Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences | Mr. Oda

■ Professor's Areas of Expertise

Mr. Oda specializes in exercise physiology and biomechanics. Specifically, his research focuses on training and energy metabolism within exercise physiology, and the mechanisms of injuries within biomechanics. His athletic experience lies in baseball.

■ Situation Before Introducing SPLYZA Motion / Decision-Making Process

Mr. Oda first learned about SPLYZA Motion four or five years ago through a recommendation from the coach of a girls' high school baseball team. Up until then, he had considered motion analysis too expensive for use in sports settings due to the cost of equipment. However, he became interested after learning that this service could be easily used with an iPad or iPhone.

When he later transferred to his current institution, where the acupuncture department includes students specializing in sports studies, he began seriously considering introducing the tool into classes to teach motion analysis.

■ Key Factors in Introducing SPLYZA Motion

The first impression was that the analysis process took less time than expected. Additionally, I was surprised that the data could be exported as a CSV file, including coordinate data. This feature made it possible for students to create graphs or perform manual calculations using the exported data, not just rely on the data displayed on the screen. I felt this was well-suited for educational purposes, which ultimately led to the decision to adopt it.

■ Actual Uses / Applications of SPLYZA Motion

The tool is used in practical classes such as Exercise Physiology Practicum and for graduation research in seminars. Some faculty members also use it as a player evaluation tool in sports settings. Furthermore, at upcoming open campus events, we plan to hold interactive lessons that incorporate SPLYZA Motion.

■ Effects and Value of Introducing SPLYZA Motion

One major benefit is that analysis can be performed quickly and easily. Students who used the tool in class gave feedback such as, "I didn't know it was this easy," and, "I thought it required large equipment." I believe it is a tool that can spark interest in sports science among high school and university students.

Additionally, I feel it could also be applied to high school mathematics classes. For example, calculating angles from coordinate data could be used to show students how "learning about functions can be applied in real-life scenarios." This kind of concrete example could help increase high school students' motivation to learn.