Introducing Electronic Scouting: Tablets

[AKSoapy29]

We are putting together a scouting app to make things easier on us. We used to use paper and then enter everything into the computer later, and it would generate graphs and what not, and we could compare teams side-by-side, etc... We are actually thinking about using Windows tablets, not Windows RT, so we get the full power of the desktop programs. As for what tablets to use, we are still looking, but Microsoft said previously that Windows would be free for devices under $200, so we might wait a bit for cheaper tablets to come out.

[evanperryg]

Originally Posted by AKSoapy29

We are putting together a scouting app to make things easier on us. We used to use paper and then enter everything into the computer later, and it would generate graphs and what not, and we could compare teams side-by-side, etc... We are actually thinking about using Windows tablets, not Windows RT, so we get the full power of the desktop programs. As for what tablets to use, we are still looking, but Microsoft said previously that Windows would be free for devices under $200, so we might wait a bit for cheaper tablets to come out.

You could use google drive spreadsheets(just make sure they are saved offline) and any type of tablet you like.

[depth_Finder]

Originally Posted by alextried

Thanks for all the great input! Currently I'm leaning towards practice during off-season events (Bash at the Beach) with a Nexus 7. Does a tablet/paper system sound efficient? My biggest goal this year is to streamline the scouting process for my scouting team and increase effectiveness.

With a paper system, the biggest inefficiency is entering data. If you are using tablets for data entry, it will be even slower (lack of physical keyboard). However, if you are using the paper and the tablets to collect different data, then you could have a very powerful system. Making this system could take a while though.

There are a lot of really good apps already in existence that I would recommend checking out. Check out this thread I started earlier this week for a few suggestions http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=130174.

Because you are probably low on time and/or programmers, your best bet is to try an app someone else made and work from there. But if you are using one of these apps, you have a full system already and paper would probably just slow it down.

TLDR; Use an open source app, don't use paper unless you have the time to set up a system that give enough benefit to outweigh the hassle of paper data entry.