Once the camera system settings have been adjusted appropriately, you are prepared to begin collecting data. The following steps describe how to collect video data for markerless motion capture.
Before starting data collection, make sure that there is no previous data remaining on the cameras. This step is not mandatory so don't worry if you forget this step, but it makes the downloading process much simpler. To do this, click on the ‘Select’ button next to the import label. If video files appear in the import screen you can erase them all by clicking on the ‘Format’ button next to ‘Memory Card’. Once you are sure the cameras memory cards are all clear you can start collecting data.
Note: only format the memory cards after you have ensured the files have successfully downloaded because this step is not reversible. See the video below to learn how to format.
To collect a trial, click on the record button to start the trial and then click the stop button to end the trial.
Note 1: There is some lag between clicking the record button and the cameras actually recording data so after clicking record, make sure that all of the cameras show that they are recording before the subject performs the action.
Note 2: You cannot choose what the trials are called, they will all be automatically given a name in the format “C0000X” which will start at C00001 and go up with every trial collected (C0001, C00002, C00003, etc.). This means that it is very important to have a data sheet where you carefully keep track of which video files correspond with which trials. If using QR code, see step 3.
Note 3: The data sheets should be formatted such that the first column matches the trial number of the camera (C0001, C00002, C00003, etc.), the second column contains the subject ID, and the third column contains the action. The data sheet should then be saved as a .csv. For an example of a data sheet, see the "Organizing Data + Folder Structure" page.
If recording multiple trials, periodically check that there are the correct number of files saved.
Flash the QR code with the corresponding task or subject ID (calibration QR code or subject ID QR) to a selected camera (make sure it’s the same camera throughout the session) for a few seconds at the beginning of each trial. If you are not using the QR code method, skip this step. For more detail on the QR code method, see the "QR Code Data Sheet".
The first trial that you should collect for every data collection is a calibration trial. However, if the circumstances do not allow a calibration to be collected beforehand, it is adequate to collect one immediately following the collection.
Note: Place the calibration chessboard flat on the ground, making sure that the intercept of the blue square is aligned with where you want your origin to be.
Once you have collected a calibration trial you can collect the rest of your data.
When you are done collecting your data you are ready to download it.
Once you have finished collecting data, the next step is downloading the collected data from the cameras to the computer. Depending on the amount of data collected, this process can take considerable time, and it is therefore important to consider when this step will be performed if multiple consecutive data collections are planned.
Go to the setting menu of your browser (for Chrome, it is the three vertical dots near the top right of the screen under 'Settings').
Once in settings, locate the 'Downloads' tab and set the location that you want the videos to download to by clicking the 'Change' button.
Note: you cannot select a download directory through the Sony GUI, it must be done through your browser.
To download your data, click on the ‘Select’ button next to Import. It will open a window in which all of your collected video files are listed. You can either click ‘Select all images of all cameras’ which will select all of the video data for all of the cameras. Alternatively, you can select certain video files to import; it is important that if you are picking specific video trials you must go through all of the cameras and select the videos for each one as it does not do this automatically.
Once you have selected the trials you want to download you can click the ‘Start Import’ button to begin the download.
Name of imported files: “Add camera labels (prefix)”, “Do not add the Shooting Date/Time”.The files will download to the downloads folder you have specified in Google Chrome settings. If you would like to change this location, open Chrome’s settings, click on ‘Advanced’, click on ‘Downloads’, and select ‘Change’ under the 'Location' section. This will allow you to browse your computer and choose a different downloads folder.
Default location: A://DownloadsMove data from downloads folder to appropriate location. Ensure trials deleted from downloads folder.
Format Memory cards.
Put cameras on Standby.
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