The Standard vicon.com/standard 2012 The Standard University of Southampton USING HOLLYWOOD TECHNOLOGY academics are pioneering a new way of using motion TO UNLOCK THE SECRET OF capture technology to examine the way pianists PIANIST’S SOUNDS play the piano. By using a unique kinematic measurement technique, known as HAWK (Hand and Wrist Kinematics), researchers will be able to look at individual pianists’ playing technique - giving an insight into the posture of their hands on the keys and the movements they use - hopefully showing how this translates into the unique sound they create. The research will also provide new information on musicians’ hand health, to combat wrist injury (for example, repetitive strain injury - a common problem for pianists). The project is being led by world- renowned pianist and University of Southampton Music Professor David Owen Norris and Health Sciences academic Dr. Cheryl Metcalf. Professor Norris can track the hand movements of pianists by using a 12 camera T-Series system and Nexus software from Vicon. Continued MOCAP IN EDUCATION SERKIS PICKS VICON QUANTIC DREAM STANDING ON TWO FEET University of Bradford Vicon + The Imaginarium Powered by Vicon Human Bipedalism 04 10 17 18 The Standard 2012 Vicon Life Science “The Vicon system is widely considered to be the industry gold standard. I have relied on the accuracy and reliability of the system to complement and facilitate the development of HAWK.” Credit Dr. Cheryl Metcalf, who designed, playing. Pianists could appear in It is hoped that the research can Courtesy of developed and validated the a dual archive of recordings and be further developed to build Southampton University HAWK technique, says, “Human HAWK films - we could hear the an archive of pianists playing hand function is fascinating sounds they make, and we could techniques, from music students when you think of the variety see exactly how they make them. to visiting concert pianists, with of tasks we perform every day. Our hope is that in just a few the hope of establishing how However, measuring human years this unique archive would technique affects sound and hand function is complex given acquire an international standing.” advice on how to avoid injury. the many different ways we Professor Norris and Dr. Metcalf can complete a task. Creativity Discover more. trialed this technique at the The Standard is fundamental to hand function youtube.com/ University’s Multidisciplinary vicon.com/standard watch?v=p and to self-expression. HAWK Research week earlier this year. VASKTF0YQw analysis will enable us to The resulting film is available on understand the biomechanics the University’s YouTube page. of how musicians achieve The Standard their unique expressions.” “The Vicon system is widely considered to be the industry Welcome to Vicon’s latest Professor Norris says, “It’s gold standard. The development edition of The Standard. This fascinating to watch pianists’ and validation of HAWK has been edition features a great mix hands. Audiences always want a complex process; HAWK is the of Life Science, Entertainment to see exactly what’s going on first kinematic technique and Engineering customer with those flashing fingers, and to measure all the composite stories that have caught our pianists look at hands too; we movements of the wrist, hand, attention and piqued our argue about the best ways to fingers, and thumb, and the interest in recent months. make certain sounds and we Vicon system has been an compare what different players do We hope you enjoy reading integral part of that process. We with their fingers and their wrists. about the amazing work have two Vicon systems at the your peers are developing! “When I saw how the system can University of Southampton, and analyze exactly what we’re doing I have relied on the accuracy Editorial Team: with our hands, I realized that we and reliability of the system to Hayley Roberts, Lindsay Haas could find the answers to some complement and facilitate Contact: fundamental questions by the development of HAWK.” [email protected] making an archive of piano- 02 The Standard vicon.com/standard Vicon Engineering QUEEN MARY STUDENT WINS MAJOR ENGINEERING AWARD Melissa Gabriel, a graduate the project have been taken up was certainly no exception of Queen Mary, University by urologists who worked with and we congratulate all of the of London (QMUL) has been the students on this project. competitors for their work and announced as the winner of in particular Melissa Gabriel for Dr. Tom Shannon, a judge at the her study.” the Vicon-sponsored category iMechE awards, and Founder and ‘Best Project Involving the Director at Vicon said, “Each year The presentation was followed Design or Development of a the judges’ task in choosing a by questions on the research Medical Device’ at the iMechE winner becomes ever more difficult from the judging panel made up awards. This prestigious due to the increasing quality and of healthcare professionals from international competition standard of the science and both academic and industrial attracts entries from all over engineering