Development of a novel immersive interactive virtual reality cricket simulator for cricket batting

Research in the field of sports performance is constantly developing new technology to help extract meaningful data to aid in understanding in a multitude of areas such as improving technical or motor performance. Video playback has previously been extensively used for exploring anticipatory behaviour. However, when using such systems, perception is not active. This loses key information that only emerges from the dynamics of the action unfolding over time and the active perception of the observer. Virtual reality (VR) may be used to overcome such issues. This paper presents the architecture and initial implementation of a novel VR cricket simulator, utilising state of the art motion capture technology (21 Vicon cameras capturing kinematic profile of elite bowlers) and emerging VR technology (Intersense IS-900 tracking combined with Qualisys Motion capture cameras with visual display via Sony Head Mounted Display HMZ-T1), applied in a cricket scenario to examine varying components of decision and action for cricket batters. This provided an experience with a high level of presence allowing for a real-time egocentric view-point to be presented to participants. Cyclical user-testing was carried out, utilisng both qualitative and quantitative approaches, with users reporting a positive experience in use of the system.

[1]  K. Davids,et al.  Information-movement coupling in developing cricketers under changing ecological practice constraints. , 2009, Human movement science.

[2]  Michael J. Singer,et al.  Measuring Presence in Virtual Environments: A Presence Questionnaire , 1998, Presence.

[3]  Jaeho Shim.  Anticipation of Movement Outcome Through Perception of Movement Kinematics , 1999 .

[4]  Cathy Craig,et al.  Understanding perception and action in sport: how can virtual reality technology help? , 2013 .

[5]  D. Farrow,et al.  Enhancing cricket batting skill: implications for biomechanics and skill acquisition research and practice , 2011, Sports biomechanics.

[6]  J. Gibson.  The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception , 1979 .

[7]  R. Kulpa,et al.  Detecting Deception in Movement: The Case of the Side-Step in Rugby , 2012, PloS one.

[8]  C. Craig,et al.  Bending It Like Beckham: How to Visually Fool the Goalkeeper , 2010, PloS one.

[9]  Michael F. Land,et al.  From eye movements to actions: how batsmen hit the ball , 2000, Nature Neuroscience.

[10]  R. Kulpa,et al.  Balancing deceit and disguise: how to successfully fool the defender in a 1 vs. 1 situation in rugby. , 2010, Human movement science.

[11]  B. Abernethy,et al.  The development of anticipation: a cross-sectional examination of the practice experiences contributing to skill in cricket batting. , 2008, Journal of sport & exercise psychology.

[12]  Stuart Ferguson,et al.  A hitchhiker's guide to virtual reality , 2007 .

[13]  Mel Slater,et al.  A Framework for Immersive Virtual Environments (FIVE): Speculations on the Role of Presence in Virtual Environments , 1997, Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments.

[14]  Nigel W. John,et al.  A review of virtual environments for training in ball sports , 2012, Comput. Graph..

[15]  B. Abernethy,et al.  Action specificity increases anticipatory performance and the expert advantage in natural interceptive tasks. , 2010, Acta psychologica.