PocketTimer

PocketTimer is the timing component of our PalmPilot-based race-timing solution, which can be used by itself or in conjunction with the other components of PocketTimer Pro for a more complete solution. Here are the features of PocketTimer:

Logging of times is done on the main screen, shown at right. The person doing race timing simply taps on the large on-screen number buttons with a stylus to record the bib# (optional) of each racer, then taps the "Record" button to automatically record the current elapsed time. The screen features:

• Continuous display of elapsed time
• Continuous display of pace (if a distance has been entered for the event)
• Display of the place of the upcoming racer.
• A large "Start" button to start the timing, which then changes to "Record" to record each racer.
• Large number buttons to enter the Bib# of the approaching racer prior to pressing Record - easily used by inexperienced users, without the need for "Graffiti" (PalmPilot's handwriting recognition)
• A way to indicate that the entered number is uncertain (if it can't be read clearly). Or, the user can just tap the Record button without entering a bib# beforehand, and PocketTimer will record the time and a "?" for the bib#.
• Simple deletion of the last entry if the Record button is hit in error, or if the user quickly realizes the racer was a bandit.
• Quick swap of the last two bib#'s if a sprint to the finish changes the order after the user had keyed in the bib #'s.
• Captured times can be reviewed, even while the event is in progress, by tapping on the "Show" button.

With all these features, even an inexperienced operator can achieve >99% accuracy when capturing just times alone (without bib #'s), and 90-100% accuracy when recording bib #'s along with the times. The ability to capture every bib# obviously degrades as the event gets larger and clumps of racers finish together, but when numbers are missed, post-race editing of the results using the tear-off tags as a refereence easily turns this into 100% accuracy with just a few minutes effort. PocketTimer has been field tested on races with as many as 1000 entrants.

Some things are not obvious by just looking at the main screen. These features include:

• There is not an easy way to stop the timer. Timing is stopped by using a menu, so that an inexperienced operator cannot inadvertantly stop the time while the event is running.
• The PalmPilot has "hard buttons" which allow the user to switch to the other (standard) PalmPilot applications - Datebook, Address Book, To-Do List, and MemoPad. A user who presses one of these buttons (intentionally or accidentally) receives a warning that they must know how to get back to where they are. Tapping on "Don't Exit" leaves PocketTimer running.
• An experienced user can leave the application while the timer is running, for example before the first finisher is in sight, and then return to PocketTimer. PocketTimer maintains the correct time even when the program is not running!
• The power to the PalmPilot can be turned off while the race is in progress (before finishers appear), and then turned on. PocketTimer maintains the correct time even when the PalmPilot itself is not running! [Note - this applies to timing in 1.0 sec resolution mode only - see below]

Once the bib #'s and times are recorded, they can be reviewed, as shown in the screen at left. This can even be done while the event is in progress; a continuous display of elapsed time in the event is shown in the upper right of the screen. Features of the recorded times screen include:

• Display of finishing (or intermediate) place, bib#, time, and pace (if a distance has been entered).
• Sorting of displayed results by place, bib#, or time. Sorting by bib# makes it easy to see who has finished and who hasn't.
• Quick Find - After the race, just enter the bib# of any finisher and the "tape" scrolls so you can see that finisher's place, time, and pace. Great for satisfying those curious racers after the event before the results are posted!
• Editing of recorded information. After the race (or even during), review the bib#'s against the tear-off tags collected at the end of the finishing chute. The few numbers that were entered incorrectly or missed by the user can be easily corrected or entered. In some cases you will find an "extra" tear-off tag for which neither a number nor a time was recorded. In this case, you can insert a new finisher in its proper location.

Again, some features are not obvious by just looking at the screen. These features include:

• Times can be offset (up or down). If you start the timer at the wrong time (as might happen if the finish and start are at different places), you can adjust the time based on some independent information (e.g., another stopwatch) so that all times are adjusted.
• Time Trial Mode - PocketTimer can record time trial events in which participants start at separate times; the time differential can then be automatically subtracted from all recorded times so that the true times (and finishing order) are displayed.
• Last lap display - if you record multiple laps for participants, tapping the Lap button displays just the last lap (and the real finishing places).
• Using DirectSync from TealPoint (or possibly other equivalent software), you can transfer times from one PalmPilot to another; you can then use the sorting feature mentioned above to sort them into proper time order. This allows you to time with multiple units, but have the results collected and displayed on a single unit.
• Results can be transferred as a table of numbers (in the format shown in the figure above) to the MemoPad, and from there "HotSync'ed" into a desktop Windows or Macintosh computer. The results can then be easily merged into other software being used for results (not provided with PocketTimer). Or, you can use our new RaceBase software (due to be released in June) directly on the Pilot to score your race!
• Alternatively, the results can be printed directly from PocketTimer, using our PalmPrint software. Or, you can use PalmPrint to transfer the results directly to another computer, which allows you to transfer the results to a computer which is not running HotSync (and doesn't even have Pilot desktop software installed on it); all you need is some sort of terminal emulation software running on the other computer.
• A "b" or a "t" quickly scrolls to the bottom or top of the list of finishers so you don't have to tap on the scroll arrow fifty times!
• Each finisher uses only 16 bytes of storage on the device, which means that even on the original Pilot, you can record thousands of finishing times with no problem at all. The software itself? It takes up only 27K on your PalmPilot.

