceleration, and numeric data displays are
changed to show angular data. Note: angular velocity is expressed in radians per second and
angular acceleration is expressed in radians per second per second by the KA software. The
segment selection option will not change the stick figure pattern of motion shown in window 1
(single file mode) or windows 1 and 2 (compare file mode). The short cut key for the segment
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KA3D
selection option is <Ctrl-S>. Note that the X, Y, and Z components of the angular velocity and
angular acceleration data are all available for display with 3D data files.
Joint Selection
The Joint Selection option allows the joint angle and rate of change of joint angle data to be
shown for any defined joint. When a joint is selected for display, the velocity and acceleration
numerical data displays are changed to show angular data. Note: joint data is expressed in
degrees, rate of change of joint angle data is shown in radians/sec.
Position Curve
If the X, Y, or Z component data for any point is shown in the velocity and acceleration
viewports, you can set Vp3 to show the position curve with this option. The shortcut key for this
option is <Ctrl-O>. This option is only functional if the X, Y or Z component data have been
selected for display (it will not work if magnitude data is set for display).
Number Grid
The Number Grid option is normally shown in Vp3. If a vector component position curve is
shown, you may switch back to numerical data with this option. The shortcut key for this option
is <Ctrl-N>.
X, Y, Z Component Data Display
These options turn on the display of X, Y or Z component data. For example, the X component
display option shows Vx and Ax data for any selected point. If segment data is shown, the X
component of the angular motion vector data is shown. The Y and Z component options allow
you to show the vector Y and Z components for any point or segment. Note: angular position data
cannot be shown with 3D data.
Magnitude Data
The Magnitude data display option allows you to “turn off” X, Y or Z component displays and
return to vector magnitude data.
Export to File
The Export option allows you to export (create numerical data files) for the currently displayed
data. The exported files can then be imported into a spreadsheet program for customized analysis.
When the Export option is activated, a sub menu showing the following options is presented:
Acceleration, Velocity, X, Y, Z data. When one of these options is selected, the corresponding
data is sent to disk.
The text files are stored in the current workgroup folder, with the primary file name as the
beginning characters in the base file name. The file extension name is “TXT”. The files hold two
columns of tab delimited text data. Column 1 holds the frame number information and column 2
holds the selected variable value. If you drag and drop one of these files from Explorer to an
Excel short cut icon, it will be opened and displayed as a normal spreadsheet file.
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Smooth
The smooth option allows you to change the smoothing level for all kinematic data in the current
file. Smoothing levels range from 0 (no smoothing) to 99 (excessive smoothing). Each time the
smoothing level is changed, all of the kinematic data in the trial is recomputed. Control is then
returned to the KA3D program and the effects of the new smoothing level are shown in the
displayed data plots.
It is recommended that you smooth typical data sets with a smoothing factor of 5, and then make
further adjustments as necessary. The goal of the smoothing process is to remove “digitizing
errors” from the data without distorting the “true trends” in the data. Higher levels of smoothing
will tend to flatten peak velocity values. Thus, if peak velocities are compared between two trials,
the same smoothing factor should be used for both. High smoothing levels will be necessary to
allow interpretation of acceleration data (this data is normally very noisy).
Clipboard Copy
The Clipboard copy (or the <Ctrl-C> shortcut key) is used to place the currently selected
numerical values from the numeric data viewport into the Windows clipboard buffer. This data
can then be pasted into other Windows programs (i.e., Excel or Word) for display or analysis.
View Command Menu Options
Video Update On/Off toggle
Use this option to turn continuous video display on and off. The fastest display mode allows fast
stick figure motion when the mouse buttons are pressed but does not update the video image
viewports until the mouse button is released. To turn on continuous video, select this option (or
press <Ctrl-F4>). To toggle back to fast video display, select this option again. You can also
change this option with the QwkPic check box.
Stick Figure Quality/Speed toggle
This option turns XOR stick figure graphic line mode on and off. The fastest stick figure mode
(XOR on) produces fast stick figure animation but lines that cross have white pixels at the points
of intersection. The best quality stick figures are shown when the XOR mode is toggled off. The
shortcut key for this command is <F4>. You can also change this option with the QwkStk check
box.
Compare Mode
In normal file compare mode, Vp7 and Vp8 show top view stick figures. Use this option to toggle
between showing side view video, front view video or top view stick figures in Vp7 and Vp8.
File Info
Use this menu option to show file info (researcher name, subject name, etc.) in Vp6 while in
single file mode. If the File Info option is selected in dual file mode, the file information is shown
in Vp8 and the quick pick viewport is also turned on.
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KA3D
Show Vector
The Show Vector option allows you to display linear velocity, linear acceleration, angular
velocity and angular acceleration vectors for the currently selected point or segment within all
three Stick Figure viewports. The shortcut keys <Ctrl-F6>, <Ctrl-F7>, <Ctrl-F8> and <Ctrl-F9>
toggle on and off the display of linear velocity, linear acceleration, angular velocity and angular
acceleration vectors respectively.
Quick Pick Viewport
The quick pick viewport option uses the bottom left viewport to show a list of the primary file’s
point, segment and joint information. Click on any point, segment or joint name to quickly
display the associated kinematic data.
Zoom
The Window, Zoom menu option is used to toggle "zoom" modes on the various viewports.
Activate the Zoom command a second time to “un-zoom” a given viewport.
Set 800x600… 1920x1200
These options allow you to resize the KA3D screen to fit any of the listed display resolutions.
Thus, you can change a 1920x1200 display to fit within a 800x600 area of the screen. This option
will resize the video images, stick figures, function plots and the numeric grid viewports to fit
within the new window area. Once selected, the resolution setting will be used with all KA
programs.
Image ReSize
The image resize option allows you to create “small” images for display by KA2D and KA3D. If
the normal full size video files (used by KAVideo) are available in your KV workgroup folder,
you can create smaller image files that will fit in a KA3D viewport. The size of these viewports
depends upon your display resolution. If your system display resolution is set as 1024x768, each
viewport is just under 320x240 pixels in size. This display mode will allow you to see every
horizontal line and every other vertical line in a video field. If your display resolution is less than
1024x768, the resize option will scale your image set files down to fit the smaller viewports.
Refresh
If the KASetup, Very Fast Image Playback setting is turned on, when the KA3D program is
minimized and restored, or if another program window obscures the KA3D window, the contents
of the viewports are not automatically restored (this convention causes substantial improvement
to stick figure play back speed in normal operations). To refresh the display, press <F5> or
activate this menu option.
Playback Speed: Decrease
The Playback Speed: Decrease option (or the <Ctrl-F11> keystroke) slows down the playback
speed setting by one unit (the playback speed can be set for any integer value between -5 and +5).
Use this option to slow down the playback of KA data on a fast PC.
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KA3D
Playback Speed: Increase
The Playback Speed: Increase option (or the <Ctrl-F12> keystroke) speeds up the playback speed
setting by one unit (the playback speed can be set for any integer value between -5 and +5). Use
this option to speed up the playback of KA data on a slow PC.
Help Command Menu Options
The forth item on the top line menu bar indicates that help is available for the KA3D program. To
activate Help, simply point at the Help menu item with the mouse, click the left mouse button,
and select Show Help. Alternatively, Help may be activated by pressing <F1>. The leftmost
column of viewports are then used to display a scrolling help document file. To turn help off (and
restore image display in the left viewports), select the Help, Hide Help option.
Short Cut Key Summary
The short cut keys are intended to save experienced users time when working with KA. The short
cut key for each menu item is listed on the right side of each menu pull down box. A summary of
all short cut keys is given below:
Main keyboard keys:

<PgDn> advance stick figures one frame forward.
<PgUp> move stick figures back one frame.
<#> (any keyboard top row number key 1-9) moves the stick figure # frames forward
<Shift-#> move the stick figure # frames back
*each of the above keys can be <Ctrl> or <Alt> shifted to move the first or second files
respectively in file compare mode.
<End> jump to the last frame of data for the data set(s).
<Home> jump to the first frame of data for the data set(s)
Ctrl Shifted keys:

