Team Update #3 Posted [Archive]

Fuzzy

16-01-2007, 17:24

Devices used solely for the purpose of planning or tracking strategy of game play are
allowed inside the ALLIANCE ZONE, if they meet ALL of the following conditions:
 Do not connect or attach to the OPERATOR CONSOLE
 Do not connect or attach to the FIELD or ARENA
 Do not connect or attach to another alliance member
 Do not communicate with anything or anyone outside of the ALLIANCE ZONE (for
example wireless communications must be disabled).
 Do not in any way affect the outcome of a MATCH, other than by allowing team
members to plan or track strategy for the purposes of communication of that
strategy to other alliance members.

I guess that okays the use of whiteboards/tablets/palm pilots/etc to keep score?

Joe Matt

16-01-2007, 17:30

I guess that okays the use of whiteboards/tablets/palm pilots/etc to keep score?

According to the rules, yes, as long as you talk to only those in the alliance station (aka, don't hold up your board and communicate with those in the stand).

Overall, I think allowing Palms and such in the alliance zone is a bad move and will cause more headaches than it's worth, but that's my own $0.02.

Lil' Lavery

16-01-2007, 17:37

I guess that okays the use of whiteboards/tablets/palm pilots/etc to keep score?

Or your own miniature model of the rack.... ;)

Fuzzy

16-01-2007, 17:52

Or your own miniature model of the rack.... ;)

That'd be interesting.. maybe using lifesavers for ringers, although I don't think we're allowed to bring edible objects onto the field. :P

Guy Davidson

16-01-2007, 18:36

AV_guy007

16-01-2007, 19:03

The way I see it, this now allows for brining laptops out on the field, if their wireless connection is disabled. A laptop doesn't connect to the OI, field, r another member, would not have wireless communication, and doesn't affect the outcome apart of strategy. Sweet!

-Guy

but i think you would have to hold it in one hand:eek: because it says it can't touch the "field" so i guess it depends on your definition of field. I would count the driver station as part of the field. and using a laptop with one hand is no fun.

my opinion: tablet for the win!:D

Greg Marra

16-01-2007, 19:45

my opinion: tablet for the win!:D

I agree that a tablet is the best option for keeping track of real time scores. However, I think that having a tablet is amazingly expensive, and most teams will have to settle for some sort of paper-based solution instead.

Cuog

16-01-2007, 20:20

Or place your Laptop on the ground and use a USB tablet, mine was a nice 6x8 and only cost 50 bucks on newegg

Joel J

16-01-2007, 21:11

For those with racks assembled.. can you actually see to the other side of the rack, from the driver station position, to know what legs have been scored on? Are you assuming the opposite end of the rack will be scored on before the one directly in front of you? If an opposing team were to do a counter move on the less visible side of the rack, while the rack was reasonably full, with innertubes, are you able to tell?

AV_guy007

17-01-2007, 17:32

I agree that a tablet is the best option for keeping track of real time scores. However, I think that having a tablet is amazingly expensive, and most teams will have to settle for some sort of paper-based solution instead.

this is true but an older tablet that is in the range of a 600mhz pIII fairly cheap on eBay ect.

or make some pocket pc/palm software for scoring

amos229

17-01-2007, 19:09

Or place your Laptop on the ground and use a USB tablet, mine was a nice 6x8 and only cost 50 bucks on newegg

My 0.02$ would advise against this, especially in finals. Wins can bring about excitement and jumping up and down, severe risk of injury to the laptop. Plus having a cord to something on the ground isnt exactly safe. Someone could trip.:ahh:

Cuog

17-01-2007, 19:16

thats true... But I just got an amazing idea, get/make those things that the snack guys carry all the snacks in at baseball games, hang it around your neck and put your laptop on it.

Joel J

17-01-2007, 19:25

chris31

17-01-2007, 20:01

thats true... But I just got an amazing idea, get/make those things that the snack guys carry all the snacks in at baseball games, hang it around your neck and put your laptop on it.

A friend of mine tried to do that so he could have his laptop when he walked around outside and went places. It didnt turn out to well and he constantly had to look up and see he didnt run into things. But that wount be an issue for this case.

Bharat Nain

18-01-2007, 00:29

Board and marker or paper and pad.

Cody Carey

18-01-2007, 01:09

In the heat of a match, to look away from the field could prove disorienting and costly.. especially when you have to reframe your brain to fiddle with graphic screens, touchpads, or keyboards.. you may forget what you are doing, or miss some important event on the field. I'd say find a better way.

