A semester at CSUSB: Teaching a kinesiology course with Artec Studio Lite

CSUSB kinesiology students posing with university mascot “Cody the Coyote.” Image courtesy of CSUSB

Kinesiology students at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) study human movement, exercise, health, and physical performance through hands-on lab experiences with state-of-the-art equipment – all in the heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire region.

From biomechanics to exercise physiology, it’s an excellent place to train for future careers in physical and occupational therapy. But the world of technology doesn’t stand still, and new ways of analyzing physiology are constantly being developed – especially in academic settings where lateral thinking is actively encouraged.

Professional 3D scanning is one such approach. Devices like Artec Spider II make it possible to digitally measure human anatomy for assessment, morphology tracking, surgical planning, and more. However, the technology isn’t always attainable for academic staff on a tight budget.

Kinesiology students conducting practical tests in the classroom. Image courtesy of CSUSB

One low-cost alternative that educators can get into the hands of every student is Artec Studio Lite: a software that turns photos or videos (even those captured with a smartphone) into lifelike 3D models. Aiming to test the technology’s viability in the field of kinesiology, CSUSB lecturer Cameron Van Wye enrolled his Kine 2400 Applications of Technology in Kinesiology class for a unique semester of interactive learning.

“As a kinesiologist, I believe play is one of the best teaching tools we have, and that belief has completely shaped how I approach this course,” explains Cameron. “I’ve shifted away from lecture-based learning toward something more project-driven and student-centered. A big part of that shift involves bringing specialized 3D software into the learning environment.”

“This isn’t just about using cool technology, it’s about helping students engage with real concepts: anatomy, geometry, and how the human body changes,” he added. “What I love most is the agency it gives students. They can follow their interests, test their assumptions, and express themselves within the tools. The environment rewards curiosity. Learning becomes sensory, creative, and self-directed.”

Artec Studio Lite in the classroom

To get students up to speed with the technology, Cameron built his curriculum in two phases: a classroom-based research project and a more hands-on stage, involving adaptive medical device prototype 3D printing. They began with a viability study, not to assess Artec Studio Lite’s performance but to see whether the technology could facilitate student learning and allow for body composition analysis.

In order to test this application, 20 volunteers had their upper abdominal, mid-abdominal, waist, and hip regions measured using a traditional Gulick tape, then captured with photogrammetry. Students ensured even lighting for best results and initially utilized the scale bars available as standard in Artec Studio Lite to make final models to scale (and therefore measurable).

A volunteer being photographed for a photogrammetry project. Image courtesy of CSUSB

They eventually moved onto 3D-printed scale bars designed in Autodesk Fusion and “fake tattoos” that could be worn by volunteers to focus on certain anatomical areas. Interestingly, photos were taken with both a high-end camera and a smartphone – and it was the latter that proved faster and easier to use – with resulting data sufficient for generating accurate 3D models.

Compared to measurements captured via traditional methods, these digital twins turned out to be dimensionally very close, leading the team to say Artec Studio Lite has strong potential as an applied kinesiology tool. But perhaps even more importantly, students also found the technology to be straightforward and an intuitive way of independently learning to analyze physiology.

“I didn’t even know this kind of stuff existed until two weeks before the class started,” said Kayla Miller, a student on Cameron’s course. Initially, “I was like: ‘oh nice, that’s pretty cool. 3D printing prosthetics and orthotics.’ Yeah, this is completely mind-boggling. It’s pretty incredible that this kind of technology is out there.”

Students capturing an assistive device for 3D reconstruction in Artec Studio Lite. Image courtesy of CSUSB

“I think it’s fantastic,” added another of Cameron’s students, Brianna Griffin. “I’ve always loved studying human anatomy. Being able to combine human anatomy and making stuff, I think, is super cool. He [Cameron] gave us something to do in class, which opened my horizons a ton – and then I got to goof off with it later, I think it’s so much fun. I think it helps with understanding.”

Custom 3D-printed adaptive devices

The second part of the course focused on human-centered design. Working with volunteers, they identified individual needs to improve quality of life and 3D printed end-use devices based on Artec Studio Lite 3D models. They started off working under instruction, but it wasn’t long before they became more autonomous, achieving some outstanding results.

Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO)

For one volunteer, students developed a custom lower-limb support device, designed to improve ankle-foot positioning, stability and functional movement. They captured photos of the residual limb and applied skin-safe markers to help Artec Studio Lite recognize overlapping images and reconstruct anatomy with high accuracy – then exported the resulting model as an STL file.