<Ctrl-I> display file info data in file compare mode
<Ctrl-J> display Joint angle data
<Ctrl-L> leave current stick figure and advance
<Ctrl-M> display the magnitude data
<Ctrl-N> set numeric display mode
<Ctrl-O> display the position curve data
<Ctrl-P> select new pattern point
<Ctrl-Q> display the variable quick pick viewport
<Ctrl-S> select new segment
<Ctrl-X> display the X component data
<Ctrl-Y> display the Y component data
<Ctrl-Z> display the Z component data
<Ctrl-F6> display the velocity vector in the stick figure viewports
<Ctrl-F7> display the acceleration vector in the stick figure viewports
<Ctrl-F8> display the angular velocity vector in the stick figure viewports
<Ctrl-F9> display the angular acceleration vector in the stick figure viewports
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KA3D
Alt Shifted keys:

<Alt-F> activate the File menu item
<Alt-D> activate the Data menu item
<Alt-H> activate the Help menu item
<Alt-V> activate the View menu item
<arrow keys> & <Enter> may be used to `point & shoot' at any menu
items.
<Alt-PrtSc> capture the current screen contents into the clipboard buffer (for pasting into other
programs such as Windows Paint).
Function keys:
<F1> activate the Help menu item
<Ctrl-F1> hide help information
<F2> Load a new primary file
<F3> Load a secondary file
<F4> Toggle fast stick figure animation on / off
<Ctrl-F4> Toggle continuous video display on / off
<F5> Refresh the display of all viewports
<F6> show the top view stick figure data in file compare mode
<F7> show side view video data in file compare mode
<F8> show front view video data in file compare mode
<F11> Smooth the data for the primary file
<Ctrl-F11> Decrease playback speed
<Ctrl-F12> Increase playback speed
Zoom keys:
<E> Toggle zoom of upper left viewport between full screen and normal size
<R> Toggle zoom of upper center viewport between full screen and normal size
<T> Toggle zoom of upper right viewport between full screen and normal size
<D> Toggle zoom of middle left viewport between full screen and normal size
<F> Toggle zoom of middle center viewport between full screen and normal size
<G> Toggle zoom of middle right viewport between full screen and normal size
<C> Toggle zoom of lower left viewport between full screen and normal size
<V> Toggle zoom of lower center viewport between full screen and normal size
<B> Toggle zoom of lower right viewport between full screen and normal size
Conclusions
Our discussion of the KA3D program is now complete. See the Quantitative Analysis of Human
Movement textbook (R. Schleihauf, 2004, www.kavideo.sfsu.edu) for more detailed information
on three dimensional data analysis.
Page 10-12
Chapter 11 - The JtCalc Program
Introduction
JtCalc is designed to show the ground reaction forces, joint reaction forces and leg joint torques
that are associated with specially formatted KA2D data files. In particular, JtCalc works with
running, leaping, hurdling, and double leg jumping motions. Calculations of ground reaction
forces are derived from center of gravity acceleration data. In turn, joint reaction force and joint
torque values are derived from the leg free body diagrams and the body’s ground reaction force
values. Because JtCalc relies upon inverse dynamics to determine ground reaction force values, it
can only be used with movements that involve single support, or symmetrical double support
phases of motion. Thus, JtCalc cannot be used to analyze walking or other movements that
involve non-symmetrical double support phases of motion.
For details on the calculation procedures used in JtCalc, see Chapter 23 in the BHMViewer
software.
File Compatibility Issues
In order for a K2D file to be compatible with the JtCalc software, it must involve one or two
periods of single support or one or two periods of symmetrical bilateral support. For example,
running, hurdling and dance leap files work well with JtCalc because they involve periods of
single support (the right leg support phase followed by the left leg support phase). Similarly,
vertical jumping motions work well with JtCalc because they involve symmetrical bilateral
support phases (both feet push against the ground on the take off phase and both feet absorb the
force of landing). In addition, the legs must be well isolated in the side view plane and the line of
progress of the body must be from left to right on the screen.
Movements that involve non-symmetrical bilateral support phases cannot be analyzed with
JtCalc. Thus, walking files cannot be processed because they involve a double support phase
where the forces in each foot differ. Similarly, a golf drive motion cannot be processed by JTCalc
because the forces on each foot are not equal.
A final requirement of JtCalc file “compatibility” is that events must be defined for the beginning
and end of each unilateral or symmetrical bilateral support phase. Thus, in running, right heel
strike and right toe off events must be included in the project file. If the events that mark the start
and end of a support phase are not defined for a KA2D file, that file cannot be viewed within
JtCalc.
If your KA2D file meets the above requirements, you can prepare it for processing by JtCalc by
running the KA2D, Run MakeJTD program menu option. This program prompts you to enter the
data needed by the JtCalc software. When your work with the MakeJTD program is complete a
small file with the base name of your KA2D file and the “JTD” extension name is written to your
current workgroup folder. The JtCalc software will only display data for KA2D files that have
these “companion” JDT files.
JtCalc Basics
The JtCalc program screen in default “3 Free Body Diagram” display mode is shown below:
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JtCalc
The information in each of the program’s 9 viewports is discussed below:
 The upper left corner viewport shows the video image for the currently loaded file.
 The left column, middle row viewport shows the stick figure for the movement. The CG
pattern of motion is shown and the ground reaction force (GRF) X and Y components are
shown as black lines acting at the performer’s feet.
 The left column, lower row viewport shows the body’s CG X and Y component acceleration
curves. The CG Ax curve is shown in dark blue. The CG Ay curve is shown in light blue.
 The middle column upper row viewport shows the thigh segment free body diagram. The hip
joint reaction force is shown as a red vector. The Hip joint torque is shown as a curved green
arrow centered on the hip joint. The direction of the hip joint torque is indicated by the arrow
head on the curved green vector. The magnitude of the joint torque vector is indicated by the
radius of the circular arc of the vector.
 The middle column middle row viewport shows the shank segment free body diagram. The
knee joint reaction force is shown as a red vector. The knee joint torque is shown as a curved
green arrow centered on the knee joint.
 The middle column lower row viewport shows the foot segment free body diagram. The
ankle joint reaction force is shown as a red vector. The ankle joint torque is shown as a
curved green arrow centered on the ankle joint.
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JtCalc
 The right column upper row viewport shows the hip joint torque data as a function of time.
For typical KA2D movements (with the performer facing to the right) negative hip joint
torque values are associated with hip extension, and positive hip joint torque values are
associated with hip flexion.
 The right column middle row viewport shows the knee joint torque data as a function of time.
For typical KA2D movements (with the performer facing to the right) positive hip joint
torque values are associated with knee extension, and negative knee joint torque values are
associated with knee flexion.
 The right column lower row viewport shows the ankle joint torque data as a function of time.
For typical KA2D movements (with the performer facing to the right) negative ankle joint
torque values are associated with ankle plantar flexion, and positive ankle joint torque values
are associated with ankle dorsiflexion.
The option button controls on the right side of the screen are used to change the format of the data
display. The default option (Jt*3) shows the default “3 Free Body Diagram” mode as described
above. The remaining format options are discussed below.
Alternate Display Modes
The “Hip” function plot display option is shown below:
To cause this display mode to become active, click the “Hip” option button on the right side of
the screen.
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JtCalc
The three function plots in the right column of viewports is changed to show the Hip joint torque
data (in the upper row), the hip joint angle rate of change (JtV) data in the middle row and the hip
joint muscle power (JMP) data in the lower row. The JtV data is computed from “segment to
segment” joint angle measurements. The Joint muscle power data is computed as the product of
the Joint torque and JtV data.
The Knee and Ankle options show their Joint torque, JtV and JMP in similar formats.
The “JMP*3” function plot option button causes the Hip, Knee and Ankle joint muscle power
data to be shown in the right column viewports.
Dual File Display Mode
Use the File, Secondary File menu item to load a second file for analysis in JtCalc. An illustration
of the dual file mode JtCalc display is shown below.
Notice that only one free body diagram is shown when two files are loaded for display. To set the
free body diagram for display, click on the Foot, Shank or Thigh option buttons on the right side
of the display.
The right column viewports can be switched between Hip / Knee / Ankle joint torque mode (Jt *
3), and the Hip, Knee, Ankle and Joint muscle power display modes discussed above. In each of
these display modes the first file function plot curve is drawn in blue and the secondary file
function plot curve is drawn in pink.
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JtCalc
The remaining controls on the right side of the screen are identical to those from the KA2D
program.
Menu Options
File, Open Primary File