presented. This year organizations throughout the UK. the world and focuses on the Credit use of engineering principles Mel Gabriel (center) with Tom within healthcare research. Shannon from Vicon (left) and Gabriel presented to the judging Iain Charlton, Software Engineer panel her report, which described at Vicon and her MEng group design project in Competition collaboration with P&N Medical Chairman (right) Ltd. The project, titled “The Effect of Shockwave Lithotripsy on Encrusted Urological Stents”, investigated whether shock wave lithotripsy can safely and effectively be used to unblock urethral stents. The results of The Standard has always been specifically designed for motion COO NOTE a great way for us to share capture. Another product we’re Imogen Moorhouse and highlight the diverse really excited about is the Active Vicon Motion Systems range of applications that use Wand. Simultaneous optical and Vicon systems. video calibration makes another industry first for Vicon. From training the next generation of visual effects artists and We look forward to seeing you technicians to injury prevention in at our booth at the many pianists, our customers never fail international and national to push boundaries and surprise conferences we are attending and delight all of us here at Vicon this season where further with their ingenuity and ambition. product announcements will be made. From a product standpoint, the recently launched Bonita Video camera range is our first synchronized video platform 03 The Standard 2012 Vicon Entertainment PREPARING FOR INDUSTRY: MOCAP IN EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD Credit Courtesy of Bradford University The University of Bradford number of applicants. The Karl Abson, lecturer in Creative was one of the first Universities combined research-and Technology at the University of in the country to venture into industry-informed approach Bradford, says that practical the area of informatics and to teaching has been very experience is an important part computing. It’s courses in successful and beneficial of the program. He teaches a animation and visual effects to Bradford’s students with wide range of VFX subjects are especially pioneering, having world leading researchers including computer animation been created 10 years ago and and industry professionals and effects work, games, and always attracting a high teaching on its courses. interactive media. 04 The Standard vicon.com/standard Bradford University is proud to Info be the number one university for graduate employment in the north of England and number two in the UK. “Our ethos is to help students throughout their degree, I’m using the same technology immerse themselves in these academic skills, as well as behind some of the biggest films areas, and to encourage them a good level of knowledge in and games of the last 10 years is to contribute towards their own regards to the industry itself,” very inspiring!” advancement,” said Abson. “Our explained Abson. “This gives courses are heavily influenced by students the tools needed to Employment after graduation is industry, meaning that graduates successfully make informed very high on the agenda at Bradford. are fundamentally prepared for decisions which lead to a Many of its skilled graduates find the creative industries they wish successful career.” work across the creative industries to be involved in.” including the visual effects, The final year of all degrees games, and animation sectors. Exposing students to the same at Bradford is fundamentally In recent years motion capture technology used in industry concerned with applying the studios such as Centroid 3D, means they can hit the ground skills learned throughout the located at Pinewood Studios, and running. Modules include motion course to a real-world setting. Ninja Theory have been on the capture, facial modeling, animation, list of graduate destinations. lighting, and rendering. Abson said, “In our Design for Industry module, students work Ben Guthrie, Motion Capture “We actively update our directly for clients. Our Digital Supervisor at Framestore says, technology based on industry Media Working Academy also “Practical motion capture development,” explained Abson. reinforces this message through experience is a huge benefit to “Our software ranges from standard its search for commercial work, a potential hire. When browsing packages such as Autodesk which our students can apply CVs as an employer, someone Maya, Motion Builder, and for, giving them valuable with hands-on studio or post Mudbox to more specialist professional experience.” processing experience definitely packages such as Nuke, Zbrush, goes to the top of the list. It allows Unity, and CryEngine. We also Rebecca Leybourne, a student at the employee a chance to confirm invested in industry standard the University of Bradford said, that the industry is indeed for hardware, of which the most “Learning motion capture has them, and ensures that that they notable is our Vicon motion been a great way to really bring come to the job knowing enough capture system.” my animations to life.