Notch: Motion Capture for smartphones [that costs less than a smartphone]

stpn

Hello!

We are Notch Interfaces Inc., the company, that created motion capture to smartphones that costs less than a smartphone ($379). Today we have introduced an update that allows our system, Notch, to capture lateral movement. Now you can actualy use Notch to capture the displacement of the actors / characters on the horizontal plane. We thought this would the best moment to introduce Notch to animation community. 

Here is the video of Notch in action: https://wearnotch.com/video

And the details about the "Lateral" update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f-JTVbCDnM

Notch supports BVH export that works with Blender, Motion Builder and other programs. In fact, we have already seen Notch being used for animation. Check out these pieces made by students of New York University using Notch mocap workflow: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGvtf9T230Y

http://itp.linyang.info/2017/03/08/walden-i-week2-progress/

Naturally we will be happy to answer any questions you may have as well as provide interested people with a polycount-exclusive discount for the system (email us at connect@wearnotch.com )

Hito

is 6 the maximum supported markers?

stpn

Hi, no, you can go up to 18 and track the props / objects in both hands. You may even do more than that but would need to modify the biomechanical model (can be done in the app). 

Aabel

Looks good. What's the rate of capture frequency breakdown per configuration? I assume the 500mhz is only for 6 sensors. What's the rate for 18?
Also can you edit the measurements of your biomechanical model to improve accuracy? I have lots of experience with the noitom suit, and getting optimal results out of it. I am very intrigued by your product as it's cheaper and may capture at higher rates.
Also goes the difference in data quality when recording locally vs. Over bluetooth?

slipsius

Neat. Looks like a ton of foot sliding. With 18 sensors, does that get better? 

xyxeszter

@Aabel, any notch can be configured to capture at 500Hz. Yes, you can edit the skeleton model. The data quality is the same either way you choose to download.  

stpn

slipsius said:

Neat. Looks like a ton of foot sliding. With 18 sensors, does that get better? 

Hi, sliding is due to discrepancies in skeleton measurement to actual human’s measurement (different leg bone lengths for example, since we are using “average” dimensions for the skeleton). The sliding does improve with the adjusted measurements but does not depend on the number of notches used. With 18 notches you will just get more detail (actual foot movement etc.).

Aabel

xyxeszter said:

@Aabel, any notch can be configured to capture at 500Hz. Yes, you can edit the skeleton model. The data quality is the same either way you choose to download.  

So does that mean you can use 18 notches at 500hmz?

stpn said:

slipsius said:

Neat. Looks like a ton of foot sliding. With 18 sensors, does that get better? 

Hi, sliding is due to discrepancies in skeleton measurement to actual human’s measurement (different leg bone lengths for example, since we are using “average” dimensions for the skeleton). The sliding does improve with the adjusted measurements but does not depend on the number of notches used. With 18 notches you will just get more detail (actual foot movement etc.).

Do your software tools have the ability to clean up and refine foot contacting like Perception Neuron does? While a bit on the tedious side it does allow for the complete removal of foot sliding.

stpn

Aabel said:

So does that mean you can use 18 notches at 500hmz?

@Aabel Yes. That would not be in real-time streaming mode, but you would record at 500hz then download all the data.

Aabel said:

Do your software tools have the ability to clean up and refine foot contacting like Perception Neuron does? While a bit on the tedious side it does allow for the complete removal of foot sliding.

Not at the moment.