Moving in a New Direction: The Science of Motion

How academics, athletics, and avatars converge.

by Dr. Tom Hanrahan, Joshua Hildebrand ’22, and Alison Wenger

Karen Lewis Schmitt ’80

When Karen Lewis Schmitt ’80, a member of the College’s Board of Trustees since 2013, was first approached about helping make the Jeanne and Edward H. Arnold Health Professions Pavilion a reality, she had no idea of the ripple effect her generosity would cause. Schmitt’s gift helped create the Lewis Human Performance Lab (Lewis Lab), a facility that rivals those found in larger academic research institutions, research labs in academic medical centers, and research and development facilities in the exercise and fitness industries. Initially planned as a space for exercise science majors to facilitate student-faculty research in applied kinesiology when it opened for the fall 2018 semester, the Lewis Lab has drawn from across campus to become an academic center for students in at least eight other majors.

(l. to r.): Alex Renninger ’22, Keyonda Carter ’21

Schmitt immediately thought to recognize her dad, Dr. Maurice Lewis, an internist who retired at age 79. “I wanted to honor him, and this seemed like the perfect way to do so and help my alma mater at the same time. Taking him on a tour of the lab was such a proud moment for us.”

Endless Possibilities

(l. to r.): Morgan Martin ’21 M’22, Dr. Robert Creath

After Dr. Robert Creath, director of the Lewis Human Performance Lab and associate professor of exercise science, arrived at The Valley from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, he anticipated working with students in the Exercise Science and Physical Therapy programs. He also brought experience as a rowing coach at various universities and private clubs, where he first learned kinetic chain analysis (an engineering concept to describe human movement), so he had knowledge of working with athletes. As an advocate for the liberal arts, he enjoys working with students from other majors.

“The liberal arts have been validated through the success of generations of students,” said Creath. “Adding additional viewpoints improves one’s understanding of relevant concepts. It’s made me a better scientist and helped our majors expand their understanding of science. The Lewis Lab provides an indispensable tool for integrating multiple learning disciplines toward understanding human movement.”

Dr. Jeff Ritchie, professor of design, media, and technology

A faculty colleague, Dr. Jeff Ritchie, chair and professor of design, media, and technology, which houses the College’s Digital Communications (DigiCOM) and Interaction Design (IXD) programs, agreed.

“A fellow professor and I first approached the administration to create a similar space for our majors more than a decade ago, but the equipment costs were a barrier,” said Ritchie. “Soon after Rob arrived at LVC, we began discussing ways to collaborate, but because of COVID, it wasn’t until this past August that we were able to start the first project.

“Now, we are one of a select few mid- Atlantic institutions that have the capacity to teach, let alone create, motion-capture animation. It is an exceptional opportunity for our students to learn the technology and software that shapes so many digital assets we use and consume.”

Alice Thorsen ’22

Alice Thorsen ’22, an IXD major, and Emilie Whitewolf ’25, a DigiCOM and IXD double major, were the first to join. The duo has worked in the Lewis Lab with Veronica Venezia ’21, M’23, to create motion capture animation, as we see in movies. Venezia earned her bachelor’s in exercise science from LVC and is now pursuing her master’s in applied kinesiology.

“This past fall, Alice and Veronica worked to create a proof of concept. They researched how to import and animate motion capture data. Fellow student researchers motion-captured Alice dancing,” said Ritchie. “They then animated a skeleton using her motions. This spring, Emilie and Veronica further streamlined the process and researched how to wrap an avatar around the animated skeletons. The goal is to teach students how to create motion-capture animations, which can stand alone, or have them incorporate these original assets into Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) projects.”

Whitewolf, who is from near Pittsburgh, decided to enroll at LVC and double major after meeting Professor Ritchie at an open house. Almost from her first day on campus, he got her involved in the research project.

“I am super interested in designing and problem-solving, so these programs match my ambitions perfectly,” said Whitewolf. “Dr. Ritchie invited me to work in the Lewis Human Performance Lab, and I immediately recognized it as a great learning opportunity.”