The File, Open command is used to load a new file (in single file mode) into the JtCalc software.
Only files that have both a KA2D “.K2D” file and a “.JTD” file can be processed by JtCalc. To
create a JTD file for a properly formatted K2D file, run the KA2D, File, Run MakeJTD menu
option.
File, Secondary File

Secondary file command loads a second file into JtCalc for review in dual file mode.
File, Run KA2D

The Run KA2D option allows you to quickly exit from JtCalc and run the KA2D program. Note:
you can run both the JtCalc and KA2D program simultaneously by using the Start menu to load
the KA2D program while the JtCalc program is already in memory.
File, Run KAVideo

The Run KAVideo option allows you to quickly exit from JtCalc and run the KAVideo program.
File, Exit
The Exit command ends your work session in JtCalc.
Data, Pattern Point

The Pattern Point option allows you to specify the stick figure pattern of motion point. Note: the
center of gravity acceleration curve data does not change when a new pattern of motion is set for
the stick figure.
Data, Export to File

The Export to file option allows you to create text files of the critical variables shown in JtCalc.
These text files can be read into spreadsheet software for further analysis.
View, Video Update On / Off toggle

The Video Update toggle turns on and off the continuous display of video during forward and
backward animation of stick figures. This menu option is equivalent to the QwkPic check box in
the right side controls.
View, Zoom
The Zoom option allows you to zoom any graphics viewport to full window size.
View, Set HHH x VVV

This Set command sets the JtCalc program window size to the specified horizontal / vertical
pixel resolution.
View, Refresh
The Refresh option refreshes the screen contents in JtCalc.
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Help, Show Help

The Show Help command shows JtCalc help information on the left column of the program
window.
Help, Hide Help

The Hide Help command removes the Help information and re-displays the normal JtCalc screen.
Help, About JtCalc

The About JtCalc command displays the program version and author.
Page 11-6
Chapter 12 - The Hydrodynamic Analysis Program
Introduction
The Hydrodynamic Analysis (HA) displays swimming hand propulsive force and movement data
for specially formatted KA3D files. Thus, HA displays both kinetic and kinematic data for
swimming hand motions. The HA software has been used with the analysis of members of the US
Olympic Swimming team.
The following figure shows a typical HA screen shot. The front and side view video images are
shown in the upper left side of the screen. The front view, side view and bottom view arm wire
frame diagrams are shown in the middle column of viewports. The wire frame figures are similar
to the stick figures that are used in the various KA programs. The wire frame figures approximate
the shape of the hand, forearm and upperarm for the swimmer. The upper two figures in the right
column of viewports show the pattern of motion point XYZ coordinates and velocity data. The
lower right corner viewport shows the hand propulsive force, plotted as a function of time during
the course of a single underwater arm pull.
Note: a complete discussion of the theoretical foundations of the HA software is provided in

Chapters 24 and 25 of the BHMViewer software.
HA Eligible Files
In order for a K3D file to be compatible with the HA software, it must contain the body landmark
points associated with the “Swimming” Project Type (see the KAVideo, Define Project File menu
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Hydrodynamic Analysis
option). These points are as follows:
1) Finger
2) Wrist
3) IndexKnuckle
4) PinkyKnuckle
5) Elbow
6) Shoulder
The above point names must be spelled exactly as shown above and they must be in the order
shown above (these point name conventions are automatically included in KA data files if the
Swimming Project Type is used). Additional points (numbered 7 and up) may be added to the
swimming project file if needed for use in a standard KA3D analysis. Any points added after
point 6 are ignored in the HA software analysis.
In addition to a compatible KA3D file, the HA software also requires a companion HAD data file.
This HAD file holds information that is needed to compute hand force data for any given research
participant. To generate this HAD data file, run the KA3D, Run MakeHAD menu option. The
MakeHAD program generates a data file with the “HAD” extension name in the
KA7\KA3D\YourWorkGroup folder. This HAD data file includes information on the subject
name, body weight, hand, forearm and upperarm lengths, and the hand area. When this
information is available, the HA program can be run for the given KA3D file.
HA Kinetic Data Measures
The HA program is virtually identical to the KA3D program with one notable exception: Hand
propulsive force data is shown in the bottom right hand viewport. A separate illustration of the
Hand Force propulsion curves is shown below:
The hand force plot shows two curves: the upper, total hand resultant force (R) curve (in dark
blue) and the effective hand propulsive force (Re) curve (in light blue). The R curve represents
the magnitude of the hand propulsion resultant force vector (expressed in Newtons). The Re
curve represents the forward component of the R vector. Curves that show the R and Re curves
close together during critical ranges of the swimming motion indicate that the hand forces are
“aimed” mainly forward.
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The lower portion of the hand propulsive force curve viewport shows critical information related
to hand propulsion. The above figure shows that the Lift force (L) is 95.9 Newtons at the current
frame in HA. Four other variable values are also shown:
Drag force (D) – measured in Newtons

Hand Angle of Pitch (Ap) – measured in degrees
Hand Angle of Sweepback (Sb) – measured in degrees
Note that the instantaneous values for R and Re are shown at the upper right corner of the
viewport (in the above figure, R = 120.67 Newtons and Re = 111.98 Newtons).
Dual File Mode Display
HA supports the simultaneous display of two files for “dual file mode” display. The following
figure shows the default screen layout for dual file mode display in HA. The front, side and
bottom view stick figures for each performer are shown in the left and center column of viewports
respectively. The primary files wire frame diagrams are shown in blue. The secondary file wire
frame diagrams are shown in pink. The viewport at the upper right corner of the window shows
the pattern of motion point velocity magnitude curves (again, the primary file is shown in blue
and the secondary file is shown in pink). The right column middle row viewport shows the hand
R/Re curve data for the primary file. The right column lower row viewport shows the hand R/Re
curve data for the secondary file.
Video image data may be optionally shown in the upper row left and center viewports:
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The side view video can be shown by activating the View, Compare Mode, Side View Pic, menu
option (or by pressing <F7>). The front view video can be shown by activating the View,
Compare Mode, Front View Pic, menu option (or by pressing <F8>). The front view stick figure
can be re-displayed by activating the View, Compare Mode, Front View Stk, menu option (or by
pressing <F6>).
Menu Options
File, Open Primary File

The File, Open command is used to load a new file (in single file mode) into the HA software.
Only files that have both a KA3D “.K3D” file and a “.HAD” file can be processed by HA. To
create a HAD file for a properly formatted K3D file, run the KA3D, File, Run MakeHAD menu
option.
File, Secondary File

Secondary file command loads a second file into HA for review in dual file mode.
File, Run KA3D

The Run KA2D option allows you to quickly exit from HA and run the KA2D program. Note:
you can run both the HA and KA3D program simultaneously by using the Start menu to load the
KA3D program while the HA program is already in memory.
File, Run KA2D

The Run KA2D option allows you to quickly exit from HA and run the KA2D program.
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File, Run KAVideo

The Run KAVideo option allows you to quickly exit from HA and run the KAVideo program.
File, Exit
The Exit command ends your work session in HA.
Data, Pattern Point

