Evaluating the accuracy of markerless body tracking for digital ergonomic assessment using consumer electronics

Ergonomic assessment tools help to design ergonomic products as well as healthy and safe socio-technical work systems. Digital ergonomic assessment tools underwent significant development within the last years, but in most cases the procedure is still time consuming and expensive. The aim of the present study was to figure out if low budget markerless tracking, which is mainly used in gaming industry, might be suitable for ergonomic assessment. Since August 2014 the second generation of the Microsoft Kinect sensor (the v2 sensor) is available with improved tech specs compared to the first generation. As a basis for subsequent posture analysis, the accuracy of the v2 sensor is compared to the Kinect sensor under different circumstances like changing distance, light, clothes, view angles and velocity. Based on these findings, their suitability for ergonomic assessment is rated.