Technology in Paddling
I enjoy a good electronic gadget! I don't like them for the sale of liking them, and if I can't see the purpose of a good bit of technology, then it is not a good bit of technology.
The emergence of the iPhone was a good example. The phone on its own was just another phone, however when you add the right applications & learn to use them properly, suddenly the iPhone served a purpose. The turning point with the iPhone for me was finding an application that allowed me to set up interval training sessions.
I also guess that one of the good applications of technology in sport is common place in cycling. You can always measure your sessions really well & thus measure improvement.
So why the sudden public confession of geek-dom? The answer is simple: the Federal Election
"Please explain?" Just prior to the 2007 Federal Election I was about to submit for a technology based R & D grant. I'd been working on a device that measured the rise & fall of the bow of a K1. This gave the paddler a measure of how smoothly the boat was running. The inspiration for the idea came from watching paddlers at the elite level whom could keep their bows ultra steady while at speed. A smooth running boat goes faster than a bouncing boat. Those readers whom paddle K1's & K2's will know what I mean. Plastic boat paddlers will need to take my word for it.
While the project was being designed I realised that once we'd established the basic data communications & collection systems, the process of adding different sensors was then quite simple. Thus we were then able to measure other interesting things like boat roll & acceleration.
History now reads that the R & D grant scheme was axed straight after the 2007 Federal Election, and thus the project was put on hold.
As we are now in the process of finding out who will govern Australia at the moment, I suppose there is a slim chance that the grant scheme may return!
So my question to readers is as followed: what information would you like to collect / view while you are paddling? I'd like to see a real time read out of strain applied to the paddle & be able to compare sides.
Any thoughts from other similarly minded paddlers?
Cheers,
WP
Power
Much like the power meters for bikes. You could then use this in any number of ways:
1. comparing the speed or efficiency of different craft - apply same power to it and see if it is faster/slower than the other craft
2. comparing technique changes - different technique, increased max power = a positive technique change. Or same HR, different technique, increased power = a more efficent technique. Whereas now, it's really just a guessing game if a technique change is actually a positive one.
3. and of course to measure if you have improved at all. If you can produce more power over a set period of time, your training has worked and made you stronger. So hard to tell normally due to different conditions, boats, other people's fitness also not staying still.
Invent that and you'll make many pretty pennies!
Winged: 6 Degree of F monitoring
Oh winged one ... I know a competent Naval Architect that likes playing with gadgets. He is developing a self contained 6 degree of freedom monitoring device that might lend it self well to your application. He is also a bit of a nerd that just likes playing ... like me really. He also does things on a budget, and may well just try adapting to your application for fun.
If you are interested I can put you in touch with him.
I hear you on R&D grants too, I was involved in a new beverage system that slowed considerably with the axing of R&D grants.
Stroke rate
I have trouble counting past 10 so I'd like my stroke rate counted.
stroke rate
I've found an iphone app (free) that measures stroke rate,time & distance for the 1st 100 strokes of yr workout - needs to be reset each 100 strokes.
Paid app no resetting required.
I haven't used it yet as I'm out of action with a damaged wing.
search for RitmoTime in itunes
Let me know how it goes!
Another good reason to get an iPhone
Any clues on how it works?
Well Spotted!
WP.
paddling info
OOOOH I like techno-gadgets too. If I went paddling and discovered I had forgotten my GPS, I'd come back home.
What I'd love to have a measure of, especially relative to other people, is what percentage of my ski is actually in the water. I maintain that as a lightweight, I'm being bounced around more than a 100kg guy simply because so much of my boat is above the waterline that it becomes unstable.
But I'd like to know if this is the case, or if I'm just crap.