The Ethics & Security Standards Your Sports Tech Should Be Meeting

July 2, 2025
Theia
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Summary

In this series, we’re unpacking the STRN Quality Framework — a set of 25 measurable features across five key pillars — to help researchers, clinicians, and technology buyers evaluate motion capture systems more effectively. Each post explores one pillar in depth, with practical examples, critical questions to ask, and insights on how markerless systems like Theia3D align with these industry standards.

Can your technology be trusted with sensitive data?

Pillar C of the Sports Technology Research Network (STRN) Quality Framework tackles the features that matter most when it comes to ethics, data handling, and long-term trust. From privacy and compliance to environmental impact, this pillar defines how well a system safeguards users, participants, and society. 

In this post, we’ll break down each of the six features under Pillar C and show how Theia3D was designed to meet and exceed those expectations.

New to the STRN framework?

Download our free Buyer’s Guide:

What Pillar C Covers

‍
Pillar C: Ethics & Security evaluates whether a system:

  • Complies with relevant laws
  • Protects user and subject privacy
  • Clearly defined data ownership 
  • Minimized safety risks
  • Operates transparently
  • Supports environmental sustainability

But before we break this down feature by feature, here’s how Theia3D works, and why that matters for ethical use:


How Theia3D Operates


Unlike cloud-based systems, Theia3D is a locally installed software application. Data is processed entirely on the user’s machine. Theia3D:

  • Doesn’t collect or store video or kinematic data
  • Doesn’t control the recording process (users handle their own cameras)
  • Doesn’t transmit anything to the cloud
  • Can be licensed and activated offline

This local-first design gives users complete control over how data is collected, processed, stored, and shared, making it easier to comply with institutional policies, regional laws, and participant expectations.


STRN Pillar C Feature Breakdown


Compliance 


STRN Definition: Alignment with relevant laws and regulations.

Theia3D doesn’t collect or store any data — the user remains fully responsible for compliance with local data laws like GDPR, PIPEDA, and CCPA. This clarity of responsibility gives institutions flexibility to manage ethics reviews and consent procedures according to their own needs.

‍Key takeaway: Theia3D is a local tool. You control your own data — and your compliance process.

Privacy

‍
STRN Definition: Protection of user and subject confidentiality. 

Theia3D uses data minimization and user consent practices, and we never share data with third parties. We follow industry best practices for access control and allow for anonymization/pseudonymization when needed. 

Ownership

‍
‍STRN Definition: Clear access, control, and rights over the outputs.

Our End User License Agreement (EULA) clearly states: 

‍“All right, title, and interest… in and to the Customer Data… shall be owned solely and exclusively by Customer.”

Whether you’re working in pro sports, healthcare, or research, Theia3D ensures you own your outputs.

Safety

‍
STRN Definition: Avoidance of risks to people, property, or the environment. 

Because Theia3D is markerless, there are no wires, suits, or sensors. This significantly reduces participant risk and makes motion capture safer and more inclusive. 

Field-friendly: Theia3D supports natural movement in real-world environments, reducing fatigue from repetitive testing or foreign lab environments.

Transparency

‍
STRN Definition: Honest, clear communication and resolution processes.

From feature updates to documentation, we aim for transparency: 

  • All updates are detailed on our blog and documentation hub
  • Support inquiries are handled by real biomechanists and engineers
  • We set realistic expectations during sales and onboarding
  • No hidden processes or data sharing

Environmental Sustainability

‍
STRN Definition: Consideration of environmental impact.

We reduce Theia3D’s footprint by:

  • Supporting older PC hardware to extend system life
  • Optimizing performance to reduce processing time and energy use
  • Keeping all processing local, avoiding cloud server emissions
  • Offering batch processing for more efficient computing 

Theia3D helps lab scale without adding unnecessary environmental load.


Summary: Why This Matters


Ethics and security aren’t just checkboxes. They determine whether your technology will stand up to scrutiny from ethics boards, funders, and end-users. By keeping data local, ownership clear, and user privacy intact, Theia3D gives researchers and clinicians full control without compromising on safety or performance.

Want a full evaluation checklist?

Download our free Buyer’s Guide and evaluate motion capture systems across all five pillars of quality:
Recent Posts
How Usable Is Your Motion Capture System?
In this series, we’re unpacking the STRN Quality Framework — a set of 25 measurable features across five key pillars — to help researchers, clinicians, and technology buyers evaluate motion capture systems more effectively. Each post explores one pillar in depth, with practical examples, critical questions to ask, and insights on how markerless systems like Theia3D align with these industry standards.
The Validity Check Every Biomechanics Lab Should Be Running
In this series, we’re unpacking the STRN Quality Framework — a set of 25 measurable features across five key pillars — to help researchers, clinicians, and technology buyers evaluate motion capture systems more effectively. Each post explores one pillar in depth, with practical examples, critical questions to ask, and insights on how markerless systems like Theia3D align with these industry standards.
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In this series, we’re unpacking the STRN Quality Framework — a set of 25 measurable features across five key pillars — to help researchers, clinicians, and technology buyers evaluate motion capture systems more effectively. Each post explores one pillar in depth, with practical examples, critical questions to ask, and insights on how markerless systems like Theia3D align with these industry standards.
In this blog
Summary