Sportsim Weblog

Launch of Mobile Locater

After months with testing Sportsim launches the first beta version of the Mobile Locater. The idea behind the Mobile Locater is to transform your cell phone into an on-line tracking device.  Friends and family can then follow your map projected movements on a web page. More information will follow...

2nd successful test of live Google Maps service

On the XC-skiing race Birkebeinerrennet 2008 March 15th with about 10.000 finishers Sportsim conducted a successful live test during the race.  Visitors to the live test site could follow racers during their performance.  The new service has earlier been developed to play with the Google Earth client, but was now tied in with Google Maps.  Google Maps makes the service more usable as visitors only use their browser.

With this new service people can take out the guess about how racers are performing and where they are located in the course.  This is something friends and family will appreciate.

Test of Mobile Locater in New York

Sportsim is present in a very visual way at The ING New York City Marathon Nov. 4, 2007.
This time we have an open solution test and a teaser of an upcoming service where you can watch Erik from Sportsim all the way from start to finish.
The solution is LIVE on Google Maps, where positions are submitted from a regular GPS enabled mobile phone located in Erik's pocket.

For the 5th time, Sportsim supports the Course Simulation where racers can re-live and compare their endeavors as moving dots on map. Sportsim is honored to be part of this years race and very pleased that our services appear popular among the participants.

Live tracking of 150 yachts

Today at 17.00 CET starts The Watski Skagerrak Two Star 2006 regatta in Skagerrak from June 14th-17th.  Skagerrak is the sea between Norway, Sweden, and Denmark and this could very well become the largest live tracked regatta this year.

The race is a doublehanded-regatta where the yachts are manned with 2 sailors. A GPS tracking unit is placed on each boat and communicate geographical positions through the wireless network.  History, current position, and estimated progress - can then be viewed on the web through a Google Maps Mash-up already mentioned in the Google Maps Mania blog.   The live tracking system is earlier tested with success on 50 yachts only two weeks ago in The Frydenbo Doublehanded regatta.

As this is a live race it can be followed live on the Internet, but the tracks are posted as files for post-race analysis in the free software's from Sportsim and Google Earth.

This regatta with approx. 150 tracked boats and high traffic peaks will put the live system to the test.

The system is developed by Guard Systems ASA with Sportsim development assistance.

New live tracking system for yacht races

Frydenbo Doublehanded is a 4-day regatta that starts today.

50 sailing boats are lived tracked with a new developed system at the west coast of Norway. This is a new way for spectators to follow the yachts live. Go to the live link, but also view how they split up on the left screen shot as a result of different sailing strategies.

Guard Systems ASA has brought in Sportsim consultants and together developed a new and cool live tracking system targeted at regattas. The race can be followed through a simple web interface that applies Google Maps API.

Spectators can also follow a link to Google Earth for the 3D fly-through experience.

Yes, we know there have been other Google Maps mashups for yacht races (e.g. Volvo Ocean Race), but never this organized for a local regatta!

As an extra value for the racers can .gpx track files be downloaded from the web and imported in Sportsim for post-race analysis.

Guard Systems ASA has developed their own GPS enabled trackers that apply the local wireless network for server communication. The company is a leading Norwegian company on asset tracking.

Good luck with the launch guys!

cheers,
Team Sportsim

Update on Friday, June 2nd:
This race is now finished, but there will be an even larger live yacht tracking (approx. 200 boats, The Watski Skagerrak TwoStar 2006) in a couple of weeks.

What about a sport GPS with online capabilities?

Every week we receive new request for live tracking of sport events and for training purposes.  We have conducted some live beta testing this summer, but a returning problem is to find suitable hardware.

Now with Google Maps, Virtual Earth and Yahoo Maps open API's available it’s possible to make nice combined solutions to replay GPS tracks on maps on a web site.

OK, but what about cell phones?

Sure, maybe in 2-3 years? Until then will cell phone location based services just be that – location based with services.  I mean - we want to know where we are, request information about local facilities, and get directions from A to B on maps, and we want it on the fly. This is the focal point for cellphone vendors since it provide important content for the operators.

All very well, but this does not make them suitable for activity monitoring and tracking for sports.

OK, this is what we want:

An athlete GPS watch with GPRS (2,5 G) tranfer capabilities.

Capabilities (short list):

-         GPS watch with display for time, speed, distance, and heart rate

-         suitable for all kind of weather conditions

-         transmit position data every 5 sec

-         sufficient battery capacity and memory backup

It’s possible to manufacture such a device with today’s new GPS chip set technology and if the price is right it’s also an interesting market out there.

Sportsim and others will provide suitable applications for it - thats our job.

So, what can we use it for?

-         live racing -  follow race on web site or big screen

-         family tracking while training – security

-         all data online when finished training session – no more cable transfers, analyze your training when you want - it's already stored and online available!

Have nice weekend J

Gjermund

What’s up with Google Maps?

Google Maps was too good to be left alone.  With our new beta release of a Google Maps Replay version you can replay 1 or up to 4 activities simultaneously.  This is similar to what we have been doing in larger sport-events where users can replay their race based on chip timing technology in a Java Applet.  The Java Applet is better than Google Maps on the replay functionality, but Google Maps solves a seamless global plug and play map coverage problem.

But, the coolest thing with Google Maps is that activities can easily be shared on the Internet with no web browser limitations and requirement for additional software plug-ins.  We have also evaluated to use Yahoo Maps or Microsoft’s Virtual Earth, but they fell short because of less global map coverage.  Google Maps is today a better choice on coverage, but still very limited for street maps outside North-America/UK/Japan.  They have however a global satellite image coverage with 30-15m resolution and with greater detailed resolutions in several larger cities around the globe.

