I have an idea that I am not sure is feasible so I am hoping some of you experienced Andriod users would comment on this.
I race dirt bikes in an event known as a "time keeping enduro".
In these events the rider is required to maintain the specified pace and arrive at check points on time. Not early, not late. Typically, four riders will start on a minute and will have a number assigned to them based on their starting time. If the "key time" for the start is 8:00 AM, row 1 leaves the start at 8:01, row two leaves at 8:02, etc.
At the checkpoints, the riders are scored based on their arrival time. The "key time" for each check is adjusted so that if the riders on minute 1 arrive on time the adjusted time will be "00:01". The hour is not recorded, only the minutes, so a "01" would be recorded on the "fender card". Minute two riders should arrive at "02", third row at "03", etc.
Currently, this adjusted time is figured out using correlation sheets and flip cards, a manual process that is error prone and takes extra people.
Another approach is to use clocks that are set with a skewed time. Getting clocks that have a reasonable accuracy, are easy to read and especially are easy to set is a challenge.
I was thinking of using some sort of Andriod PDA as clock, and then writing an application that would display the time with an offset that can be entered in. The digit would want to be as big of digits as possible so it could be viewed from a distance.
For an eduro event, I might need 20 to 30 of these. It would be great if they could all syncronize thier time together. Best if they could syncronize to a time standard, but it would be sufficient if they could just sync between themselves. This would happen the morning before the event started.
Out in the field, the check point workers would enter in an offset. The minutes from the real time would have the offset subtracted and then displayed.
The display would need to be sunlight readable.
It would need to operate, with the display visible, for 8 hours. It would need to keep time for at least 24 hours.
Is there an Android product that would be suitable for this?
Thanks
Rod
I race dirt bikes in an event known as a "time keeping enduro".
In these events the rider is required to maintain the specified pace and arrive at check points on time. Not early, not late. Typically, four riders will start on a minute and will have a number assigned to them based on their starting time. If the "key time" for the start is 8:00 AM, row 1 leaves the start at 8:01, row two leaves at 8:02, etc.
At the checkpoints, the riders are scored based on their arrival time. The "key time" for each check is adjusted so that if the riders on minute 1 arrive on time the adjusted time will be "00:01". The hour is not recorded, only the minutes, so a "01" would be recorded on the "fender card". Minute two riders should arrive at "02", third row at "03", etc.
Currently, this adjusted time is figured out using correlation sheets and flip cards, a manual process that is error prone and takes extra people.
Another approach is to use clocks that are set with a skewed time. Getting clocks that have a reasonable accuracy, are easy to read and especially are easy to set is a challenge.
I was thinking of using some sort of Andriod PDA as clock, and then writing an application that would display the time with an offset that can be entered in. The digit would want to be as big of digits as possible so it could be viewed from a distance.
For an eduro event, I might need 20 to 30 of these. It would be great if they could all syncronize thier time together. Best if they could syncronize to a time standard, but it would be sufficient if they could just sync between themselves. This would happen the morning before the event started.
Out in the field, the check point workers would enter in an offset. The minutes from the real time would have the offset subtracted and then displayed.
The display would need to be sunlight readable.
It would need to operate, with the display visible, for 8 hours. It would need to keep time for at least 24 hours.
Is there an Android product that would be suitable for this?
Thanks
Rod