The Pattern Point option allows you to specify the wire frame diagram pattern of motion point.
When this point is changed, the velocity curve viewport is also changed accordingly.
Data, Segment
The Segment option allows you to set body segment data for display in the right column middle
row viewport.
Data, Joint
The Joint option allows you to set joint angle data for display in the right column middle row
viewport.
Data, X Component Data

The X component data option allows you to set the X component of velocity to be shown for the
current point or segment.
Data, Y Component Data

The Y component data option allows you to set the Y component of velocity to be shown for the
Data, Z Component Data

The Z component data option allows you to set the Z component of velocity to be shown for the
Data, Magnitude Data

The Magnitude Data option allows you to set the magnitude of velocity to be shown for the
Data, Export to File

The Export to file option allows you to create text files of the critical variables shown in HA.
These text files can be read into spreadsheet software for further analysis.
Data, Smooth
The Smooth option allows you to set the smoothing factor for the KA3D data used within HA.
The HA hand force data is also influenced by changes in smoothing factor (i.e., force is a function
of velocity squared in swimming propulsion).
View, Video Update On / Off toggle

The Video Update toggle turns on and off the continuous display of video during forward and
backward animation of stick figures. This menu option is equivalent to the QwkPic check box in
the right side controls.
View, Stick Figure Quality / Speed toggle

The Stick Figure Quality / Speed toggle turns on and off “fast” display of wire frame diagrams.
This menu option is equivalent to the QwkStk check box in the right side controls.
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View, Compare Mode

The Compare Mode menu option allows you to set side view and front video images to be
displayed in file compare mode. This menu option also allows you to re-display the front view
wire frame diagrams.
View, File Info
The File info option causes the KA3D file information to be shown in the lower left viewport.
View, Quick Pick Viewport
The Quick Pick Viewport opion allows you to redisplay the quick pick viewport in the lower left
viewport. (The quick pick viewport information is removed when the File Info option is used).
View, Zoom
The Zoom option allows you to zoom any graphics viewport to full window size.
View, Set HHH x VVV
This Set command sets the HA program window size to the specified horizontal / vertical
resolution.
View, Image Resize
The Image Resize option allows you to change the size of video images to match the viewport
size in HA.
View, Refresh
The Refresh option refreshes the screen contents in HA.
View, AutoRedraw Toggle

The AutoRedraw toggle allows you turn on and off the AutoRedraw option. This option is
normally turned on. When AutoRedraw is turned off, the program displays data more quickly but
the contents of the program window are not automatically updated if the HA window is
minimized and restored to its normal size.
Help, Show Help
The Show Help command shows HA help information on the left column of the program
window.
Help, Hide Help
The Hide Help command removes the Help information and re-displays the normal HA screen.
Help, About HA
The About HA command displays the program version and author.
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Chapter 13 - The VecCalc Program
Introduction
VecCalc is designed to simplify the process of vector algebra calculations. VecCalc can be used
like a specialized hand calculator to compute a wide variety of vector operations. Simply enter the
“given” vector information into spreadsheet like cells and then enter vector equations to
manipulate the data. The results of each vector operation are displayed numerically and
graphically to assist you with the problems of 3D visualization. VecCalc can also be used to
import data from the KA software 3D data files (typically position vector or velocity vector
information). This import facility greatly simplifies data entry – instead of writing down numbers
and typing them into the computer, you read the numbers from disk files. As a result, VecCalc
will help you to check your homework problems (it never makes mathematical errors) and it can
be used to compute custom calculations on your video data for use in your research work.
Double click on the VecCalc icon (or click on Start, KAVideo, VecCalc) to run the software. If
your PC is set for 800x600 resolution or higher, a screen similar to the following appears (if you
are using 640x480 resolution, the help and graphics viewports will not be shown):
The spreadsheet like table on the left side of the screen is used to hold all vector data. This data
can be manually entered from the keyboard, imported from KA3D or computed through VecCalc
operations. The Vector Name and Operation text boxes (middle / right side of the screen) is used
to enter vector equations. Legal vector operations are shown in the middle / right section of the
screen.
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VecCalc
Vector data entry is performed on the left side of the screen and vector calculation are conducted
on the right side. You may switch between the two sides by clicking the mouse on the vector data
grid or in the Vector Name text box.
Data Entry Example
Data entry normally begins in the vector data grid. To enter vector data simply type the vector
name, followed by the vector component data in the appropriate columns. The selected vector
names must be unique and they must also fit within the width of the vector grid column. Note that
VecCalc is not sensitive to case in variable names. Thus the vector names “EW” and “ew” are
identical in VecCalc operations. Vector names must contain only letters and numbers – spaces
and special punctuation are not permitted. Do not enter more than one instance of a vector or
variable name within VecCalc.
The calculation of a 3D elbow angle provides a good illustration of how VecCalc works. In the
following example, we will enter wrist, elbow, and shoulder position vector information from the
keyboard and then perform a series of vector operations to compute the elbow angle. To enter the
position vector for a wrist point, position the cursor in row 1, VectorName cell and type:
W (the Wrist point vector name); press <right arrow> twice to move to the Vx field; enter:
6.58 (the X component of the W vector); press <right arrow> three times to move to the next
field; enter:
7.11 (the Y component); press <right arrow three times>; enter:
4.00 (the Z component).
The VecCalc screen shows the vector information in row 1:
W = 6.580 i + 7.110 j + 4.000 k
Enter the following Elbow and Shoulder data to complete initial data entry:
E = 6.29 i + 6.65 j + 2.82 k

