PocketTimer (Palm OS) is the timing component of our Palm-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" (Palm'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.
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Supported operating systems:
Palm OS 3.x, Palm OS 4.x, Palm OS 5.x
Other Software by developer «Stevens Creek Software»:
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