(EN) STEP user instructions
In this document, we guide you through 'installing' and running STEP. This beta test aims to validate the functioning and ease of use of the solution. First, a brief introduction, STEP is a solution by a group of HU master students who use the now 17-year-old Wii Balance Board to read 'center of pressure' (COP) data. This allows various objective balance measurements to be made. It works as follows:
Below are the instructions via a video and text. We recommend watching the video first and then using the text version for any clarifications.
📝 STEP Beta test instructions - Watch Video
By now you should have received the following from us:
- Balance board with 4 rechargeable AA batteries
- STEP dongle
- Folder containing printed instructions and error reporting forms
Before we can start the program, we need to download and extract it:
- Download the program via this link
- Place the ZIP file in a desired location
- Extract the ZIP file
- (optional) create a shortcut and place it on the desktop
Now we are going to start the program for the first time
- Navigate to the folder (or shortcut) with the STEP.exe file and double-click to start. The first time may take a bit longer, depending also on the machine it is running on.
If all is well, the program will now start and a 'terminal':
Because this is a beta version, we have left the terminal in. You can minimize it but do not close it, as this will close the entire program.
Close the program, onto the next step: performing a test.
We are now going to perform a test. First, we prepare STEP:
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connect the dongle to one of the USB ports of the PC/laptop where the program is running.
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Place the balance board on a solid surface no more than 5 meters from the dongle, closer is better.
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about 30 seconds after connecting the dongle it is ready to pair with the balance board. You do this by pressing/kicking the button on the front of the balance board:
The light on the balance board will now flash and is connected to the dongle when it is stable blue.
- Now start the program (STEP.exe).
We will now first check if the dongle is properly connected and delivering data. Then we fill in some test data after which we can start the recording:
- Stand on the board and see if the light turns green and the data is displayed in the graphs. If this is not the case then check the following:
- is the dongle connected?
- Has the dongle started up? Wait 30 sec after plugging in!
- Is the balance board connected? Light must be constant blue.
- Is the correct port selected? (selection box next to light)
- Is someone standing on the balance board? (otherwise no data is delivered)
- Now go through the data with the patient:
- select the posture etc.
- generate an anonymized string or copy it from your own management system. This identifies the patient, so you can compare the results, for example, after a year.
- fill in additional data.
- Now choose the duration of the recording: 30/60/90 seconds is the most common.
- Click the 'record' button to start the recording. It now turns red. If this is not the case: look in the terminal for the corresponding error message.
- When the recording is finished, the analyze button becomes available. click on it if the recording went well.
- go now to the chapter 'Analyzing a recording'
If you want to analyze a previous recording again, you can open an excel generated with the STEP program:
- go to the analysis tab and click on 'open'
- Select the desired file. For example, from the 'testrecordings' folder
- Click on open, the desired file is now loaded.
After you have made a recording and clicked on analyze / a recording has been loaded, you can evaluate the recording using the graphs and calculated variables. Below is a brief introduction to the variables and what they measure:
- What it measures: The 'Mean Distance' measures the average distance over all measured points in a dataset. In the context of motion analysis, this could be, for example, the average distance that an object or person covers over time.
- How it is used: This value can provide insight into the overall scope of the movement or activity. A higher value indicates greater distances within the measured period.
- What it measures: RMS stands for 'Root Mean Square' and is a statistical measure that measures the magnitude of a varying quantity. It's a way to average both positive and negative values and gives an idea of the average size.
- How it is used: In motion analysis, RMS can be used to assess the consistency or stability of the motion. It's also useful in signal processing to quantify the magnitude of a variable signal.
- What it measures: 'Range' measures the difference between the highest and lowest value in a dataset. In motion analysis, this could be, for example, the difference between the highest and lowest position that an object or person reaches.
- How it is used: The range provides insight into the variability within the data. A large range indicates a large variation in the measured values.
- What it measures: 'Mean Velocity' measures the average speed over a certain period. This could be, for example, the average speed at which an object or person moves.
- How it is used: This measure is essential to understand how quickly a motion occurs. It can be used to assess performance or to compare different recordings.
- What it measures: 'Entropy' in data analysis measures the degree of unpredictability or complexity in the dataset. It's a concept from information theory that indicates how ordered or chaotic a system is.
- How it is used: In the context of motion analysis, entropy can be used to assess the complexity or the degree of regularity in the motion. High entropy indicates a more complex or less predictable pattern.
With the 'save report' button, the (loaded) recording can be saved as Excel. If you check 'Contribute to research', the recording is also sent to the HU database. This data is extremely valuable for doing analyses in the future to, for example, automatically predict the risk of falling based on a recording. Extra important that the filled-in data is GDPR-proof.
