Science & Motion SAM BalanceLab User manual

System Installation
Quick Start Guide
General information:
This Quick Start Guide describes the software and hardware installation process and the
"Measurement" feature in a simple way. Follow the sequence of the steps to avoid
problems during installation.
Science&Motion Sports will provide further documentation on the website as video clips.
After opening the case in which SAM BalanceLab was shipped, compare the
package contents with the illustration on picture 1 on the next page.
Important Security Note:
The surface of the system is designed for indoor usage with sports shoes.
never use the system if damp or humidity is on the surface or on a
player's shoes –there is a danger of slipping or falling for the player in
this case !
never step on the plate with golf shoes equipped with hard spikes !
Science&Motion is currently working on a solution with a covering mat for usage with
spikes or outdoor usage. Please contact us for availability.
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SAM BalanceLab System installation Quick Start Guide page 1
Step 1: Hardware Installation
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1: Turn the force plate upside down carefully
2: Unscrew the screws* of the connection port
cover with the delivered screw driver
3: Remove the cover plate
* depending on your model the number of
screws can be 2 or 4.
Check if all components are available:
1: USB connection cable
2: Screw driver
3: Power supply
4: BalanceLab force plate
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On the connection port 2 cables have to be
connected:
Connect the USB cable to connector 1and the
power supply cable to connector 2.
Press the cables carefully into the slits to fix
them
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After connecting of all plugs please be sure
that all cables are pushed completely into the
sockets and the plugs are still in place.
Then place the cover plate on the connection
port and fasten the screws.
5
Do not connect the USB cable to your
computer now!
First execute the software installation
like described on the next pages.

SAM BalanceLab System installation Quick Start Guide page 2
Step 2: Software Installation
1. If you install the software from a CD:
Insert the SAM BalanceLab CD into your CD-drive.
The installation procedure should start automatically. If auto-start is disabled
on your system, please run SETUP.EXE manually from your CD drive.
If you install the software from a download file:
If the file is a ZIP file then unzip it to your local disk. Then start the setup executable
file.
2. In the first setup screen click the "Next" button to continue.
3. Accept the license agreement by checking the box
below the agreement and click the "Next" button.
4. Choose a destination folder and click the "Install"
button.
It is recommended to leave the installation
folder as given by the installer.
5. Depending on software already installed
on your system Microsoft XNA Graphics
software needs to be installed.
If so, you will see the window on the right.
Please press OK and do not interrupt or
cancel this process!

SAM BalanceLab System installation Quick Start Guide page 3
6. Next step is the USB driver installation
for the SAM BalanceLab hardware will be
installed. Click "Yes" to continue
installing the drivers.
If you are sure you have installed the drivers
before and the system worked you can
skip the driver install by pressing "No".
7. For driver installation Windows will open a
"Device Driver Installation" window.
Click the button "Continue".
(Depending on the operating system and service
pack this screen may vary or will not appear.)
Be sure to always select "Continue" or allow
processing, never press "Cancel"!
8. If you see warnings like on the
right be sure to ALWAYS continue
the driver installation.
Click on “Install this driver software
anyway”.
After the driver installation is
finished you may see a message
like displayed on the right.
This message may vary depending
on the Windows version you use.

SAM BalanceLab System installation Quick Start Guide page 4
9. After installation is finished you will be prompted
to attach the SAM BalanceLab to your PC / Laptop.
Now you can connect the SAM
BalanceLab via USB cable to a free
USB port on your PC / Laptop.
10.Your computer will notice a newly attached
device and the Windows “Found new Hardware”
process will start.
Depending on your windows version the process
will run silently or display messages like
displayed on the right.
Under no circumstances cancel the
Hardware-Wizard while Windows
configures your system!
11.If the "Found New Hardware Wizard" asks you
how to install the Software, choose to install
the software automatically and click the "Next"
button to continue.
12.Windows may inform you, that the device
has not passed the Windows Logo test.
Click "Continue Anyway" to continue with
the installation.

