IAAF & Seiko Reps you are doing the sport a disservice

[7-sided]

I sat around the 60m mark (on the homestraight) at the Berlin World Championships and a few things so annoyed me that I would like to see the IAAF have the contract for timekeeping rebid if Seiko does not improve their equipment by the next World Championships.

1. Those on-field 'scoreboards' don't work! They begin turning before the results are flashed, then they travel approximately 180 degrees and then "erase" before returning. (Following the LJ/TJ with two flights of athletes became a nightmare.) If you are facing an on-field 'scoreboard' at the time the results are to be presented, you almost always missed it. Either reprogram the aparatus to present the information before it begins to turn or scrap the entire system, because it doesn't work properly.

2. Use an in-stadium Chyron. After years of CNN, Sportscenter and nearly everyone else using a scrolling marquee at the bottom of the screen, there is no reason that those on-field 'scoreboards' shouldn't be able to scroll the competition results (best jump and place and name and country) while using the upper portion to concentrate on the current jumper/thrower. Not trying to put gh out of business, but the information and the technology is there for fans in the stands to know what's going on without waiting constantly for the indulgence of the announcer. This also applies to whomever is in control of the "main" scoreboards. There is enough room to scroll the information at the bottom and STILL watch the event.

3. Use the multiple splits all of the time, not just for the finals! I want to know Usains 20,40 60,80 splits in the first round (I would really like to see them for each 10m); I want to know the speed of the jumpers at the board and the throwers at release. I want more information!

I would say that if the changes are not made then I won't go to Daegu, but ... I'm going to Daegu, so help me out here.

[mump boy]

you're right the boards were crap but the last thing the infield needs is more stuff going on.

interval times for heats :shock: !?!?

[ndamix]

you're right the boards were crap but the last thing the infield needs is more stuff going on.

interval times for heats :shock: !?!?

Especially when there are complaints the infield is crowd'd enough as it is.

[Daisy]

Now many have cell phones couldn't the extra info be available as a ticker that could be subscribed to on a phone? I've always had a problem with not being able to track the progression of a field event.

The field events would be far more exciting if we knew how important a particular throw or jump is with respect to the competition as a whole. Too often a throw or jump is seen with no context and any potential drama is completely lost on the audience.

[Pelpa]

Now many have cell phones couldn't the extra info be available as a ticker that could be subscribed to on a phone? I've always had a problem with not being able to track the progression of a field event.

The field events would be far more exciting if we knew how important a particular throw or jump is with respect to the competition as a whole. Too often a throw or jump is seen with no context and any potential drama is completely lost on the audience.

This why I think my point that connectivity and most important, accesssible, (Be it 3G, 4G, WiFi, WiFam) within the city hosting the event is a major issue making an ease of enjoyment for fans, media and even organisers.

[bhall]

SMS is far more widely available and can deliver the info/data relatively inexpensively to the widest audience.

[Pelpa]

SMS is far more widely available and can deliver the info/data relatively inexpensively to the widest audience.

Well....there you go!!

But I still think this age of fans has developed an apetite for WiFi/WiLan in the least.

I personally just feel naked being at a meet without being able connect to the internet and viewing my favourite Forum (T&FN, of course) or being able to watch Internet subscriber TV from the BBC's affiliate coverage.

[Daisy]

SMS is far more widely available and can deliver the info/data relatively inexpensively to the widest audience.

What ever system works. A way to track the field events properly would be such a great addition to any meet.

[Pelpa]

SMS is far more widely available and can deliver the info/data relatively inexpensively to the widest audience.

What ever system works. A way to track the field events properly would be such a great addition to any meet.

Hey, you have to give Europe credit for those cool little Radio Controlled Cars, and Survey/GPS technology to measure field events and pass it by Bluetooth connectivity (I gather). :lol:

Yeah, and the Gyro-roller coaster for the shot.

[Daisy]

Survey/GPS technology to measure field events and pass it by Bluetooth connectivity (I gather).

I'm greedy I want the whole spread sheet

[tandfman]

1. Those on-field 'scoreboards' don't work! They begin turning before the results are flashed, then they travel approximately 180 degrees and then "erase" before returning.