Board and marker or paper and pad.

That is crazy talk :)

One of the members on our team already made a palmpilot app. for scoring calculations, and all he needs to do is press two buttons to place a tube on the virtual rack. The program even tells the score of each alliance, and he is working on a 'Next best Move' algorithm... Which is MUCH easier than a pencil and paper or dry-erase board. There is absolutely no reason to use Paper/Board when you have access to a palm-pilot, Its only purpose is to detract from the usefulness of your coach.

Nawaid Ladak

18-01-2007, 01:15

would there be a way to get a wired connection to the feed on the big screen on a laptop?

that could possibl seeing the other side of the rack

Elgin Clock

18-01-2007, 01:18

would there be a way to get a wired connection to the feed on the big screen on a laptop?

that could possible seeing the other side of the rack

No, just look up.

It can prove to be an advantage sometimes, but most regionals that have big screens have multiple cameras/ camera angles so it will be very ineffective. But it could help.

Brandon Holley

18-01-2007, 07:44

I say if you MUST keep track use a board and marker or a pad and paper like bharat said, otherwise, i think your coach should be plenty capable of devising your "next best move" in his/her head.

Ali Ahmed

18-01-2007, 08:44

I think if you used a program specifically designed for the game, like Cody said, for use on a tablet or Palm would be the best choice. In my opinion, using a normal laptop would be too distracting because a coach needs to keep his mind on the field the ENTIRE time because a lot of things happen at the last second. The next best thing would be pen and paper and draw some sort of diagram that suits your coach the best. I would advise against whiteboards because dry-erase markers dry out fairly quickly and I would hate it if someone was in the middle of a match and their pen drys out. My point is, use a method that allows the coach to keep his/her mind in the match.

Taylor

18-01-2007, 08:50

I say if you MUST keep track use a board and marker or a pad and paper like bharat said, otherwise, i think your coach should be plenty capable of devising your "next best move" in his/her head.

I agree. In the month between now and regionals, your coach(es) should have a very good understanding of the game and gameplay. I would trust a dry-erase board, some markers, and a well-prepared coaching staff over an electronic device prone to malfunction (battery life, interference, programming error, crazy electrons bumping into each other, etc.). I may be an old-timer at 27, but I think there's enough technology on the field and in the drivers stations.
Also, there are no rules about drivers/coaches handling non-electronic devices. A picture's worth a thousand words, and if the drivers can see a pictoral representation of the rack, that could be much better than a coach shouting directions in their ears (not to mention all the noise that happens during gameplay).

Rick

18-01-2007, 08:54

Real coaches dont use "strategy assistants" during matches.

camtunkpa

18-01-2007, 09:14

All the devices people are mentioning on here are great tools for planning strategy, but coming from lots of experience on the field this game will be too fast paced to take your eyes off for entering ringer locations into any device. I'm not saying that the listed devices definately won't help. I'm just saying with one coach per team it will be very difficult to record ringer placement, monitor ringer placement you have recorded and coach the drivers all at the same time in a 2 minute and 15 second time period. That's just my $.02. I'm not trying to discourage anyone because I've seen some great devices for planning strategy and keeping track of the score. :cool:

Wetzel

18-01-2007, 11:13

I agree that a tablet is the best option for keeping track of real time scores. However, I think that having a tablet is amazingly expensive, and most teams will have to settle for some sort of paper-based solution instead.
My roomate got a convertable (a laptop that the screen revereses to make a tablet) for $1400 with decent power. They are getting surprisingly cheap.

No, just look up.
Elgin, some regionals have the screen behind one of the player stations, which makes it real inconveinent for one alliance to use. Things are only mostly even between regionals. :)

Wetzel

Nick M.

18-01-2007, 18:18

I am currently writing a scoring program that will run on a PDA with a touch-screen. Simply choose what color alliance you’re on, and touch a rack position where a tube has been placed. As you select tube placements, it will automatically calculate the score. It also has dynamic scoring based on spoiler (black) and the opposing alliance tube placements.

Barry Bonzack

21-01-2007, 19:41

There is a thread dedicated to using scoring aids; further discussion about that should probably continue there. This thread is about the Update 3.

Will you be using a scoring aid? (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=52230)

That being said, I am interested in seeing pictures of user made scoring aids or palm programs.