S = 7.03 i + 6.68 j + 3.38 k
To compute the elbow angle we must now define the forearm and upperarm vectors, determine
their unit vectors and then compute the dot product of the unit vectors. To compute the forearm
(EW) vector, click in the VectorName text box and enter the text “EW”. Press <Tab> to move to
the Operation text box and enter the equation: “W – E” (leave a space before and after the minus
sign). Click on the Compute button; the screen changes to show the displacement vector
graphically:
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VecCalc
The numerical result of the operation “EW = W - E” is listed on the left side of the screen. This
EW vector is now “known” by the program and can be used in subsequent calculations.
Next, compute the displacement vector “ES” with the operation “S - E”.
To compute the magnitude of EW, enter a magnitude name in the VectorName text box:
“EWmag” (any meaningful name will do). In the Operation text box, enter “MAG EW”. The
screen changes as follows:
Notice that the magnitude value is now shown on the lower left side of the screen. This value is
now available for use in subsequent calculations. The ESmag value can be computed with the
same procedure.
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VecCalc
The unit vector “EWu” is computed with the following operation “EW / EWmag”:
The ESu vector is computed with a similar operation.
The numeric value (magnitude) of the EWu and ESu dot product is computed as follows:
DotProd EWu . ESu
Note that the dot product operation is denoted by a period character “.” in the operation field.
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VecCalc
Given the value of the dot product (in the Magnitude data section of the screen), the angle
between the EW and ES vectors can be computed with the following operation:
Angle COS-1 DotProd
The angle is computed as 42.5 degrees.
The work for this problem can be saved on disk with the File, Save command. The window can
be captured in graphic mode with the <Alt-PrtSc> keystroke.
Supported Operations
The Legal Operations section of the screen shows the syntax of VecCalc supported vector
operations. The red operation characters must be entered in the Operation text box exactly as
shown. The vector names that are included in the operation can be any vector name from the
vector data grid (on the left side of the screen). Thus, the operation A x B will produce the vector
cross product of A and B. Note that the vector operation character must be separated from the
vector names by a blank space on both sides. The following characters are legal operations:
+ (addition)
- (subtraction)
. (dot product - the period character)
x (cross product)
/ (division of a vector by a scalar)
* (multiplication of a vector by a scalar)
P2P (project to plane)
Mag (Magnitude - returns a scalar)
Angle (the angle between two vectors)
Unitvec (returns the unit vector of a vector)
Cos-1 (returns the angle for a Cos value)
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VecCalc
A few of the above vector operations require further explanation. The P2P operation projects the
first vector onto the plane defined by the second vector. For example, the entry “ForearmP =
Forearm P2P Upperarm” will compute the ForearmP vector by projecting the Forearm vector
onto the plane defined by the Upperarm vector.
The ANGLE operation computes the angle (in degrees) between any two vectors. This function
does not need to have unit vectors for input.
The Cos-1 operation is typically used to convert the result of a unit vector dot product calculation
to an angle value (in degrees).
File Import
The File, Import menu option will lead you through the process of inserting vector data from a
KA3D file into VecCalc. Information can be retrieved from any K3D file and inserted in the
vector data grid. The following types of vectors can be imported:
Position
Velocity
Acceleration
Angular Velocity
Angular Acceleration
To import data from a KA3D file, activate the File, Import menu item (or press <Ctrl-I>). You
are prompted to select the file name for data import:
Vector data can be imported from only one file at a time. Next select the vector category for
import:
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VecCalc
Once a vector category is selected, one or more points / segments can be set for use in the import
operation:
Click on the single point / segment or Control Click on any multiple points / segments for use in
the import operation. Next you must specify the frame number for the vector import:
Move the mouse into one of the stick figure picture boxes and hold the left button down to
advance the stick figures forward; hold the right button down to move the stick figures back.
Right or left click the Step button to step one frame at a time forward and back. When the needed
frame is shown, click the Accept button to set the frame for import.
The resulting vector(s) are then imported into the vector data grid. The names for these vectors
are assigned as abbreviations of the point / segment name where only the upper case characters
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VecCalc
are used. Click on the Display Operations option button to see extended information on each
imported vector.
ShowGraph
The ShowGraph button allows you to display the graphic for any vector or magnitude value
shown on the screen. To select a vector for display, click on its row in the vector data grid and
then click the ShowGraph button. Magnitude information is shown with the same procedure.
Click on the Display Operations option button to show the vector equations that are used with the
graphical vector display.
Remove Vector / Remove Magnitude
Any vector or magnitude shown in the data grids may be removed from your file with the
Remove… buttons. Click the mouse on a vector / magnitude to be removed and then click the
appropriate Remove button.
Advanced Features
The following screen shows the VecCalc data for an advanced problem. This example illustrates
the calculation procedure for shoulder external rotation in a tennis serve motion. It should be
noted that none of the vector data shown in the data grid was entered from the keyboard. Every
value on the grid was either imported from KA3D or calculated in VecCalc.
To see the operations that were used to determine each vector in the data grid, click the
Operations option button:
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VecCalc
The vector operations history provides a “script” of vector operations for solving quantitative
analysis problems. The above figure shows the steps involved in computing the shoulder external
rotation angle for a tennis serve. The first 6 vectors were imported from the KA-3D data file (for
the frame with the most extreme external rotation position). The vector names were assigned by
the VecCalc program:
RW - right wrist RH - right hip

