The fusion of technology in sports: Dynavision D2 and OptoJump Next
With excitement brewing around Red Bull Project X and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the fusion of technology in sports has become an important step for high level competition. OptoSource has been taking time to work with industry friends, Dynavision (DynavisionD2.com), using their D2 system in unison with OptoJump Next to research a new level of feedback combining cognitive processing through vision training with the tracking of changes to dynamic movement. Having a common partner in Northeastern University Athletics, both companies met at the campus to test the marriage of two sophisticated monitoring systems. Our results were more than stimulating. As we work to define the learning curve for our new tests, we have started to see how an athlete or patient will respond to cognitive exercises through the disruption to basic movement patterns.
As we performed the three main Dynavision D2 programs that Northeastern Athletics' Strength and Conditioning Coach, Dan Boothby (DanBoothby.com), has implemented for his training schedule at the university, we had our test subject simultaneously perform the March in Place inside the OptoJump Next. Comparing the results of these tests to the trend of March in Place's performed over the last year made for easy identification of differentiation when examining ground contact times, flight times and pace of each leg. The results of our March in Place, which is typically the easiest of our 4Pillars tests, were instantly transformed into a key indicator for reporting on cognitive processing in a functional situation.
With Dynavision slotted to showcase their technology in Providence at the NSCA National Conference later that week, OptoSource was more than happy to tag along and continue our testing in front of the public. Though a new conceptual fusion of technology in sports, the booth saw amazing responses from the conference attendees.
Look for our first case study together in the coming weeks on our community news blog and go check out Dynavision if you haven't had the pleasure of working with their incredible visual training system.