Motion capture involves recording human movement digitally to create realistic animations. It began in the 1970s and has since spread. There are three main types: mechanical which tracks joint angles, magnetic which uses transmitters and receivers, and optical which uses cameras and reflective markers. Optical motion capture is most common due to its freedom of movement and high quality capture. Motion capture is used extensively in movies, video games, military, medicine, and more to create realistic animations and analyze movement.