RePlay Project featured on BBC Click, the online technology news services

DCU’s role in the high profile RePlay project was recently highlighted on BBC Click, the online technology news service from the BBC.

Four Gaelic Football, Hurling and Camogie athletes were filmed in Oxford's Audiomotion studios, along with five Basque Pelota players, where high-tech motion capture technologies from Vicon watched their every move, as part of the EU-funded project RePlay. The exceptional HD footage produced will be available for cultural and sport organisations. The research team is also developing a system based on low-cost sensors and an open source 3D software to be used in all interested clubs.

Prof. Noel O’ Connor, the scientific coordinator of RePlay based at the Insight Centre for Data Analytics, Ireland, explains: “This scientific endeavour is unique: it brings together cultural heritage, sport and cutting-edge technologies. It has never been seen before. It is also a chance to compare and analyse the evolution in the changes of styles of play over time, the evolution of our sports. Above all it is great for the young to see how they measure up against their heroes and improve their skills.”.

In Europe alone there are over 3000 traditional sports and games. Many of them are in decline or already lost, due in part to globalisation and the increased tendency towards individualised physical exercise. "I think it’s going to be a big step in professional training techniques for both players and coaches," said Kepa Arroitajauregi, member of the Pelota and Associated Sports' World Council.  "Basque and Gaelic Sports are two of the few Traditional Sports and Games that act as social and community pillars in the regions in which they are practiced, either at home or beyond Europe. The strength of the two traditions and their resistance to decline should serve to help other Traditional Sports. The application of innovative and low cost technologies, with support from the EU, will help to stop the decline," explains Dr. María Teresa Linaza, the project coordinator.

RePlay brings together eight participants from five countries across Europe including Vicomtech-IK4 and the Basque Government in Spain, the Insight Centre for Data Analytics, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and the Dublin City University (DCU) in Ireland, Vicon and IN2 Search in the UK, the University of Geneva in Switzerland and the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas in Greece. The EU invested €2 million in RePlay under the EU seventh framework programme for research and technological development #FP7 (2007-2013). The new EU research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 #H2020 promises even more technological innovations with €80 billion of funding available over the next 7 years (2014-2020).