Daniel Link, Munich University of Technology Germany · 2010. 10. 1. · Daniel Link, Munich University of Technology Germany Asian Conference on Computer Science in Sports, September,

Faculty for Sport Science Munich University of Technology

A meta-theoretical view on the discipline sport informatics

Daniel Link, Munich University of Technology

Germany

Asian Conference on Computer Science in Sports, September, 24th-26th, 2010,

Tokyo, Japan

Munich University of Technology Faculty for Sport Science

2010-09-24 Daniel Link

Technische Universität München

Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.

(Morpheus, 2208)


2010-09-24 Daniel Link 2010-09-24 Daniel Link

Motivation

To be accepted as a scientific discipline, computer science in sports/ sport informatics has to reflect about itself – about its scientific approach and its position from an epistemological point of view!



Outline

1.  Interdisciplinarity in sport informatics

2.  Structure model of sport informatics (The Matrix!)



1. Interdisciplinarity in sport informatics

Why do sport science and computer science work together?

How do sport science and computer science work togehter?



Political Motivation

•  Interdisciplinary is considered an important research paradigm in most countries:

The national funding agency for sport scientific research in Germany terms interdisciplinary a “key element” of their founding policy

Announcement on funding initiatives refer to an “inter- and multidisciplinary approach […], integrated construction of theories, highly specialized choice of research methods and […] integrative presentation of results“ (BISp, 2008)

Scientists should work in an interdisciplinary research field to get a funding!



Scientific Motivation

•  computer science serves as an partner in those areas in which sports scientists do not excel themselves

•  information technology is an important source of innovations

•  sport science expects that approaches and perspectives of computer science could be transferable to sport

•  computer science supports other sciences by tradition

•  complexity of sport, is well suited for testing and validation of methods of computer sciences

•  The “exotic” application field can help to build a reputation (Basking in Reflected Glory Phenomenon, Cialdini et al., 1976)

computer science (with sport science)

cooperation interests for

sport science (with computer science)



Model of Interdisciplinarity (OECD, 1972)

interdisciplinarity multidisciplinarity transdisciplinarity

  common set of terms, methods and concepts

  comprehensive axiomatic

  high bandwidth: commu-nication of ideas up to the integration of methodo-logies

  no apparent connections   result are additive,

not integrative

Model does not fit very well for sport informatics



Model of Interdisciplinarity in sport informatics

•  type a: application level –  Sport science applies existing approaches

and tools from computer science –  Computer science only act as an

anonymous service provider, without contact with sport science

•  type b: engineering level –  Sport science integrates software-

engineering knowledge from computer science

–  Collaboration only during development process - not on a scientific level

computer science

sport- science

appl

icat

ion

engi

neer

ing

type a type b



Types of Interdisciplinarity in sport informatics

•  type c: integration level (cs to ss) –  methods, paradigms and knowledge of

computer science are used in sport science on a scientific level

–  e.g. the use of artificial neuronal networks for analyzing movement patterns or application of image recognition algorithms in sport game analysis

•  type d: integration level (ss to cs) –  paradigms and knowledge of sport

science are used in computer science –  e.g. the use of kinesiological models in

controlling the motion of humanoid robots

inte

grat

ion

utili

satio

n

inte

grat

ion

type d type c

computer science

sport- science



2.  Structural model of sport informatics (The Matrix)



Trivial Model

subjects of sport science

subjects of computer science

no common borderline! no intersection area!

no kommon knowledge! no common theoretical framework!

subjetcs of computer science

in sport/ sport informatics

what is the characteristic of sport informatics from the perspective of philosophy of science?



application fields for sport science

with potential for computer science

integration of sport scientific

knowledge into computer science

with potential for sport and sport science

application fields for computer science application of tools,

methods and paradigms from computer science on questions of sport science

sport informatics (set of research programs)

subjects of sport and sport science


Structural model of sport informatics





application fields for computer science








application of tools, methods and paradigms from

computer science on questions of sport science




handling of data

modelling, analysis and simulation

presentation and

visualization

communi-cation

theories information theory

dynamic systems theory

principles of visualization, media theory

theory of computer mediated

communication

methods pattern

recognition, database

design

soft- computing,

UML

virtual-reality, multimedia

CSCW, seamless network

tools databases,

tools for controlling sensors

statistic tools, kinematic software

image processing and animation tools

e-mail, blogs,

newsgroups, groupware

main areas

levels

(cmp. Perl,1995; Lames, 1997)






















theory building modeling of adaptation biomechanical models

notational analysis

intervention performance analysis

coaching feedback

sports engineering

organisation administration of sport organisations sport documentation and information

e-research social networking




















motor control motor learning

perception and decision behavior cooperation models





















robotics mobile interfaces computer games

Reconstructing human behaviours intention movements of virtual characters computer supported cooperation





















Self definition

“Sport informatics” is a set of multi- and interdisciplinary research programs including components of sport science and computer science. The materiel field is the application of tools, methods and paradigms from computer science on questions of sport science as well as the integration of sport scientific knowledge in computer science.

“Computer science in sport” stands exclusively for the use of computer technology in sport and sport science.



Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.

(Morpheus, 2208)



The „Matrix“ (Areas of research and research activities)



Conclusion & Discussion

•  Many options for reasonable and fruitful cooporation between sport science and computer science

•  Advantages for both disciplines, if more projects are designed and performed with the view on genuine interdisciplinary research



„Servus“ (こんにちわ & それじゃあ、また) from Munich



Terminology

•  Computer science –  “science of the systematic processing of information, in

particular the automatic processing using digital computers” (Engesser, 2986)

–  mathematical and engineering activities regarding computers •  Informatics

–  originates in the German word „Informatik“ –  more general perspective which also includes question of

human sciences (“science that has as its domain information processes and related phenomena in artifacts, society and nature“, Nygaard, 1986)

•  Sport informatics –  originates from a congress in Graz (Austria), organized by the

International Organisation for Sports Information (IOSI) in 1975.

–  Proceedings were published by Recla & Timmer (1976) under the German title “Kreative Sportinformatik” (engl. “Creative Sport Informatics”)

Documents

Daniel Link, Munich University of Technology Germany · 2010. 10. 1. · Daniel Link, Munich University of Technology Germany Asian Conference on Computer Science in Sports, September,