Technology development for motor-control research

Scientific and technological progress have always been closely tied. Therefore, the rapid development of (information-)technology in the recent years has also shaped human movement science. To this end, an expanding pool of questions can now be empirically investigated with the help of innovative robotics and measurement systems, more powerful computers, higher-performance software solutions and advanced algorithms. At the same time, the greater complexity often associated with this new technology presents researchers with novel challenges in its application. By incorporating and designing new technologies, we have been able to develop and validate innovative yet user-friendly laboratory infrastructures (e.g., the Sensorimotor and the Behavior Lab), innovative experimental apparatuses (e.g., s-vis-mot), software systems (e.g., Streamix), and algorithms (e.g., Alsaaoud et al., 2017); for examples, see video below. With a high degree of abstraction and automation, these developments support high-quality – and simultaneously efficient – research designs in the field of perception-action coupling (Kredel et al. 2011; Kredel et al., 2015) and eye tracking in sports (Kredel et al., 2017).

Selected Publications:

Alsaaod, M., Kredel, R., Hofer, B. & Steiner, A. (2017). Technical note: Validation of a semi-automated software tool to determine gait-cycle variables in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(6), 4897–4902. 10.3168/jds.2016-12235

Kredel, R., Klostermann, A., Lienhard, O., Koedijker, J., Michel, K. & Hossner, E.-J. (2011). Perceptual skill identification in a complex sport setting. BIO web of conferences, 1(51), 00051. 10.1051/bioconf/20110100051

Kredel, R., Klostermann, A. & Hossner, E.-J. (2015). Automated vector-based gaze analysis for perception-action diagnostics. In T. Heinen (Ed.), Advances in visual perception research (pp. 45–59). Nova Science Publishers.

Kredel, R., Vater, C., Klostermann, A. & Hossner, E.-J. (2017). Eye-tracking technology and the dynamics of natural gaze behavior in sports: A systematic review of 40 years of research. Frontiers in Psychology, 8:1845. 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01845

Contact:

Ralf Kredel