RE - right elbow LH - left hip
RS - right shoulder LS - left shoulder
The EW (right forearm, from elbow to wrist) and SE (right upperarm, from shoulder to elbow)
are computed as displacement vectors.
The LRS vector is the left side - right side - shoulder line vector (RS - LS).
The HMP2 vector is the vector addition of the RH and LH position vectors.
The HMP vector (the HMP2 vector divided by 2) gives the midpoint position vector of the hip
line mid point.
The SMP (shoulder line mid point position vector) is computed with an analogous procedure.
The trunk midline vector TR is then computed as the displacement vector between the shoulder
line mid point position vector and the hip mid point position vector.
The body frontal axis (a line pointing straight out of the chest) is computed as the cross product of
the TR and LRS vectors.
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VecCalc
The shoulder external rotation angle is computed with the procedures outlined in Sakurai et al.
(Sakurai, S., Igegami, Y., Okamoto, A., Yabe, K., Toyoshima, S., 1993. A Three Dimensional
Cinematographic Analysis of Upper Limb Movement During Fastball and Curveball Baseball
Pitches. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, Human Kinetics Publishers Inc., 9, 47-65):
The frontal axis vector is projected onto the plane of the upper arm: FRP = FR P2P SE
The forearm vector is projected onto the plane of the upper arm: EWP = EW P2P SE
Finally, the external rotation angle is set as the angle between the FRP and EWP vectors.
The vector equations used in the calculation of swimming hand angle of pitch (see Schleihauf et
al, 1983) (Schleihauf, R., Gray, L., and DeRose, J., 1983. Three Dimensional Analysis of Hand
Propulsion in the Sprint Front Crawlstroke. Swimming IV: Proceedings of the fourth international
symposium of biomechanics in swimming. Human Kinetics Publishers.) are shown below:
The position vectors were entered via the import function (Ctrl-I). The fingertip velocity vector
was entered through as second import session (with Velocity vectors set for import).
For this data the hand plane vector (aimed straight up from the back of the hand) is set as the
cross product of the hand long axis and hand transverse axis vectors. The angle of pitch plus 90
degrees is then set as the angle between the hand velocity vector (estimated as equal to the
fingertip velocity) and the hand plane vector.
Conclusions
Our discussion of the VecCalc software is now complete. It is hoped that you will be able to
make use of VecCalc for both Biomechanical Analysis homework assignments and advanced
KA3D data analysis.
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Chapter 14 – KA Utility Programs
Introduction
The KA software includes a number of utility programs that are designed to be run in “Stand alone”
mode. Each program can be run by double-clicking on its EXE file from within Windows Explorer. A
summary of the features of each program is provided below.
KAVideo
TimeCode
The KA7\KAVideo folder includes the utility program file TimeCode.exe. This program can be used to
determine the start and end time codes for a set of front and side view video clips when the sync event for
the trials is located several minutes (or more) from the trials. The TimeCode program window appears as
follows:
If sync events are not recorded at nearly the same time as the video trials for a 3D trial, it will be awkward
to determine the start and end time codes for the front and side view trials with the KAVideo Prep
program. For example, when data is collected at a swimming pool it is often convenient to turn the
cameras on, place them underwater and then record only one or two sync events (at the beginning and at
the end of the tapes). The front view trials for the video will display numerous strokes of the swimmer
approaching the camera, but only one of those strokes will be synchronized with the singe side view trial
arm stroke that is seen by the side view camera. Because it is inconvenient to throw golf ball sync event
markers into the water repeatedly as the swimmer swims by, the normal KAVideo Prep program may
require you to capture minutes of video in order to isolate the sync event and the movement trial in a
single AVI video clip. To side step this problem, read the sync event time code from both the front and
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KA Utility Programs
side view trials (as shown on Studio DV program screen) and enter this information into the Sync event
fields of the program. Then read the start and end time codes from your preferred side view trial. Finally,
run the TimeCode program to determine the synchronized front view arm pull start and end time codes.
KA2D
FixTreadMill
The KA7\KA2D folder includes the utility program file FixTreadMill.exe. This program processes
“stationary” treadmill running data and converts it to “over-ground” running data. A file containing the
treadmill speed must be available in order for this program to make this conversion. The FixTreadMill
program must read the treadmill speed from a file in the KA7\KA2D\YourWorkGroup folder. This file
must be named: YourBaseFileName.TDM. Thus, if you are processing the file JSRun.K2D, you must
create a file JSRun.TDM and store that file in your workgroup folder. The TDM file must be created with
NotePad (it must be pure text) and it must have only one line of information. The first and only line in
this file must hold the treadmill speed value (expressed in meters per second).
If you are uncertain of the exact treadmill speed, check the heel point velocity value during the time
period when the foot is flat on the treadmill. This velocity must equal the treadmill speed if your scale
factor has been entered properly.
The FixTreadMill program reads the information from the “stationary running” K2D file and regenerates
a new K2D file with all points adjusted to create an equivalent “over-ground” running file. The new K2D
file will write on top of (and remove) the original “stationary running” K2D file. If the new K2D file is
not properly processed (i.e., if the wrong treadmill speed is stored in the TDM file) you will need to use
the KAVideo program to regenerate the file (run the KAVideo, DG option and elect to re-digitize the
scale pole information; this will create a new stationary running file).
When the new “over-ground running” K2D file is created, it can be used with both the KA2D and the
JtCalc program for data analysis. This new data will be equivalent to data collected with a stationary
camera and a moving runner passing by the camera. (Technically, the data is equivalent to “moving
runner” data with a tail wind equal to the runner’s speed. Further, the movement data will only be truly
equivalent if the runner has fully accommodated to running on the treadmill device.)
A screen shot of KA2D data that has been processed by the FixTreadMill program is provided below:
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KA Utility Programs
Notice that the CG pattern of motion shows over-ground running data. This data can be used to determine
measures of the runner’s stride length and other over-ground running measures.
RLSwap
The KA7\KA2D folder includes the utility program file RLSwap.exe. This file is used to swap the names
of all of the body’s right side landmark points re-label them as left side. Similarly, all left side body points
are re-labeled as right side points. This utility file is often helpful in laterality studies where the right arm
motion of a throwing performer is compared to his/her left arm throw data. KA does not support the
comparison of different points in file compare mode (the right wrist data for trail one can only be
compared to the right wrist data for trail two). The RLSwap program will not be necessary if all student
researchers are informed that during the digitizing process, the “R” landmark points refer to the
“Throwing / kicking side of the body” for both the right handed and left handed throwing / kicking
motions.
FlipX
The KA7\KA2D folder includes the utility program file FlipX.exe. This program converts KA2D stick
figure data to reverse the direction of motion. Thus, if the runner in the video proceeds from right to left
across the screen, the stick figure will as well. The FlipX program is used to convert the runner’s stick
figure to left to right motion. This left to right direction of motion in side view data is required for proper
calculation of measures in the JtCalc software and for proper joint angle data in KA2D. Note: the FlipX
program will not be necessary if the Mirror option is used in the KAVideo, Process, Edit menu before
digitizing is begun. Be aware that if the Mirror option is used for the side view of a 3D trial, it must also
be used on the Front view data (otherwise the 3D perspective correction will be incorrect).
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KA Utility Programs
KA3D
Distance
The KA7\KA3D folder includes the utility program file Distance.exe. This file allows you to compare
known distances to computed distances from KA3D data files. This program was written as part of a
KAVideo validation project. The screen output of the KA3D and Distance program with data from the
validation project is shown below:
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KA Utility Programs
The known length of a segment on the DLT frame is shown by the red horizontal line in the graph. The
measures of the segment length as computed from the KA3D data are shown by the blue line.
MakeK2D
The KA7\KA3D folder includes the utility program file MakeK2D.exe. This program will generate front,
side and overhead view KA2D files for any KA3D file. The front and side view K2D files will be similar
to, but not identical to the original side and front view files. The new files will be “perspective corrected”
and will appear nearly identical to data collected with a very long telephoto lens from a very long camera
distance. The overhead view K2D file produced by MakeK2D will allow user’s to use the KA2D program
measures to determine information on pure (or nearly pure) horizontal plane movements. For example, in
a baseball batting study, a “Trunk-Twist” joint can be set (in the project file) as the angle between the
shoulder line and hip line as projected onto the horizontal plane. This joint angle will provide interesting
data within the KA2D overhead view file. Note: the same joint angle data in the KA3D program will
measure “shoulder shrug” movements as well as trunk twist movements. More exact measures of trunk
twist can be determined from the KA3D data with the VecCalc software. However, the overhead view 2D
data will provide “quick and dirty” data that is sufficient for many undergraduate level pilot studies.
MakeK3X
The KA7\KA3D folder includes the MakeK3X.exe utility program. This program is designed to work in
conjunction with the ReadK3X.doc Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) program. The MakeK3X
program creates ASCII format KA3D data files for use with custom written data analysis software. See
chapter 12 in the Quantitative Analysis of Human Movement textbook / QHMViewer software for
detailed examples of how K3X format data files can be used in extended data analysis projects.
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KA Utility Programs
Conclusions
The KA Utility programs provide quick solutions to problems that occur infrequently within video
analysis projects. As a result, these programs do not belong within the main program menu structures.
They can be accessed, as needed, from Windows Explorer.
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Appendix A - Video Setup Laboratory
These laboratory instructions define the tripod adjustments needed to collect video data.
Additional information on video camera adjustments is on a separate sheet (different lab groups
will use different cameras). Be sure to read the camera instruction sheet carefully before you
begin work on the video setup lab itself.
Careful adjustments to your tripod are necessary to assure that your video will provide accurate
measures from your movement trials. In particular, the line of site of your camera must be
exactly aligned with predefined planes (typically the side view and front view planes) of motion.
The following paragraphs define each step of a typical tripod setup procedure. We will discuss
both the steps needed to complete this laboratory and also mention details relevant to video data
collection in general.
Step 1: Set tripod leg length and tripod height
Place your tripod at one of the designated spots in the lab. Your group will be assigned to a given
camera; that camera’s tripod is indicated by a red triangle on the movement lab plan below. The
targeting tripod for your camera is shown as a black triangle.
The camera height should be set as the mid-point of the vertical range of motion of the
movement. Thus, the camera height should be set as 3 feet for a study of a 6 foot tall runner. A
“taller” motion such as a tennis serve will require a camera height of about 5 feet. The goal of a
well framed video shot is to have equal margin areas just above the highest point in the
movement (the tennis racket head at ball impact) and the lowest point (the feet at ground level):
Page Appendix B-1

Panasonic Camera Setup
For this exercise, we will assume that we are collecting data for a throwing motion by a tall
participant. Adjust the leg length and leg angles of the tripod to set the camera height as
approximately 4 feet:
The above figure shows a tripod with the legs set as “short” but with small leg angles. This
configuration takes up very little floor space at the expense of tripod stability (use a wider leg
angle and longer legs if plenty of space is available; use leg angles similar to those shown in the
figure for this lab). Note also that the tripod center post is all the way down in the above figure (it
can be “cranked” up with the crank just above the right tripod leg). If you have a tall and a short
participant, you should set the tripod up to match the midpoint of the movement height for the
shorter participant. Then, when data is collected for the taller participant, simply crank the center
post up (but leave the other camera adjustments alone).
Make sure that the leg lengths are exactly equal - if necessary, fold the legs all the way in and
verify that the tripod can stand on its own as a very slender column.
Set the legs all at the same angle; this will cause the tripod platform and camera to be level. Use
the tripod leg bubble level to verify that the leg angles are set properly:
Page Appendix B-2

Panasonic Camera SetUp
Lock all three leg spreader lock knobs to assure that the leg angles will not change:
Step 2: Fix camera to Quick Release Plate
Remove the camera quick release plate:
Page Apendix A-3

Use your left hand (as shown) to push the short lever (1) in with your thumb and then pull the
long lever (2) with your index finger. The quick release plate will pop up 1/8th inch and be easily
removed:
Place the camera upside down on a padded surface. Note that a tripod screw socket is located near
the center of the camera base:
Page Appendix B-4

Place the quick release plate over the camera bottom and align the tripod screw with the tripod
screw socket. Firmly screw the tripod screw into its socket and align the hexagon shaped base so
that the front side edge is parallel to the plane of the camera lens:
Step 3: Set Camera and Quick Release Plate on Tripod
Note that the tripod head has two beveled guides that allow the quick release plate to fit onto the
tripod like a “foot” in a “shoe”. In addition, when the quick release plate is pressed into place, a
brass button at the rear of the tripod head clicks down and a cam rotates to lock the quick release
plate onto the tripod.
Position the camera over the tripod so that the quick release plate is centered over the circular
opening in the tripod head:
Page Apendix A-5

