With humble beginnings of strapping an Ipod Touch to the bottom of a skateboard, Theo Watson and Emily Gobeille of Design I/O have created a method to visualize skateboard tricks in real time. Called Skataviz, it’s done using the Ipod Touch’s gyroscope and accelerometer, which is sent to openFrameworks to create live video overlays.

Employing the help of professional skaters Frankie Nash and Thomas Kramer, they were able to capture the kinetic movement of various tricks, as well as track the rotation of the board as it flew through the air. The software is in the prototype stages right now, but is still visually stunning. With all the movement that goes on as skateboarders ply their craft, expect some even more impressive dataviz in the future.

[via The Creators Project]

BY Michael Colombo

I do work in fabrication, electronics, sound design, music production and performance (Yes. All that.) Also a graduate of NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP).

I have three black cats.

2 Responses to Visualizing Skateboard Tricks with an Ipod

  1. Pingback: Visualizing Skateboard Tricks with an Ipod | Electronic Sculpture

  2. I just heard of a company that is selling something like this… http://www.theshredcloud.com
    pretty sweet stuff…the hardware through shredcloud sends data to your phone… I like how skataviz added the visuals too.

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