Start Clock - Attackpoint : Orienteering training, racing, running, navigation, and fitness

Dec 16, 2012 11:43 PM #

http://www.despard-design.com/StartClockDemo/Start...

Dont' click that just yet though, it probably won't work in your browser.

Its a start clock display, emulating the hardware ones from Alge, Tag-Heuer, etc, that runs as a javascript app in a browser. It has a analog and digital time of day display, a red/green start light, countdown to next start time, start beeps, and it loads a startlist file to display the next starters.

Since it's intended to run a computer that I control, I made no effort for cross browser support. It uses a bunch of webkit specific css flags to do the clock hand rotation, and css3 box model for centering, and the audio will only work on new versions of webkit.

I know it works in recent versions of chrome and safari. In older versions everything but the audio works. I don't think it will work in anything else right now.

Known bugs:
broswer support
can take one start cycle to get everything initialized properly
start interval and start list location are not configurable without editing properties in the code.

Dec 17, 2012 1:50 AM #

carlch:

It seems to be missing the 4th beep--or is that your intention.

Dec 17, 2012 2:01 AM #

edwarddes:

It's supposed to do that. I have it set up how with a 5sec warning beep, then 3sec countdown and final go beep.

Dec 17, 2012 4:21 AM #

tRicky:

Do not deviate from the norm.

Dec 17, 2012 3:59 PM #

edwarddes:

What do you consider the norm in this case?

Dec 17, 2012 4:05 PM #

Canadian:

I would say the norm is beeps every second from 5 seconds out.

I have had one race where there was a single beep at 10 seconds and then beeps every second from 5 seconds.

I quite liked that.

I don't think it needs to be "the norm" but it has to be something athletes are comfortable with.

Dec 17, 2012 4:07 PM #

GuyO:

On IE8, the digital clock, next-start countdown, and next-starter names work fine -- if the window is large enough (no scroll bars). Analog clock stuck at 12:00; no beeps.
(just FYI, not a critique)

Dec 17, 2012 4:09 PM #

acjospe:

In skiing, it gives a warning beep at 10s, and then counts down the last three, with the final beep higher in pitch.

Dec 17, 2012 4:55 PM #

carlch:

For orienteering, the little beeps every second for the last 5 seconds followed by the loud go beep is what I'm used to.

Dec 17, 2012 5:11 PM #

cmorse:

not sure how much utility it might have, but perhaps query the 'check' box to the starter list (say 7-10 minutes from current start) as a sort of check-in of runners starting. Then the start crew only have to call out names for runner's who have not 'checked in' just prior to their start. Just a thought...

Dec 17, 2012 6:23 PM #

cedarcreek:

It is my understanding that 5 beeps is the Olympic standard starting signal. It's used, I believe, everywhere from Downhill (where you see it on TV) to 10m air pistol, where it is comical because the event goes for over an hour and it is seriously slow motion.

I've heard the 5 beeps so much it just sounds normal to me now, although I noticed the square-box start timers from the NAOCs had a 10-sec warning beep, then the 5 beeps. They also counted down from T-45 to zero and then up to T+15 (on the one-minute settings).

Very nice, though. The names-for-call-up is very nice, although extending the call up list out to five minutes would be a neat future enhancement. (Looks like cmorse has a better idea...)

Dec 17, 2012 6:43 PM #

carlch:

Yeah, extending the start list out for a bit is a great idea though will be limited by your screen size.

Dec 17, 2012 6:50 PM #

walk:

Works fine on an iPad except the digital seconds display is off screen. Can barely make out the edge of the tens digit.

Dec 17, 2012 6:54 PM #

edwarddes:

Thanks for the iPad test. The text size is just too big, I'll make it dependent on the display size, and then it should work. An iPad, while a bit small to read from a distance, would be a convenient way to deploy this.

Dec 17, 2012 6:59 PM #

cedarcreek:

I seriously do not understand why every fitness GPS watch doesn't have a start timer mode. (But I'm an idiot.)

Dec 17, 2012 7:15 PM #

walk:

Actually I just spent 99 cents and bought "Startclock" which does exactly what you want. Have it on the iPad and is perfect. Beeps from 5" down with higher pitch at zero time. Day mode has black numbers on white background. Night reverses that.

It was developed for orienteering and other interval start sports. Also available for iPhone.

Dec 17, 2012 10:36 PM #

tRicky:

I figured the norm was beeps every second from five seconds. If you change it to once at five seconds then from three seconds down, you'd have to explain to orienteers "Oh by the way, the clock beeps at five seconds then it misses four and beeps from three down". It would throw out my start rhythm.

Dec 18, 2012 12:27 AM #

Juffy:

On IE8, the digital clock, next-start countdown, and next-starter names work fine -- if the window is large enough (no scroll bars). Analog clock stuck at 12:00; no beeps.

That's because IE8 isn't a real browser. >_<

Dec 18, 2012 2:39 AM #

jjcote:

In Firefox 17.0.1, the analog clock isn't moving and I'm getting no audio.

Dec 18, 2012 3:30 AM #

Uncle JiM: