Sammy Herring
-Our Journey to SportTrax-
With our background in computing the SportTrax Team were able to identify an issue within society. We developed a product to provide a solution. During development of our revolutionary device our goal was to put technology into the hands of both professional and amateur sports enthusiasts. From our experience with friends and social networks we have had first hand involvement within this tightly-knit community helping them to engage with computing and electronics. We've taken the opportunity to teach these devotees and welcome them to the world of electronics. Of course, that is not to suggest similar products aren't available within a highly advertised finance driven industry. They are! We, however, have used our creativity to produce a product that brings sports technology and tracking to life in a new way.
-Video Introduction-
For the SportTrax project we produced a video introduction:
-Down to Earth-
In terms of the product we needed a starting point. A place from which we could progress to developing a product which we hope to be a revolutionary leisure-based device. Our starting point came from an article within the MagPi that used a Pi Zero and a series 3 GPS module. From this we further developed a concept on having a standalone device that did not require any complex connections or wiring for the end user - unless of course they wished to take the product from the point of being a complete kit. From this mere concept, we produced 'SportTrax'.
-#SportTrax-
In order to help publicise our campaign we utilised social media, in particular 'Twitter'. We achieved this through the use of '#SportTrax'. In doing so, we were even retweeted by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, while HackaDay even tweeted about our project (twice!). We received lots of support for our project - some 'tweeters' even asking for copies of our build guide.
-Introduction-
In today’s society, we found a problem. The problem is that sports enthusiasts fail to engage with technology. Regardless of the modern day use of mobile technologies within the sports industry, anyone who wishes to become a power user of technology is swiftly declined this opportunity due to the limitations of portable GPS/accelerometry systems. Therefore, we have come up with a new solution. SportTrax is a product we have designed to be a precise tracking device for almost any form of physical activity. The device offers data logging features such as altitude, direction, velocity and location. However, in actual fact SportTrax is so much more. We have designed SportTrax to be a modular device which allows an aficionado with a combination of these interests to not only use such an advanced device, but optionally build their own as a kit.
Equally, someone with little experience would have the ability to ‘hack’ our device and customize it to their own requirements – for example, placing a larger battery aboard the device. It should be mentioned that we have chosen the components in our product with care for the everyday athlete who wishes to have the ability to adapt their product for their own use. This is because those who work extreme scenarios may need to adapt their SportTrax for their own uses – which we have ensured is an easy process.
Of course, it is a requirement that the product itself is not only aesthetic but has a casing which allows it to be safely and easily transported, while ensuring it could be easily reproduced or manufactured. Therefore, we have opted to use Perspex as it allows the casing to both be easily altered or cut/engraved. On the casi
Jamie Howard
Martin Falatic
Yassin Ali Salah Ali
Julien OUDIN
I don’t get it....what exactly does your prototype do? Other than have the look and feel of a large brick, albeit, a technologically fortified one, I’m unclear as to what it is. Are you suggesting this is a product that provides GPS and various data logging to a spectator or a participant? If so, it begs the question of why this would replace a neatly compact and heavily fortified smartphone. What sets your product apart from those? What is the end benefit of your product? I’ve watched and read about the item several times to try and determine exactly what it does but it’s very unclear. That being said, you have idea and have presented it with good enthusiasm and mediocre marketing, but have still not explained exactly what it is it does and what the benefit is to the consumer.
**Please do not take this comment as a negative. I’m only providing constructive feedback, from one hacker to another. My background is in sales & marketing so I tend to look at prototypes and presentations through that lens. Often, hackers, makers, inventors, tech people and the like tend to get so wrapped up in what THEY think the product is that they lose focus on a proper way to market it to others. Again, I think you’re on the right track here but far from making it a “reality” for the common consumer. I highly recommend you define no more than 2-3 specific and short points you want the consumer to know about your product....(examples: sports & technology on the go....or.....active hacking while sporting.....or.....partake in two passions while at the same time - hack and sport....). I hope you understand!!!