Emily Whitewolf ’25

Whitewolf, who presented her and Thorsen’s early results during Inquiry 2022 (a celebration of LVC student research, scholarship, and creative achievement), has spent a lot of time in the Lewis Lab under the guidance of Venezia and Creath and in consultation with Ritchie on software issues.

According to Venezia, the researchers have had to adapt throughout the year, including changing their primary software, but the project has progressed well.

“We ran into a few bumps trying to create an avatar from motion capture data with our initial software,” explained Venezia, who recently became the women’s lacrosse program’s all-time assist leader. “We shifted gears to a new system, which helped us make a lot of progress. Using outside character models to apply to our data, we can successfully bring an avatar to life. Our next goal is to create our own characters, preferably to make them from people in the lab, to connect to the motion-capture data.”

“We hope to accumulate enough information and processes to create a Motion Capture class for LVC students,” noted Whitewolf, whose dream job is to become an interaction designer at NASA. “In just one academic year, I’ve learned so much about teamwork and professionalism and working with science-oriented students and faculty. Dr. Creath always oversees our work, helping us brainstorm and problem solve. It’s been a great experience.”

Veronica Venezia ’21, M’23

The College’s Digital Communications (DigiCOM) and Interaction Design (IXD) programs are forward-looking by necessity. They also intentionally educate their majors through interdepartmental research and collaboration.

“We just completed an emerging media/ disruptive tech fundraising campaign to purchase the technology and software that will allow DigiCOM and IXD students to expand into augmented reality, virtual reality, and spatial computing,” said Dr. Jeff Ritchie, chair and professor of design, media, and technology. “We want to create an emergent media lab where students can use motion capture animation for entertainment, promotions, instructional design, or virtual or augmented reality applications. This research will help the department shape our course offerings for the next five to 10 years.”

Here are current or aspirational projects that include students underway or are being considered by the department’s faculty:

Dr. Joel Kline, professor of design, media, and technology (design thinking)— Kline’s research and work focus on startups and entrepreneurship. He also conducts workshops and consults on design thinking and analyzing the effectiveness of numerous local non-profit organizations’ websites.

Dr. Mary Pettice, associate professor of digital communications (digital storytelling)—Pettice and fellow department faculty created a partnership with WITF (Harrisburg’s PBS affiliate). Pettice’s students contributed content for WITF’s “One More Moment” project, “A collection of stories about suicide and hope.” Students are producing media about suicide education and prevention.

Pettice and her students also have collaborated on various projects with the Lebanon VA.

Dr. Jeff Ritchie, professor of design, media, and technology (usability testing and interaction/experience design)— Ritchie is collaborating with WITF to have students run usability tests on its digital properties. In addition, his Interaction Design Studio class has consulted with WITF to improve engagement for its live events, with students serving as paid consultants to help research and assess the outcomes of the events. The project will help WITF refine its live events.

Professor Mat Samuel, associate professor of design, media, and technology (spatial projection and animation)—Samuel will be incorporating spatial projection and animation into his classes. He’s also exploring interdepartmental partnerships in health and wellness wearables and tech.

Audio & Music Production—collaborated to create an Electronics for Designers class to teach the basics of electronics, including understanding voltage, resistance, amperage, serial, and parallel circuits. The course teaches students how to design and build basic electronic circuits and troubleshoot simple circuits and electronic devices.

Music Business—an idea developed by music business and DigiCOM students led to the establishment of VALE, a studentowned and led music entity. VALE comprises five branches—conferences, recording, publishing, live music, and the VALE Music Group. Faculty from both departments have co-taught courses over the years.

Biomechanics of Baseball

(l. to r.): Veronica Venezia ’21, M’23, Nick Guerieri ’24, Peter Botbyl ’24, Ethan O’Loughlin ’24, Zack Fischer ’25

Jonas Fester, head baseball coach, and Beth Woerner, assistant baseball coach, emphasize academics for their student-athletes, including participating in student-faculty research regardless of their major. Here are the 11 members of the Flying Dutchmen participating in a student-faculty research project in the Lewis Human Performance Lab—a project that they anticipate will extend to future ballplayers.