So, will you switch from desktop to web?

No, the combination of desktop and web application will be the best user solution and this is our second step towards an additional web application service for our users. What’s new for us is that Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft now makes this more feasible than ever before in their battle to attract content providers to their map services.

Will you include Google Maps in the desktop application?

No, our main map provider is ESRI ArcWeb Services and that adds increased global coverage compared to Google Maps. We would although consider Google Maps as an option, but that is against the Google Maps API Terms.

Will you also offer the Java Applet for my custom maps?

This is not our focus right now, but we still evaluate the Java Applet as an interesting option for users that will like to use their custom maps.  As an example are custom maps required in orienteering.

Search and check out current activities on Google Maps on the Sportsim On Web site. In addition we have added the possibility to view activities in 3D with Google Earth software.  Just make sure that you have installed Google Earth software for windows and click the google earth link on the lower right corner.

Cheers,

Gjermund

Team Sportsim

Report from ING New York City Marathon

Yezz, I ran the ING New York City Marathon this Sunday and it was a great experience.

It was my second run in the streets of New York as I also ran in 2003.

Preparations could have been better, but I guess that’s a common story from the ones that are faced with reality on race day.  4.30 AM rang the clock in my hotel room located on Lower Manhattan and I cached a cab up to the 6^th Ave 42^nd street to join a bus to the starting line on Staten Island.  Still a little dizzy from the late comedy show in Greenwich Village combined with an early start I checked that all my stuff were there; Fresh Race Socks, Backup Breakfast, PowerGels, Visa Card, Subway Card, Bib Number, Timing Chip, GPS, Backup GPS, Pain killers, etc…

I had a nice chat on the bus with a girl from NYC, and she told me she had found the Sportsim Course Simulation fun and useful in her preparations.  She was exited to hear that with a GPS and Sportsim software you can setup your own GPS course simulation of your trainings. Next time she will for sure be a GPS user!

When I arrived to Staten Island I observed many runners with GPS devices. This was not the situation in our 2003 software beta phase when I ran with an old Garmin Geko. Then people thought I was running around with a radio and I had to explain what GPS was all about.

Off I went to Frank Sinatra’s "New York, New York" and it was a great feeling. I headed over the Verranso-Narrows Bridge that connects Staten Island with Brooklyn. This year about 37,500 started and about 37,000 finished – that’s amazing.  The important reason for such a high percent of finishers is the New Yorkers themselves.  Spectators are not allowed on bridges, but everywhere else they are present and loud. “Come On! You Can Make It!” “Be Hard!” “Kick Ass” "You Look Great!" “Only 20 Miles To Go!” “Move Those Legs Baby!” “NY Loves You!” –  it’s difficult to bail out of this one once you’ve started. Along the course there are also many live music performers within: Gospel, jazz, rock, hip-hop and more…The organizer estimate about 2 Million spectators!  I believe them!

The start pace was a little slow, with so many runners lined up, but I could pick up pace after about 3-4 miles into Brooklyn.  I had a dream about 3.30 finish time so I paced myself on 8 min/mile on the Timex watch.  I used both a Timex Bodylink GPS and a Garmin Forerunner 301.  The nice thing about the Timex unit is that I can wear it as a sport watch and with ease follow my time, distance, and pace on my wrist.  I wore the Timex GPS on my left upper arm with the Data recorder straight on the strap. The Garmin GPS worked as a backup on my right upper arm. I got fine tracks from both units.

Everything worked just fine until I hit the "hill" on Queensboro Bridge between Queens and Manhattan.  Suddenly my legs start to complain, and coming into 1st Avenue I really felt it. But, it’s not a surprise, because almost everyone gets it on 1st Avenue (at least that’s what I’m telling myself).  My pace rises to 8,3 min/mile and I realise that 3.30 is long gone. But, coming into Manhattan and feeling the extreme load ROAR from 1st Avenue is absolutely worth the pain.   Now I see the first runners that walks and that’s inspiring so I aim for the Bronx .   Coming over the bridge into the Bronx I suddenly thought my legs would collapse, but it was only a bump in the road that created a numb feeling in my legs - have to stay focused now!  Coming into Harlem a Frenchman passed me in a higher pace and mumbled something about my socks, but I could not understand him.  When I saw him upfront he had the same type of socks so I guess he wanted to tell me that I had nice socks or something like that.  I actually felt like shit when he passed me so easy.  I was trying out some funny looking new high socks that are supposed to stimulate the blood circulation. The Hip-Hop and Gospel artists in Harlem inspired me to crush the hill starting along Central Park on the 5th Avenue from 110^th to 90^th street – yes it’s loooong.  I did well, and turning into Central Park I realised that I would anyway beat the 4 hour margin comfortable, and that was great J

It was a race for the books with warm weather, record amount of finishers and very well organized.  In addition I ran with a yellow wrist ban to support Grete Waitz struggle against cancer.  Grete was there and I’m sure it must have been inspiring for her with so many runners supporting her.

Yeah, and the socks, did they work? Hmm, I felt a lot better in my legs after the race so I wonder if this was related to the socks.  During the race it is hard to tell because nothing can stop the pain during the last part.  There could be something in it?  Note: I never needed the pain killers even after the finish when all finishers walks around like old people because of sore legs.

So, do I recommend this race? let me say it like this; if you want to do "The 1 Marathon" - this is the one.  It combines a great city with a great event.

Replay the animated GPS track on map or satellite image with our new beta

- Marathon on Google Maps Replay (beta):

We will post more about the new Google Map service later.

Cheers,

Gjermund