SAM BalanceLab System installation Quick Start Guide page 5
13.Click "Finish" and the Windows Hardware
Wizard will close.
On Windows 7 systems the final
message will look like follows:
14.The installation window is still open. Click
the "Close" button to complete the software
installation of SAM BalanceLab.
15.Remove the SAM BalanceLab CD from your CD drive.

SAM BalanceLab System installation Quick Start Guide page 6
Step 3: Start the software, create
Project and Player
1. Start SAM BalanceLab software
Start "SAM BalanceLab 2" via the desktop icon which
was created during the software installation. You can
also start the software through the Windows start menu
under "Programs" and "SAM BalanceLab 2"
IMPORTANT
Be sure to have the BalanceLab connected to a USB port on your
computer before you start the software. Also the power plug must be
connected.
If all connections are fine the LED light on the forceplate is permanently
green.
If the LED is off then probably the system is not powered. If USB
connection is not established or USB drivers are not installed the LED will
be blinking green.
2. Activation of the software
You will be prompted to enter the
software key printed on the software key
document or provided to you by email.
Type in the key and press the “Ok”
button.
The key which is provided to you is a
unique key for your product. Keep it in a
secure place.
3. You should now see the main
program screen.
Click the "add" button in the upper
middle part of the "Projects" window to
create a new Project (after installation
there is only the Examples Project
available which should not be changed).
Projects can hold an unlimited
number of Players and help keeping
the data organisation concise.

SAM BalanceLab System installation Quick Start Guide page 7
4. A window "New Project" will pop up.
Enter a name for your project. Optionally
you can add a short description text.
Then click the "OK" button.
5. Add a new Player
Now click the "add" button in the
Players section to create a new Player.
The "Add Player" dialog will open.
Please enter all desired data.
At least the last name has to be entered.
If you want to send reports by email it makes
sense to enter the email address into the player
data when creating a player.
Press "Save" button after data input is finished.

SAM BalanceLab System installation Quick Start Guide page 8
Step 4: Do a first recording
Important Security Note:
The surface of the system is designed for indoor usage with sports shoes.
never use the system if damp or humidity is on the surface or on
a player's shoes –there is a danger of slipping or falling for the
player in this case !
never step on the plate with golf shoes equipped with hard
spikes !
Science&Motion is currently working on a solution with a covering mat for
usage with spikes or outdoor usage. Please contact us for availability date.
1 . Start a Measurement
Click the "Measurement" button at the
bottom of the "Main" window.
In the "Calibrate" window leave the
"activate video recording" checkbox
Unchecked for now.
Be sure nobody stands on the
forceplate and press the "Calibrate"
button.
Calibration will take some seconds
and then the Recording window will
open.

SAM BalanceLab System installation Quick Start Guide page 9
2. The Recording window (Measurement/Training)
When the software enters the "Measurement" window the live pressure
distribution is shown in the force plate view window.
You can switch between 3D and 2D mode by clicking the "2D" button in the upper
right corner of this window.
The window on the right shows the "Balance view".
This graphic shows the weight distribution of the person in percent.
The red dot is the actual pressure center, the values around the box are showing
the percentage of pressure on the left/right foot and to the front or back.
Inside the feet on the left and right the black line marks the actual pressure
distribution for this foot (to heel or toe).
To get right values here it is very important to have the separation lines set
properly. The lines are displayed in red on the force plate view and separate the
left and right foot and also the front / back.
The vertical line has to be positioned in the center between the two feet. The
horizontal line should be set between the toe and the heel area of the feet (center
of feet).
To set the separation lines press the "SP" button in the force plate view or press
the "F3" function key. Click with the mouse into the view to set the lines –the
mouse position will define the center point of the cross.
To go back to the normal view press "F3" key or button again.
The window below the force plate view shows the actual pressure values as a
curve. You will see a history of some seconds into the past.
With a right-mouse click into this window the curves can be displayed for total
pressure or pressure separated for feet or front / back.
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