Floor sensors are cheap and easy to use! A Nihon Buyo Case Study

TL;DR

This case study demonstrates that low-cost, modular floor sensors like Flexel are user-friendly for non-experts and effective in capturing detailed movement data in traditional dance training.

Contribution

The paper introduces Flexel as an accessible, high-resolution pressure-sensing floor system and evaluates its usability and data quality in a real-world dance education setting.

Findings

Flexel can be installed and operated by non-technical users.

Learners develop individual movement signatures despite pedagogical expectations.

Pressure data can be synchronized with video for detailed analysis.

Abstract

As floor-sensing technologies gain traction in movement research, questions remain about their usability and effectiveness for non-expert users. This study presents a case study evaluating Flexel, a modular, low-cost, high-resolution pressure-sensing floor interface, in the context of Nihon Buyo, a traditional Japanese dance. The system was installed, calibrated, and used by a first-time, non-technical user to track weight distribution patterns of a teacher and learner over nine weeks. Live pressure data was synchronized with video recordings, and custom software was developed to process and analyze the signal. Despite expectations that the learner's weight distribution would converge toward the teacher's over time, quantitative analyses revealed that the learner developed a consistent yet distinct movement profile. These findings suggest that even within rigid pedagogical structures, individual movement signatures can emerge. More importantly, the study demonstrates that Flexel can be deployed and operated effectively by non-expert users, highlighting its potential for broader adoption in education, performance, and embodied research.