Slide the beveled edges of the quick release plate into the guides on the tripod head. Press the
camera down so that the brass button is depressed and the tripod head cam locks in place:
Verify that the camera is actually securely placed on the tripod. Hold the camera with both hands
and try to lift it off the tripod – if it moves at all, repeat the above steps.
Step 4: Make basic adjustments to the tripod for Tilt and Twist
Adjust the tripod tilt control to cause the bubble level to center. Rotate the tilt control handle
clockwise to lock this adjustment in place:
Page Appendix B-6

Adjust the tripod twist control to level the camera as seen from the front (rotate the camera about
the lens long axis). Verify that the bubble level is centered and lock the twist control knob.
Step 5: Set Camera / Make fine adjustments to the tripod for Pan, Tilt and Twist
You are now ready to set the camera for video data collection. As a first step, we will prepare the
camera for a two dimensional – side view video analysis project.
Video data can be collected in the laboratory or in the field provided a few simple guidelines are
followed. First, the camcorder must be carefully aligned and held fixed (on a tripod) during the
recording of all trials. If your project proposes to collect side view data, some care should be
taken to assure that the camera optical axis is aligned at right angles to the participant’s direction
of progress. Often the camera line of sight can be set with the aid of floor marking (in the gym) or
even with the aid of tile lines on a tiled floor. Tape markings should be placed on the floor to
mark the beginning and ending points of the subject's line of progression, the center of field of
view, and the midpoint beneath the legs of the camera tripod.
Page Apendix A-7

For this lab exercise, we will use a targeting tripod to help us to align the camera. The targeting
tripod will be placed at the center of field of view (the dot at the point of intersection of the “side
view camera line of sight” and the “movement line of progress” as shown below:
The height of the targeting tripod must be set to match the camera height. To do this, place the
camera and targeting tripod “nose to nose”:
Set the targeting tripod about the same as the camera tripod and lock its leg lengths; set the leg
angles as wide as possible. To assure that the targeting tripod platform is exactly at the same
height as the center of the camera lens, inspect the image in the camera viewfinder and shift the
targeting tripod center post up and down until it is exactly in the middle of the vertical field of
view:
Page Appendix B-8

Note: DO NOT adjust the camera tripod tilt mechanism to cause the targeting tripod platform to
become centered. Adjust the height of the targeting tripod center post only. When the targeting
tripod height is set, lock the center post and tripod legs. Then place the two tripods up for side
view 2D data collection in the spots designated in the lab. The marks on the lab floor have been
set to allow “pure” side view data to be collected. Be sure to put the camera tripod at the camera
location X mark with the front leg pointing toward the center of view mark. A typical camera
tripod / targeting tripod arrangement is shown below:
Note that the camera line of sight as shown in the above figure is exactly at right angles to the line
of motion (and the side wall / side view plane). However, depending upon the pan, tilt and twist
tripod adjustment, the actual camera line of sight may be incorrect. To verify that the camera line
of sight is correct, inspect the camera viewfinder. You will most likely see an image similar to the
following, out of focus picture:
Page Apendix A-9

Use the camera focus control (see the camera control instruction sheet) to bring the image of the
targeting tripod into sharp focus:
Note that the center post of the targeting tripod is not centered in the viewfinder. It is important to
note that even though the camera tripod is placed on the correct mark, the camera may still not be
aimed straight at the side wall. Use the tripod pan control to shift the camera line of sight until
the targeting tripod is centered. Observe the location of the targeting tripod center post; when it is
as close as possible to centered, lock the tripod pan control and verify that the camera tripod
center post lock is also firmly set.
Page Appendix B-10

The above image is centered horizontally, but it is not centered vertically. Use the camera tilt
control to angle the camera up / down. When the targeting tripod platform is in the middle of the
vertical field of view, lock the tripod tilt control:
One more tripod adjustment is necessary. Zoom the camera image back and look for a vertical or
horizontal line in the background of the image (if none are visible, have a researcher hold a scale
pole in an exactly vertical position). The following figure shows a badly misaligned camera. Note
that the horizontal electrical conduit on the upper part of the back wall does not appear to be
horizontal:
Use the camera twist control to cause the horizontal line in the background to be parallel to the
top edge of the viewfinder LCD panel:
Page Apendix A-11

As a final check, zoom the camera back in on the targeting tripod platform and verify that the pan
and tilt adjustments are still good (make fine adjustments as necessary).
The side view camera is now ready for data collection. The zoom lens can be changed to fit the
participant and movement on any trial. The camera height can also be adjusted to accommodate
tall and short participants. However, be sure to record the scale pole before and after any change
in zoom is made. If a participant / movement does not appear well centered in the viewfinder,
have the participant change the starting position of the movement. Most important, DO NOT
change the tilt or pan of the camera tripod to cause a performer / movement to be better centered
– this would cause your “side view” to become a diagonal side view and would result in distorted
measurements from the video data.
Step 6: Shoot Video / Test Shutter Speed Settings
Collect Video data trial 1 - Set the shutter for 1/60th second (see the camera settings instruction
sheet for your camera). Have a researcher stand on the left side of the camera’s view and perform
one or more practice arm swings (the arm swing should be centered over the center of field of
view marker). Adjust the zoom to assure that arm is well seen - make sure that the zoom setting
is not too wide (do not waste pixels).
For the Sony and Canon DV camcorders: Be sure to include at least 30 seconds of background
video on the tape before you capture the first “real” trial. After all video trials have been shot,
record another 30 seconds of background video on the tape. This extra video footage will make it
easy for you to capture the “real” video trials on your PC.
For the Casio camera: No extra before / after video recording is necessary.
For all cameras: Record a 20 second video of several “karate chops”. To start recording, press the
record/shutter button once. To end recording, press the record/shutter button a second time.
Collect Video data trial 2 - Set the shutter speed to 1/500th for the second trial. Record a second
trial of video that is at least 20 seconds long. For the Sony and Canon DV cameras, be sure to
include at least 30 seconds of background video after the second trial is complete.
Follow the steps on the camera settings instruction sheet to transfer the recorded video
information to a PC in the lab.
Page Appendix B-12

Step 7: Video Inspection
Inspect the two video trials separately and note the differences in the images when the arm is
moving rapidly during the karate chop motions. Answer the questions:
How does the shutter speed (zero, 1/500th) affect the quality of the video for capturing fast
motions?
Answer: A zero shutter speed results in motion blur and video data that cannot be analyzed.
The 1/500th shutter speed shows sharp still frame images that can be analyzed easily.
How does the shutter speed influence the brightness of the shot?
Answer: Yes, a faster shutter speed causes less light to “expose” the video image and results in
darker images.
What would be the best way to get bright sharp shots of video data?
Answer: Use a fast shutter speed and add supplemental lighting.
Advanced issues
If your video collection area does not have lines on the floor (i.e., a Gym or a tiled floor) it may
be necessary to use the Stanley 5 beam laser level (or similar device) to assure that your cameras
are aligned at right angles (in a 2D project the laser level can also be used to assure that a pure
side view (with the camera optical axis intersecting the participant line of motion at right angle) is
used for data collection.
Place the laser level at the center of field of view and align two lasers with the line of progress. In
a rectangular room, you can place targets on the front and back walls to aid in defining a line of
progress that is exactly parallel to the side wall. For example, assuming that the center of field of
view mark is 10 feet away from the side wall, place a mark on the front wall (3” off the ground, at
the height of the laser line) 10 feet from the front left corner of the room. Then place a mark on
the rear wall (3” off the ground, at the height of the laser line) 10 feet from the rear left corner of
the room.
Rotate / shift the laser level until the laser dots strike the front and rear wall marks. The laser line
now defines the line of progress. This line could be used to position a align a treadmill with the
room side wall (shift the front and back of the treadmill sideways until the front of the treadmill
and rear of the treadmill are exactly the same distance from the laser line.
Page Apendix A-13

