Dancer's Movements Digitized - Motion Science at MIT

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Researchers at MIT have digitized Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle's movements. They say research into the field of motion science can improve diagnosis of health problems in the future.

On the right of the screen is Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle. On the left is a base model of his digital avatar which scientist at MIT created by capturing Bolle's motions through sensors he is wearing all over his body.

[Adam Pruden, Research Associate, MIT]:
"We need to start understanding the body a little bit better and what better way than through dance."

Pruden says motion sensor technology will soon be able to give us new insight on how our bodies move.

[Adam Pruden, Research Associate, MIT]:
"Once you digitize movements you can simplify it down to these pixels you can analyze it in a more mathematical, computerized way."

Using information transmitted by the sensors, and by recording Bolle's dance with both high and low speed cameras, the MIT team was able to re-create the ballet star in digital form.

Carlo Ratti, the director of the SENSEable City Lab at MIT, says the digital Bolle gives the physical Bolle a window on to how he moves and may be a tool the ballet star can use when analyzing his dance techniques.

[Carlo Ratti, Director of SENSEable Lab, MIT]:
"You can see it as a way to better understand your movement, to monitor different things about yourself, but also to empower people. To give them information about the way they behave, the way they move and how they might change things."

Ratti and Pruden both say the research has implications for everybody, not just famous dancers. They say motion sensors in the home or office could one day be programmed to monitor our health.