Quote:
Originally Posted by efoote868
Could you describe what the interface looks like? How difficult would it be to have one or two volunteers logging fouls? Put the refs all on radios so they can speak the fouls and not worry about logging it. This gives them the benefit of being able to simultaneously watch the field while logging, instead of looking down at the UI.
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I've attached a photo of the teleop standard ref panel for this year (the head ref panel looks different). I can mostly log without looking by the time quals start if I'm already standing at it. Having separate volunteers logging would, in addition to requiring more volunteers, also require better radios at least in some venues. We already use them for technical fouls and to consult on others, but I've never been through an event without losing useful radio comm in at least a handful of matches. Still, it's an interesting idea. I'd say it's worth piloting, though it'll take some iteration if it's really feasible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by efoote868
We've seen that a properly positioned camera with a fish eye lens captures the entire field. Another possible option is a camera positioned in the lighting / speakers above the field looking down. The idea is the audience doesn't necessarily see this view, the AV crew can focus on what they think is interesting, but the footage is there later for the GDC.
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Again, angle. The fisheye type of footage FiM (Kettering) does is great for watching matches, but it's almost impossible to reliably determine
contact from such a setup. In fact, of all the calls I made and witnessed at NYC and Horsham, a distinct majority would be entirely ambiguous and non-obvious from a Kettering-type camera, no matter how apparent they are up close from the correct POV. Almost every G27 and G30 would be unclear, most G24s and G29s, common G12s, forget about G37, almost everything in 3.2.7 for the far stations, potentially G18-1 and G23... In fact, to put it in perspective, the changes to the game if that's all the refs could see would be mind-boggling for strategic-minded alliances.
Overhead views might solve a lot of those problems. I think you could get it to show most G27 and G30s for pyramid, though it's hard to say without seeing it, and some loading zone G30s would be unclear. Other obviously difficult ones would be the common feeder G37s, low goal G12s, chassis G24s, and some G29s. Looking back, G28 last year would have been hard, and G25 could have gotten false positives. Still, it's nice, but the big problem is that many events--particularly MAR and FiM districts--don't do such rigging, meaning there's no cost-effective way to implement bird's eye camera placement.