Use the third laser (at right angles to the line of sight laser lines) to define the location of the side
view camera tripod. Note that even if the tripod center post is exactly on pure side view line, you
still must adjust for pan, tilt and twist as described above.
Page Appendix B-14

Appendix B – Panasonic HD Setup Guide
1) Turn on camera.
Swing the LCD viewfinder door out to turn on the camera.
2) Set Shutter Speed:

Push the LCD screen graphical dial right arrow button to cause the menu options to appear on the
screen. Press the shutter (SHTR) button within 5 seconds to see the shutter speed selection
graphic.
Press the shutter control graphic right arrow to increase the shutter speed. Press the shutter control
graphic left arrow to decrease the shutter speed.
Page Appendix B-1

4) Set Focus:
screen. Press the FOCUS button within 5 seconds to see the focus selection graphic.
Press the auto-focus (AF) button to temporarily turn on auto-focus. Aim the camera at the
targeting tripod to get an approximate sharp focus.
screen. Press the FOCUS button within 5 seconds to see the focus selection graphic.
Press the manual-focus (MF) button to turn on manual-focus mode. Aim the camera at the
targeting tripod, zoom in as much as possible, and rotate the lens barrel ring (at the front of the
camera) to get an exact sharp focus.
Page Appendix B-2

5) Record video:
Set the camera zoom to fit the movement size. Press the Record button to start recording.
Page Apendix A-3

Press the Record button again when the movement is complete to stop recording.
6) Transfer video data to a PC via USB cable:

Turn on your PC. Open the USB connection door to gain access to the USB port:
Plug the small USB connector into the camera. Plug the large USB connector into your PC.
The camcorder will detect the connection and the LCD screen will prompt you to select output to
a PC or a Recorder. Press the PC graphical button to connect to the PC.
Page Appendix B-4

An AutoPlay dialog box may be shown on your PC screen. If so, select the “Open Folder to View
Files” option from the dialog box:
Windows Explorer will show that both a “CAM_MEM” and a “Removable Disk” device are
available:
Double click on the CAM_MEM device and navigate to the \AVCHD\BDMV\STREAM folder:
Page Apendix A-5

 Note that the files are already sorted by date. Click on the first file from your video
session (use the date and time information to distinguish your files from others on the
SD card). Shift-click on the last file from your session.
Press <Ctrl-C> to copy the selected files to the clipboard buffer. Use Windows Explorer to
display the contents of your target AVI folder. In this example, the D:\AVI\A680 folder is being
used. Press <Ctrl-V> to paste the video files to your PC’s hard drive:
Page Appendix B-6

 Use the Windows Remove Hardware option to disconnect the camcorder from the PC:
 Close the LCD viewfinder door to turn off the camcorder.

 Use the Windows, Start, Programs command to run the Pazera Free MP4 to AVI
program.
Page Apendix A-7

 Click the Add Files toolbar button, navigate to the D:\AVI\A680 folder, set the “Files of
type” pull down list option to “All video files” and select the MTS file to be converted.
The following figure shows the resulting MP4 to AVI screen:
 Click the Open button to add the files to the MP4 to AVI main window.
 Leave the default processing options as shown below. Click the CONVERT toolbar
button to begin the conversion process.
Page Appendix B-8

 Click the Close button and exit from the MP4 to AVI program when the conversion is
complete.
 Note that the newly created AVI files have the same base file name as the original MTS
files:
The newly converted AVI file will be compatible with KA and Windows Media Player. Double
click on each AVI file to view the video in Media Player.
Page Apendix A-9

 Run KAVideo. Use the File, Open Image Set menu option to load the TutorS file from
the A680 workgroup (this will set A680 as the default workgroup for future program
operations).
 Click the AVI#1 toolbar button.
 Load and inspect the first trial. Be sure to step forward one frame at a time during the
fast part of the arm swing movement. Use the Load AVI#1 button to load the second
(1/500th second shutter) trial. Inspect this trial in frame by frame motion.
Answer the questions on the Video Setup Lab sheet.
Page Appendix B-10

Appendix C – Pazera Free Software Installation
The Pazera Free MP4 to AVI converter program. This program is readily available for download
from:
http://www.pazera-software.com/products/mp4-to-avi-converter/
(or Google: pazera free mp4 to avi)
Note: During this download and install procedure be careful to install only the Pazera software.
During my tests, sometimes the installation attempts to have you install “bonus” software that
you do not want. At other times the installation installs only the Pazera software (and no tricks are
involved). To avoid potential annoyance, remember to accept the license agreement ONLY for
the Pazera software; choose to Decline the license agreement for any other software that may in
included within the installation procedure.
 Click the Green Download button at the upper right corner of the window. Do not click the
advertisement for a different program that is centered on the screen below the download
button.
 Click “Save File” to begin the download:
 Use Windows Explorer to navigate to your C:\Users\UserName\Downloads folder.

 Double click on the “Pazera_Free_MP4_to_AVI_Converter.exe” file.
 Click Run to begin the installation:
Page Appendix C-1

MP4 to AVI Conversion
 Click Yes to allow changes to be made to your computer.

 Click OK to accept the language for installation:
 Click Next to continue.

 Click the “accept” option to accept the Pazera License Agreement.
 Click Next four times to accept installation defaults.
 Click Install:
Page Appendix C-2

 Click Finish to complete the installation:
Page Apendix C-3

Page Appendix C-4

Kinematic Analysis Software

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Kinematic Analysis Software

Version 7.2 – for HDV Flash card video cameras

PREFACE ...................................................................................................... VII

The software can be used in two ways:

 To acquire / process original video data; i.e., on a school laboratory PC.

A listing of the software / hardware requirements is as follows:

School Lab Image Capture Station PC:

School Satellite PC / Student Home PC:

The software includes 3 main modules:

KAVideo Software Installation

The instructions below detail the installation procedure:

To install the KAVideo program, do the following:

a) Use Windows Explorer to show the contents of your DVD-Rom drive.

Manual Installation of Selected KA Example File Image Sets

 Put the KAVideo DVD-Rom disk in your DVD drive.

KAVideo Setup Troubleshooting Guide

Problems with Windows XP and Limited User Accounts

KAVideo Installation Issues

Change a Limited User Account to an Administrative Account in XP

Log on in administrative account (the account of the primary computer user)

1) Record Video of movement trials

2) Capture video clips of movement trials on the PC

3) Create a KA Project Definition file

4) Create a KA Image Set

5) Digitize (determine XY coordinates for body landmarks) the captured trials

6) Analyze the resulting kinematic data

Joint Torque Calculation (JtCalc software)

Hydrodynamic Analysis (HA software)

KAVideo Program Operations

Main Toolbar Options

Video Data Review Toolbar Options

Program Launch Toolbar Options

The Exit option is used to end work with KAVideo.

Open - Loads an image set for display.

Run KA2D - Launches the KA2D program file.

Run KA3D - Launches the KA3D program file.

Exit - Ends the KAVideo program.

View Image Set - Loads an image set for display.

View AVI File - Loads an Avi file for display.

KA Program File Types and Folders

Video Tape Data Collection Procedures

Camera Set up for 2D Data

See Appendix A for details.

Camera Set Up for Front / Side View Data

Video Collection for Rotated Reference Data

3D Time Synchronization Information

Subject Markings / Background Coloring

Video Day Adjustments

“One” – if a camera person is not ready he would let it be known now;

 A separate sync event may be necessary.

Note that KA supports only “standard” HDV and DV file formats:

 Normal NTSC DV – 720x480, 640x480

AVI File Basics

Interlaced AVI File Processing

An illustration of a single full frame of interlaced NTSC DV video is shown below:

Processing Video from HDV and HS Flash Memory Cameras

HD Video Processing Settings

Video File Management

To convert a camcorder video file to AVI format, do the following:

File Rename Procedure

 Use the New Folder button to create the Bkup folder.

 Sort the Explorer list by file type:

 Enter the base filename as “JSKickA1S”

AVI File Inspection within KAVideo