91制片厂 Human Interface Technology Lab (HIT Lab NZ) Professor Stephan Lukosch with the virtual reality tools created for athletes competing in the Winter Olympic Games and the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing.
The technology, produced by the University鈥檚听听(HIT Lab NZ) and funded by High Performance Sport NZ, allows athletes to hone their skills and prepare themselves psychologically for the real-life challenges they鈥檒l face on the slopes when the Paralympic Winter Games open this weekend.
It includes a virtual reality (VR) experience, known as the Alpine Project, that recreates the downhill speed course in Beijing; a 鈥減ark and pipe鈥 start gate simulation that allows halfpipe, slopestyle and big air athletes to see, hear and feel what it鈥檚 like to move between the warm-up area and the start gate area; and a simulated drone flyover view of the slopestyle course that athletes can use to plan their run.
The VR technology initiatives were created for Snow Sports NZ by a team led by UC HIT Lab NZ Professor of Applied Immersive Games听Stephan Lukosch.
He says the technology, which HIT Lab NZ game developer Ryan McKee and game designer Shunsuke Fukuden helped build, aims to improve 鈥渕ental imagery鈥 training so that athletes are more prepared to compete. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about being able to imagine how a course is going to look and learning how to manage that,鈥 Professor Lukosch says.
鈥淓vidence shows that providing a training experience that is as close as possible to reality can enhance performance. We鈥檙e really happy with the positive feedback we鈥檝e had from the snow sports athletes who have been using our products.鈥澨
Three Kiwi Para alpine skiers, Paralympians Adam Hall (MNZM) and Corey Peters and Para athlete Aaron Ewen, used the downhill course VR technology, and members of the New Zealand Winter Olympic team鈥檚 park and pipe athletes used the start gate simulation and slopestyle course flyover, including Olympic Gold Medal-winning snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott.
High Performance Sport New Zealand Performance and Technique Analyst Dr Cameron Ross, who supports Snow Sports New Zealand, says the HIT Lab鈥檚 work has undoubtedly given the team a competitive advantage ahead of tackling the Xiaohaituo Mountain Area, which has one of the steepest racetracks in the world.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e created something that we feel no other country has access to and it鈥檚 been particularly valuable considering the Covid-19 restrictions on travel. No-one was able to go to the location before the Games except for the Chinese team and after using our tools the athletes felt as though they鈥檇 already been there, so this kind of training is incredibly important.鈥
Snow Sports NZ Adaptive Snow Sports Manager Jane Stevens, who is New Zealand鈥檚 Chef de Mission for the Paralympic Winter Games, says the training tools have been hugely beneficial for all three Kiwi Para athletes.
鈥淭his is a very inventive way to get around the travel restrictions and psychologically it鈥檚 been a massive help. The HIT Lab has exceeded our expectations and the University has gone above and beyond with what they鈥檝e done for us.
鈥淭he experience has really paid dividends in the confidence of the athletes going into Beijing and been a key factor in them believing in themselves. All of them have used this technology to the nth degree. Considering our build-up and all the things that have happened, this is the one thing that we keep coming back to and saying, 鈥楲isten, we鈥檝e got this tool, back yourselves鈥. It鈥檚 been incredible.鈥
She says the team has continued to use the VR technology while based in the United States in the lead-up to the Games.
- Professor Stephan Lukosch is one of the general chairs organising the online听听from 12-16 March. This international virtual event will include presentations, research demonstrations and workshops.
