Software | Evolving Consumer

On the Plate

While batters in baseball may head up to the plate to swing away, the Swing Catalyst Balance Plate is designed to help with your golf game. It provides instructors a better understanding of the golf swing, ranging from weight-shift patterns and balance to details of foot pressure distribution – none of which can be determined by the best trained eye or even high-speed cameras.

The Balance Plate has further been perfectly synchronized with video images and integrates data from the most popular launch monitors and ball flight-tracking devices, such as TrackMan, FlightScope, Foresight GC2 and Full Swing Golf – allowing instructors to study the correlations between everything that happens during a golf swing and the actual result of the shot.

To improve your game and your swing, perhaps it is time to step up to the plate

Swing Catalyst Official Website

Hoop Dreams

Wearable sports technology firm Wireless Sports has announced that the Hoop Tracker is on the court. This is the world’s first basketball watch – and it can deliver in-depth analysis of shooting percentages as data that is obtained from each shooting session can be uploaded to Hoop Tracker’s software to analyze and improve shooting performance.

This system features a lightweight watch worn on your non-shooting wrist, while the shot detector is attached to the rim using the mounting pole, and together this can identify the make or miss of every shot taken.

Data recorded includes where the shot was taken and if the basketball hit the backboard, rim, or activates the internal lever. The only shot not automatically detected is an air ball – but In this case, the player can push the air ball button located on the side of the watch, and record the attempt as a missed shot. All statistics are later uploaded to the Hoop Tracker software for further analysis. Continue reading Hoop Dreams

Concussion Analyzer

Tablets can do many things beyond playing Angry Birds and watching a movie. A team at the University of Notre Dame is developed a tablet-based test that can detect a concussion. Typically concussions, which should be treated as soon as possible, often are difficult to diagnose without a trip to the hospital.

This new software, which could certainly see use in sports, requires that the person recite a variety of words before they start playing and then again once there has been the potential of an injury occurring. The software works by analyzing the differences in how the words are said before-and-after, and looks for key indicators that could suggest a traumatic brain injury. These could include things such as distorted vowels, imprecise consonants even a hyper nasal sound. Unlike just asking an athlete if they are alright, this one can listen to how they say it. Video after the jump

Range Finder

When target shooting a spotting scope is essential, but the OCAT System Advanced Long Range Marksmanship System could be a game changer. This system can be used at home with a laser mode, or at the rifle/pistol range with live ammunition and can be used to up to a mile.

This system works by incorporating a spotting scope with a special camera, which then connects to a conversion box and PC. This system can run several targets, and pan the scope up to 140 degrees with 15 degrees of elevation or depression. This system eliminates the need for spotters, as shooters can see the hits on the actual targets on the computer screen, and lets sport shooters track firearm and ammunition performance, while providing shooters a way to accurately and instantly learn how to read the effects of wind and mirage on long shots.

OCATS Official Website

iSurf Simulators

While all eyes in the world of video games maybe on Los Angeles and E3 this week, last week i-Surfsimulators – who have been making surfing simulations since 1992 in their native Hawaii – have announced the launch of a new line of portable event systems that provide virtual “waterless” surfing, including two-player-on-screen interactive games.

The software was designed so that it can be easily custom tailored by anyone who has access to any standard PC – no programming skills needed. And while i-Surfsimulators is about events, we think that if this company talked to those at E3 it could easily be converted into a game worthy for home play as well.

i-Surfsimulators Official Website

TrainingPeaks for Sky

This week the British Team Sky Pro Cycling announced that it has extended its agreement with TrainingPeaks to be the official supplier of training software for the 2012.This will allow Team Sky to continue to collect and monitor heart rate and power from each individual rider during training and racing, and utilize it in TrainingPeaks by team coaches and staff. Riders can futher adjust their own training program and regiment based on the fitness trends shown in the software.

It will be interesting to see how it helps Olympic gold medalist Bradley Wiggins, who will likely be racing in the London Olympics this summer, as well as current world champion and 2011 Tour de France green jersey winner Mark Cavendish this season. With both hoping for a potentially “golden” summer we’re sure they’ll be spending a lot of time using this data. While it probably is not as much time as they spend on the bike, but still enough to show that software is indeed changing the way athletes train; and that is helping the way they perform.

TrainingPeaks Official Website

Fitness Goes to Orbit With Breathe

FitOrbit, the online solution that provides 24/7 accessibility to certified personal trainers, is telling members to “Breathe,” by launching its new logging and tracking experience. “Breathe” offers users the ability to select meals and workouts online, and with a click of the mouse it lets the trainer know what you’ve accomplished for the day. This online tracking also allows for a “quick add” with an intelligent algorithm that identifies what users are looking for, and even remembers preferences and favorites.

