Sportsim Weblog

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.

PR: Sportsim PC software goes Open Source

Sportsim has since 2003 been one of the software pioneers in developing solutions for people with GPS devices. The Sportsim software has been downloaded and installed many thousands of times and has a large user group.  After a modification it now goes Open Source on Sourceforge.net under a new name: Comparetracks.

We at Sportsim are very happy to open source this software as it has been a theme here since we started the development back in 2003.  Now it is not only totally free as in "beer" to use, but if you're a developer you can introduce your own solutions!
We encourage especially all of the old users to upgrade, as some of the older services will not work and you miss out on the new ones.
Upgrade at Comparetraks own site. 

Apple takes the mobile/GPS plunge

The coming iPhone from Apple has been a known word on the streets.  In addition to music and cell phone features it will also (of course!) include a GPS functionality.  Read more about the newly filed patent at ZDNet.

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.

New GPS Chip Set Technology

Athletes are in for a ball as more energy is directed to develop new and better GPS Chip Set Architecture to reduce power consumption and body size.  Rakon from New Zealand has now announced the smallest ever GPS chip set (Thanks to Engadget).

It appear to be somewhat smaller in size than the successful SiRFstarIII (10mm x 7mm x 1,4mm) chip set.  We do however lack any performance values for the new Rakon GPS, but we may have some during this year as new products could be launched.

gpsOne from cellular technology provider Qualcomm Inc. is an older, but also a very interesting development.

Moore's Law is at the moment valid for GPS Chip Sets, and combined with improved power technology and antenna architecture will GPS devices soon be almost as common as your pair of running snickers!  What's next?

More data on Forerunner 305

Garmin has now announced the replacement of the Forerunner 201 and 301 series with the new Forerunner series 205 and 305.

As we did indicate in our post from Nov. 22nd the looks are confirmed and will include an improved antenna design and new GPS chip set technology from SiRF.

An interesting additional note is that the Forerunner 305 (with heart rate strap) will have an option to add a cadence sensor.  This is a great option for cyclists and we believe many will choose this one instead of the new Edge 305 which is not suited for e.g. running/skiing.

The Forerunner 305 will become the most multifunctional GPS we have ever seen!

We congratulate Garmin with this new lead development as they set new standards into 2006 that will be full of new stuff on hardware and software for active GPS users.

New Training GPS from GlobalSat

GlobalSat from Taiwan is about to launch a new training GPS with the new GPS chipset from SiRF and on the outside it looks like a Garmin Forerunner 201 with colors.  However on the inside it varies since the Garmin does not use the SiRF chipset that will receive signals better than other commonly used chipsets in training GPS devices.  It will also include a Barometric Altimeter to correct mishaps in GPS altitude data - and thats nice :-) 

We miss the heart rate opportunity on the new product compared to the Garmin Forerunner 301. For many athletes could this be an affordable option to the new Garmin Forerunner 305 that will probably be a bit more pricey with its heart rate function.

Have a nice Christmas!

How can you motivate yourself to be fit and healthy?

A growing concern among people in the world is to become unhealthy.  Too much food combined with too little exercise is a common combination among us. We are exposed to "healthy" food commercials and crazy get-thin-fast reality shows. With modern lifestyle it's easy to eat excessive and exercise less. More than ever it has become vital that individuals have access to a variety of tools to make training as systematic and easy as possible.

Tool - GPS athlete watch with analyzer software!

OK, I’m lazy! so I need motivation to stay fit - how can a piece of GPS technology help me?  Well it can’t!  But, when you combine a GPS with software that process your data into understandable graphics on maps you will become motivated to exercise again. Investing in a GPS Athlete Watch can make a large difference to runners, joggers, walkers, skiers, hikers as well as to those who need a physical training program to recover from surgery or disease.

Why?

This is clear: An GPS Athlete Watch is nothing more than a stop watch with speed and distance values and with the advance models you can also receive heart rate values.
So what?  I’m still not motivated after my first GPS run?

Here’s the motivator:
When you have finished you exercise you download your exercise data into you computer and analyze it in the software.  We developed Sportsim software as a motivator tool with a fun factor to compare training runs and view progress and maybe even compete with others.  This is your personal motivator: “BEAT YOURSELF AND REPLAY YOUR IMPROVEMENTS AS A VIDEO GAME”. In Sportsim you can replay your exercise on maps – similar to a video game. After some runs you increase your understanding about the values coming out from your GPS device. You get motivated to improve your results and monitor your training endavours, suddenly training become fun! And the fun factor feeds your training motivation.

Track your day on the ski slopes

This is a new way of using GPS technology for ski resorts. Some of the US ski resorts have started to use a GPS ski tracking system from SlopeTracker. 

Finally you can measure how much you been skiing during a day, week or season.  This is a new and another fun use of GPS Technology. Skiiers rent a GPS device in the morning and then in the end of the day you get a printed proof of your achievements.

Now you may also earn! something from your skiing as SlopeTracker has partnered with Continental Airlines and Telluride ski resort in a program to receive one air mile for every 100 vertical feet skied using GPS technology.

Good for local business and skiiers health - we like it :-)

This should be an interesting add-on business for ski resorts all around the world.