Team Update #3 Posted

[Guy Davidson]

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

[AV_guy007]

Originally Posted by sumadin

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 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!

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by AV_guy007

my opinion: tablet for the win!

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]

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]

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?

[amos229]

Originally Posted by Cuog

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.

[Cuog]

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]

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.

[Cody Carey]

Originally Posted by Joel J.

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.

Originally Posted by Bharat Nain

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.

[chris31]

Originally Posted by Cuog

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]

Board and marker or paper and pad.

[Nawaid Ladak]

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]

Originally Posted by FreedomForce

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]

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]

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.