FitOrbit’s “Breathe” allows users to talk to their trainer anytime and anyway, without even having log onto the Website, as it now offers an email app that can be used with mobile phones. Sounds like a breath of fresh air! Press release after the jump

Golf Training Gets Mental

httpv://youtu.be/nOHa94jkqCk

Trying to improve your golf game might drive you “mental” as they say in the U.K., and as golf was born in Scotland we totally understand. But now you can improve your game by going mental in a totally good way, as in by using the Pro Mental Coach interactive program instead.

This program, which is based on neuroscience, is the world’s first mental coach of its time and was actually selected by the PGA Center for Learning & Performance. Users of the program undergo an initial assessment to determine mental game strengths and weaknesses. Following this assessment, the program customizes the appropriate “exergames” training routines based on the user’s skills. The proprietary, personalized Dynamic Intelligence System adapts difficulty level in real-time to ensure mental game training is optimized and the user gets maximum benefits in minimal training time. Continue reading Golf Training Gets Mental

Polar Helps Users Determine their BodyAge

Many runners, cyclists and other top athletes swear by their heart rate monitor, and now Polar, one of the leaders in heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technology, has introduced an integrated solution that will help users of all levels reach their fitness goals.

This is the BodyAge 5 software that is now available at health and fitness clubs nationwide. It analyzes a full range of health and fitness indicators, providing club members with a clear picture of their physical body age in comparison to their chronological age and overall fitness.

Users of the BodyAge 5 software are provided a questionnaire that evaluates the club member’s current physical activity level and medical history. In addition a series of tests that determine their cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, flexibility and body composition. Based on this information, the software creates a personalized fitness report, a customized cardio and strength training program and a health risk appraisal – giving them the tools they need – such as nutrition and prevention tips to reduce the risk of heart disease, stress and diabetes among other health-related issues. Continue reading Polar Helps Users Determine their BodyAge

Ride the Tour of California With Strava and AEG

There are a few ways to ride the Amgen Tour of California. You can train hard, win local races, get picked up by a team and ride with the pros. Or you can ride it virtually with Strava, creator powerful Web and mobile applications for avid athletes, and AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment providers. The two companies have announced that Strava will power social fitness for next month’s Tour. The three-year partnership will bring Strava’s event maps to the Web and mobile platforms. Strava is further supplying complimentary premium memberships to all race participants and will also offer training and race-day challenges.

“We are excited to partner with AEG to bring the sport of cycling even closer to the fans,” said Michael Horvath, CEO of Strava. “Strava’s GPS maps and online competitions allow avid cyclists to follow their favorite pros, compare and compete, and gain deeper insight into their own training.” Continue reading Ride the Tour of California With Strava and AEG

Swing Like a Pro… an aG Balance Pro

While not everyone can be a golf pro, aboutGolf will let you get the pro treatment with aG Balance Pro, a new dual force plate technology that the company introduced this week. This new platform, which features Perform Pro software that can be integrated with any 3Track-powered aboutGolf ball tracking including the aboutGolf simulator and aG Studio, uses dual force plate technology that provides detailed analysis of weight transfer during the swing.

“With aG Balance Pro, it is now possible to specifically understand the impact of balance on the golfer’s swing,” says Chuck Winger, aboutGolf’s Vice President of Performance Products. “For the first time, we can see force distribution on the front, back, right and left of each foot, helping us better assess the impact of balance on the golfer’s performance and provide proper instruction.”

aG Balance Pro’s data is presented in easy-to-understand visual graphics, as well as detailed data tables to support scientific analysis. All swing/balance data is time stamped and synchronized to the swing motion from backswing to follow-through, including a clear indication of weight transfer and foot forces at the time of ball impact. The Perform Pro software also supports integration with the optional aG Flix module, providing time-synchronized swing video for analysis side-by-side with aG Balance Pro. Continue reading Swing Like a Pro… an aG Balance Pro

Skateboard Ramps Go High Tech

While we normally look at the technology of the skateboards, there has been some interesting innovation with the skateboard ramps. Here are a couple of interesting videos that show how an iPhone app can measure each skaters “air time” and landings from an interactive projection. The top video was for a promotion for the premier of the movie Tron Legacy, while the bottom video shows how cameras were synchronised with skaters and snowboarder movements.

Red Bull Off the planet from ENESS on Vimeo.

Tron Legacy Premiere – A Light Session from ENESS on Vimeo.

LifeSpan Praised by Doctor and Professor

A doctor and a professor agree; the LifeSpan TR1200i folding treadmill is a great product. And by a doctor we mean retailer Treadmill Doctor, which named the product the “Best New Treadmill” in its 2011 fitness equipment review. The TR1200i, which is made by PCE Health and Fitness, was also named “Best Treadmill under $1000” by Fitness Professor Review.

The folding treadmill earned high marks for its quality construction, walking area and value, while Fitness Professor offered that the “all new TR1200i offers the quality consumers are looking for in an affordable package plus LifeSpan’s wonderful Fitness Club software.” Continue reading LifeSpan Praised by Doctor and Professor