Dear Subscribers:
We are Ph.D. students at the University of Waterloo interested in
learning the functionality and suitability of various software
packages used for different biomechanical tasks. There are many
software programs used in biomechanics to answer various research
questions (forward dynamics, inverse dynamics, assessing cumulative
and peak joint loads etc.). The purpose of this survey is to identify
capabilities of the packages and experience of current users.
Fill out the survey on-line here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=i4glWgHhL0eRm2pubfiQ0Q_3d_3d
Or if you wish, reply to the questions below and send responses to
rlbrookh@uwaterloo.ca and not BIOMCH-L. All responses are kept
anonymous.
A compilation of the responses to this survey will be posted on
BIOMCH-L, and may help subscribers decide which software will best fit
their research needs. This survey has received ethics clearance
through the University of Waterloo, Office of Research Ethics.
We thank you for your time,
Diana De Carvalho, M.Sc.
David Frost, M.Sc.
Rebecca Brookham, M.Sc.
Primary Researcher: Dr. Richard Wells, Ph.D.
BIOMECHANICS SOFTWARE SURVEY
1. Please state your job title (ie. Ph.D. student in Engineering or
Physiotherapist working in Gait Laboratory):
2. Which of the following software packages are you most familiar with?
a. Life Modeler
b. AnyBody Technology
c. VICON Bodybuilder
d. Visual 3D Motion Analysis
e. OpenSim
f. ADAMS (Automated Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems)
g. Other (please name)
3. Choose one of the software packages highlighted above in Question
2. The following questionnaire will pertain to this software package.
(If you wish, you can repeat this survey for additional packages.)
Name of software:
4. How many projects have you completed with this software?
a. 1
b. 5 - 10
c. 10 - 20
d. Many (>20)
5. How much training did you require to use this software confidently?
a. A few minutes
b. A few hours
c. A few days
d. A few weeks
e. A month or longer
6. Who trained you to use this program?
a. I trained myself
b. I was trained by colleagues
c. I was trained by the manufacturer
d. Combination of above
7. Please rate the following:
a. Capabilities (what it can do):
i. Very good
ii. Good
iii. Satisfactory
iv. Unsure
v. Poor
vi. Very poor
b. Proficiency (does what you want it to do well):
i. Very good
ii. Good
iii. Satisfactory
iv. Unsure
v. Poor
vi. Very poor
c. Stability (ie. program does not crash often):
i. Very good
ii. Good
iii. Satisfactory
iv. Unsure
v. Poor
vi. Very poor
d. Technical support:
i. Very good
ii. Good
iii. Satisfactory
iv. Unsure
v. Poor
vi. Very poor
e. User-friendliness:
i. Very good
ii. Good
iii. Satisfactory
iv. Unsure
v. Poor
vi. Very poor
8. In your opinion, what does this software do particularly well and
what are the limitations?
9. Please outline the types of research projects you have completed
with this software:
10. What advice would you have for someone interested in using this
software package? Please feel free to add any additional comments.
Thank you for your participation.