The prototype of the students’ ankle-foot orthosis device. Image courtesy of CSUSB

In Meshmixer, the team verified their mesh against manual measurements, did some tidying up, and designed the orthosis by creating offset “shells” in key support regions of the lower leg and foot. These shells were bridged together to form the orthotic structure, taking the students from a smartphone-captured scan all the way to a custom assistive device – demonstrating a complete digital workflow from anatomical capture to additive manufacturing.

Arm extension device

Many forms of dwarfism, such as achondroplasia, are associated with disproportionate short stature and shortened limbs due to altered growth in the longer bones. As part of their arm extension project, students developed a custom assistive device to help.

Designed to act as a reach extension and load transfer tool, this device attaches to exercise machine handles without placing the wrist, hand, or shoulder in a compromised position. To customize their prototype, they gave it a hook-style hand grip.

Students presenting their arm extension device to the rest of the class. Images courtesy of CSUSB

This time, the team captured a video with a smartphone. Photos were extracted in Artec Studio Lite and stitched together into a model that was used as a reference for design, sizing, and alignment in Autodesk Fusion. The resulting device was 3D-printed and successfully performance tested across multiple exercise movements without slipping, bending, or breaking.

Lower limb prosthetic

In this project, a lower limb mold was placed on a rotating platform and digitized using a 4K smartphone. Data was processed in Artec Studio Lite, yielding a 3D model that served as the foundation for socket design. The scan was imported into Meshmixer, where it was tidied, trimmed, smoothed, and checked for holes or distortions, with measurements such as limb length, width, socket opening size, and contour used to maintain anatomical accuracy.

A prototype of the students’ lower limb prosthetic design. Image courtesy of CSUSB

The final prototype was designed to account for limb shape, wall thickness, rounded edges, pressure-sensitive areas, comfort, and structural support. Although the team used a mold rather than an actual residual limb, the success of this initiative demonstrates how scanning and fabrication offer a faster, less messy, and customizable alternative to traditional casting.

Knee halo protective orthosis

To help one volunteer suffering from Osgood-Schlatter disease, a condition that affects the bony area just below the kneecap, students designed a custom protective orthosis. The goal was to shield this area during physical activity without placing direct pressure on the painful protrusion itself, a design challenge that demanded precise knowledge of the knee’s surface anatomy.

Using Artec Studio Lite, the team processed video captured around the anterior, medial, and lateral areas of the knee to generate a digital anatomical model. This, in turn, was used to create a mock-up overlay illustrating the device’s intended size, shape, and coverage area.

A 3D model of the students’ knee halo orthosis. Image courtesy of CSUSB

The final design, developed in Autodesk Fusion, featured a donut-shaped relief zone that creates open space over the affected area and a raised bridge structure that redirects external force to surrounding tissue. In terms of next steps, students identified foaming TPU as an ideal material for adding further impact protection and improving durability.

“Stump climbing” device

Lastly, in one of their more inventive projects, students designed an affordable, activity-specific climbing aid for a volunteer with an upper-residual limb. They’d previously improvised by modifying a dog boot for traction – the team set out to develop something better suited for the task, with a hook-like attachment for gripping small cracks and climbing surfaces.

A screen capture of the students’ assistive climbing device. Image courtesy of CSUSB

They applied temporary tattoos to improve tracking and reconstruction accuracy, then processed data in Artec Studio Lite. In Meshmixer, the wrist and limb contact area was divided, offsets were created, and a finger-like hook was added for enhanced wall grip. Printed in PETG, the final device shows how easily prosthetics can be customized for different tasks or hobbies.

Validated for immersive learning

Cameron’s hands-on approach to digital design has challenged his students to go beyond passive exposure to new technologies and develop real-world problem-solving skills. During the course, they learned how to optimize lab conditions, subject positioning, surface marking, and scale referencing – all things they may need to do when analyzing physiology in future.

In the process of developing these new skills, students not only designed medical devices with real-world applications using 3D printing, another technology that’s gaining traction in the medical field, they also showcased the potential of photogrammetry software like Artec Studio Lite as a low-cost means of bringing advanced, industry-ready tools into the classroom.

“What unfolded during the Spring 2026 semester was something genuinely rare: a confluence of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration that transformed a one-hour, twice-a-week class into something far greater than a course. It became a shared experience,” added Cameron.

“In those moments, the line between teaching and inspiration dissolved entirely, and what remained was the unmistakable feeling of building something meaningful together, a brighter future, one student at a time.”