I agree that the field event boards in Berlin were putting stuff up, turning, and taking the stuff down a bit too fast. But I don't know that it's a question of their not working. I thought it was just what the settings were in Berlin. I'm pretty sure I've seen those same Seiko boards with the data up for a more adequate length of time. The rotation and display cycles should be adjustable, and I think they are.

The field events would be far more exciting if we knew how important a particular throw or jump is with respect to the competition as a whole. Too often a throw or jump is seen with no context and any potential drama is completely lost on the audience.

I don't have much trouble on that score. If you're in the stadium looking at the Seiko boards, you have all the info you need. After each jump or throw, you see the position of the athlete in the competition. If you're paying attention, you can follow the event pretty well, especially in the last three rounds, when they re-do the order of jumping/throwing.

[bhall]

Couple other points (couple brought up already):

1. Finish line boards were consistently off/wrong by big chunks (not the .01/.02 we've come to expect between official and unofficial results)

2. Absolutely miserable posting of results where photo read order yields place on the board instead of time/distance. So you saw a couple very annoying reorders of results after they were shown. Since there are only two possible sort orders (ascending for races and descending for field events) applying a sort on change isn't exactly rocket science.

3. Are the blocks standardized yet? i.e. has the IAAF set an actual single standard for measuring acceleration or pressure changes that all the block and timing companies must abide by? Or is it still make it up as you go along?

[Daisy]

If you're in the stadium looking at the Seiko boards, you have all the info you need. After each jump or throw, you see the position of the athlete in the competition. If you're paying attention, you can follow the event pretty well, especially in the last three rounds, when they re-do the order of jumping/throwing.

I agree with this but it is easy to miss a posting. Why not just have an ongoing spread sheet available for cell phones with all the jumps or throws updated as the competition progresses. That way if you miss something its no big deal.

Also, the current winning throw or jump should always be marked next to the sector with a flag or beside the pit on the measurement board.

[26mi235]

Two years in cellphone/computer-consumer electronics is a long time. By 2011 lots of new stuff will be widespread and those that are most intersted in bells and whistles will have the new stuff. That said, the problems with having a phone on a different continent that works right and has incremental cost that is reasonable (e.g., almost no cost for getting the feeds) are non-trivial with the suppliers I have seen.

[7-sided]

I will try to address everyone without quoting everything written.

Mump and Ndamix. I completely disagree that there is "too much on the infield". We are not adding anything to the infield, we just want what is there to provide relevant information - something that is not being done currently.

bhall. SMS, is relatively inexpensive, but our sport is more international then a Falcons football game so those SMS messages will begin to add up very quickly based upon likely roaming rates - especially when there are only 160 characters per message. I see where you are going with that, but it is too limited for a true fan experience - or using the marketing buzzword of the now - engagement. To paraphrase Daisy, "give it all to me."

However, if you have ever been to an F1 or NASCAR race, you may be familiar with the technology from Kangaroo TV. It not only gives you speed, place, engine, power, etc ... you can even replay and play in slo-mo. This would be perfect for our sport, but it is costly. http://www.kangaroo.tv/

tandfman. I disagree that you have all of the information that you need by looking at the SEIKO on-field boards by just paying attention. It assumes that I'm not paying attention and that's just not true. As mump says, "the boards are crap!" The boards ONLY show the current jumper and the current jump. The point is not to accept what SEIKO has forced down our throats and to demand a better system. Think about this: There were 23 men in the first flight of the LJ, if the 3rd jumper fouls and the board turned too early for me to see what Jumper #2 did, how would I learn his result? Currently I have to wait for 22 jumpers to pass just to watch him jump again, but if he is not in the top 12, how do I know what he jumped? This is where a chyron would work perfectly. If they can't make it work on the infield SEIKO equipment (size?), then it should/could certainly work on the "main" scoreboards. The continuous scrolling would enable me to learn the jumps that I'm missing. FWIW, I wasn't the only person complaining about this.

bhall. I spoke with one of the technical delegates for the IAAF and he says that there is no way to calibrate the blocks and the IAAF has not mandated a standardized. So, I guess that means make it up as you go along, unfortunately.