The software is configured using the screen shown at right. Features include:

• Time resolution for the timer can be either 0.01 seconds (fast mode) or 1.0 seconds (slow mode). In fast mode, the PalmPilot cannot be turned off, because it "loses" the time; in slow mode, the PalmPilot can be turned off. In the event that you are running in fast mode and the unit is turned off, PocketTimer readjusts the timer based on the 1-second time. In this case the fractions of a second are not absolutely correct (compared to the start of the event), but, as long as the unit is left on, the relative times of subsequent recorded times will be correct.
• Distance of the event (or of the intermediate point in the event which is being timed, e.g., a certain mile marker or aid station) can be entered in miles, kilometers, yards, meters, or feet. If this feature doesn't apply, just clear the distance field and the pace will not be displayed.
• Pace can be displayed in min/mile, min/km, miles/hr, kilometers/hr, min/100 yards, or min/100 meters.
• The "starting place" is a powerful feature which allows you to use two (or more) Pilots to time an event. After the first, say, 100 finishers have crossed the finish line, start recording with the second Pilot, while the first is taken to the announcer's stand to announce results, or to a computer to HotSync in the data. [You will need a "multi-user" license to make use of this feature so that you are authorized to use the software on multiple PalmPilots]
• Max. digits lets you set the maximum number of digits on any bib#, which prevents errors if you try to enter too many digits before pressing the Record button (a warning is sounded if you try).
• "AutoRecord" is a feature which automatically records the time when the maximum number of digit are entered. This allows you to record splits faster (for example, recording runners in eight lanes requires only one tap on the screen to record the time instead of two). It can be confusing (for example, if maximum digits is three, a 2-digit number requires pressing "Record" while a 3-digit number doesn't), so it is an optional feature that can be disabled.
• When you export (via the MemoPad or serial port) or print the information, you can select exactly what to export or print - place, bib#, time, and/or pace.
• When the information is exported, the different numbers can be separated by tabs or commas ("tab-delimited" or "comma-separated"), depending on which is more easily utilized by your desktop software.

  Special note for yacht racers: The standard verison of PocketTimer allows #'s from 1-32767. A special version of the software is available which records numbers from 1 to 999999 and is thus fully compliant with yacht racing requirements (recording sail #'s). At this time, the special version of PocketTimer is not compatible with our RaceBase race scoring software (which probably isn't appropriate for most yacht races anyway), or with our Race Announcer software.

Who we are...

PocketTimer is brought to you by Stevens Creek Software, publishers of The Athlete's Diary software. The Athlete's Diary, on the market for eight years, is the world's most popular multisport training log software for Macintosh, Windows, and DOS. Stevens Creek Software also operates The Athlete's Bookstore online, where you can order a wide variety of books on running, cycling, swimming, triathlon, and general fitness topics.

The complete manual for PocketTimer is online. Read the manual and you can see everything the software can do, and how easy it is to use. To have a PocketTimer brochure mailed to you, click here.

PocketTimer is based on the PalmPilot PDA from 3Com/U.S. Robotics, and equivalent products like the IBM Workpad. It runs on any version of the Pilot, including not only the currently sold versions (PalmPilot Personal, PalmPilot Professional, and Palm III) but also the original Pilots. You can find the PalmPilot at your local electronics or computer store in the $170-$370 range - less than you would pay a timing company to time a single event! Of course, the PalmPilot is a wonderful general purpose organizer (date book, address book, to-do list, etc.) so in between races you can put it to good use (unlike that expensive timing equipment). If you want to learn more, visit the PalmPilot web site.

PocketTimer is configured so that you can use it without a Serial Number (password) so that you can see how it works. The only limitation is that until you provide a serial number, you will only be able to record times for ten athletes. Once you purchase the software (see below), we'll email you the Serial Number to unlock the software, and all functions will be available. Download now.

A single copy of PocketTimer is just $49.95. A multi-copy license, appropriate if you want to use multiple Pilots to time multiple aspects of a race (e.g., intermediate points, multiple lanes) is available for $119.95 (up to five copies) or $179.95 (up to ten copies).

Most users download the software from our Web site and pay for the software online; for a small charge we can send you the software on a disk via regular mail instead. You can order online or by mail.

Online: Order Form Mail: Stevens Creek Software P.O. Box 2126 Cupertino, CA 95015 We accept most credit cards (online ordering only). If you wish to order by mail, contact us via email so that we can calculate the total cost of the software plus shipping charges. Let us know if you also wish to receive the software on a mailed CD. Payment is by check or money order drawn from a U.S. affiliated bank in U.S. funds. Mail orders will take a considerably longer time than payment and delivery online.