Bow Valley College awarded research grant for motion capture technology

Bow Valley College will soon be home to a state-of-the-art motion capture lab, thanks – in part – to a $195,000Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grant.

The Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Industry Canada announced the college’s successful application for motion capture (mocap) technology funding, administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through the College and Community Innovation (CCI) program.

The mocap lab, featuring technology used to record movements and apply them to a 3D model, will be an integral component of Bow Valley College’s new Digital Entertainment Nexus, previously known as the Calgary Entertainment Arts Production Hub.

“This innovative technology, combined with our plans for a virtual production studio, will be a unique offering in the Calgary region,” says Tanya McDonald, Dean of Applied Research and Centre for Entertainment Arts, Bow Valley College. “For creators and local companies doing research, the opportunity to use these technologies together expands the level of interactivity and creative freedom in media production and the study of human biomechanics.”

The addition of mocap technology fulfills a need for local talent and production companies in industries such as gaming, animation, film and television. It will also allow local sports teams to harness the technology’s potential in improving player performance.

Students enroled in Bow Valley College’s Centre for Entertainment Arts and the School of Technology will be trained on this cutting-edge equipment and will be actively engaged in innovative projects with industry partners.

“We are thrilled to receive the Government of Canada’s support in creating this dynamic lab,” says Michael Crowe, Vice President, Academic. “Along with funding from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, this NSERC investment establishes our Digital Entertainment Nexus as a place where applied research, training, industry innovation, and business acceleration converges.”

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