Peter Botbyl ’24, exercise science

Samuel Dardinski ’21, M’22, exercise science and neuroscience

Zack Fischer ’25, exercise science

Nick Guerieri ’24, exercise science

Andrew Miles ’23, D’25, physical therapy

Tommy Moore ’23, business

Ethan O’Loughlin ’24, exercise science

Ryan Petrucci ’24, business

Eric Sees ’23, exercise science

Blair Shaffer ’24, biology, pre-med

Shane Stossel ’24, criminal justice

Biomechanics—Helping Student-Athletes Improve, Prevent Injury, or Determine Projectability

Andrew Miles ’23, D’25

Student-athletes from a range of LVC majors became involved in a project to work in the Lewis Lab to study the human body while playing baseball. Andrew Miles ’23, D’25, a physical therapy (PT) major, first approached Creath about improving the team’s throwing and batting mechanics while a student in his Human Movement lab course. Soon, 10 of his teammates joined him (see box), as did the aforementioned Venezia, who aids in data collection and synthesis. She also serves as Creath’s graduate assistant, helping oversee the Lewis Lab.

“It’s easy to teach students when you explain concepts using their sport,” noted Creath. “They have the incentive and passion to learn, and good movement intuition from their athletic experience.”

In the Lewis Lab, student researchers use a complex camera system with markers that track the body throughout its motions.

“The team is learning how to use different software and tracking networks,” Miles said. “Each session, we practice placing the markers and using the software, which plots the markers on a simulated 3-dimensional XYZ graph and tracks their changes. Eventually, we will transfer the data to separate software to calculate velocity, acceleration, torque, and other kinematic variables for specific body segments.”

“We also use force plates embedded into the floor,” added Venezia. “They measure the ground reaction forces between the floor and participant, and our data analysis software allows us to calculate and graph all the data we collect.”

The valuable data from such powerful equipment will assist baseball players and coaches. Players will study their movements, learn what is most effective, and improve. Coaches will learn techniques that produce the best results in players.

“The baseball team’s recent work is an important step toward integrating athletics and academic research at LVC,” noted Creath. “Student-athletes have a unique opportunity to study the biomechanical variables affecting their athletic performances. Key to this working relationship is the high academic standards maintained by our players and their strong work ethic.”

(l. to r.): Coach Beth Woerner, Anthony Giancatarino ’23, Duncan Weir ’24, Ryan Petrucci ’24

Beth Woerner, LVC assistant baseball coach and believed to be the country’s only full-time college or university women baseball coach, said there are long-term plans to continue the project.

“Biomechanics is one of the areas that professional baseball teams are looking for research to help their players improve, prevent injury, or determine projectability. Some of our players participating in the research are interested in pursuing careers in these kinds of jobs. The experience they’ll gain in the Lewis Lab makes them an attractive hire because they have experience using the data exactly as they would in the job.”

Miles emphasizes that this project has an even broader reach.

“This type of project goes beyond just PT,” Miles said. “It can be applied to many different majors and fields. Players can optimize their throwing mechanics, and student researchers can enhance their career development.”

Work on the project is ongoing. Those involved are excited to apply the skills they gained in the classroom and hope their findings will benefit LVC athletes and many others.

“Coach [Jonas] Fester and I would like this to become a long-term project where newer student-athletes take over for the current ones,” said Woerner. “There is so much potential, regardless of a player’s major or sport.”

Creath agreed. “We hope to expand our analysis methods to other LVC athletics teams. “Baseball serves as a template for future collaborations. With the caliber of LVC’s students, I expect success will follow. The Lewis Lab offers our students opportunities to engage in meaningful research and develop the skills necessary to pursue a career in research, something typically limited to larger research-oriented schools.”

Ultimately, the goal is to produce usable information from baseball research that will enhance players’ performance while improving their educational experience.”