Tech Watch

By Benjamin Lee, all over the place

While searching through one of the Web indexes (AltaVista), I came across an interview with Lars Gullikson of Silva (the orienteering equipment manufacturer), published in a recent issue of CompassSport (the British orienteering magazine). They described the TimeTrack system Silva is currently developing for turning orienteering into more of a spectator sport.

The system is based partly on the Regnly electronic control system: GPS coupled with radio beacons carried by each competitor. The system tracks and displays the location of each orienteerer. Each runner's actual route is recorded, and can be overprinted on a map afterwards. Parts of TimeTrack are currently being field tested, and a trial TV broadcast was scheduled for sometime this past fall (1996). Silva anticipates having the system ready around mid-1997.

The full article (including graphics) can be found online in the May 1996 edition of CompassSport, at:
<URL:http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/at44/features/feature3.htm>

CompassSport's home page can be found at:
<URL:http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/at44/index.htm>


This page is maintained by: Benjamin Lee.
Last updated: 1997-05-25