[DannyBres]

I am considering developing a duplicate bridge scoring system that can be used on HTML5 browsers (All modern smartphones & tablets, PC & Mac etc.) . So if a group of friend wanted a game of duplicate and they have atleast 1 device with a html5 browser per table and the rest would be done on my server.....

What do you all think?!

Can anyone think of any situations where this would be used? Personally or for other people. Should I progress with the idea?

[mtvesuvius]

I think this would be really cool. I know I could use it, and I would think it may be a step towards getting rid of the clunky Bridgemates/Bridgepads on the tables. Seems like a great idea, and a good example for what to work towards in the future... I'd say go for it!

[inquiry]

 mtvesuvius, on 2011-July-17, 09:05, said:

I think this would be really cool. I know I could use it, and I would think it may be a step towards getting rid of the clunky Bridgemates/Bridgepads on the tables. Seems like a great idea, and a good example for what to work towards in the future... I'd say go for it!

Will not work at events were phones, etc are banned. It is a pisser that I have to leave my phone in the car/motel room when I play at ACBL nationals, etc.

[blackshoe]

Bans can be lifted.

[mtvesuvius]

Or the ACBL could provide the phones.

[Phil]

Or the scores are entered while the wireless is disabled and the phone submitted to the directors at the end of the session.

Very innovative idea and there is a huge market for this.

[MrAce]

I say go for it, it sounds like a great idea to me.

[Mbodell]

 DannyBres, on 2011-July-17, 04:12, said:

I am considering developing a duplicate bridge scoring system that can be used on HTML5 browsers (All modern smartphones & tablets, PC & Mac etc.) . So if a group of friend wanted a game of duplicate and they have atleast 1 device with a html5 browser per table and the rest would be done on my server.....

What do you all think?!

Can anyone think of any situations where this would be used? Personally or for other people. Should I progress with the idea?

There are a couple of guys in the San Jose area who developed that for keeping track of their personal score card. It could only be used in club games that don't ban phones today.

[matmat]

This seems like a difficult thing to get right.

First off, you need a fairly standardized app for a whole slew of mobile devices. I don't think you can just assume that someone at the table will always have an iphone or a droid or whatever. I guess you solve that problem by using html5 or whatnot.

Secondly, having multiple users responsible for upgrading software on different devices is much different than one user responsible for multiple copies of the same device (which is the bridgemate/pad model). I think this is still a concern, unless the application is server-side.

Thirdly, you will need a server to compile the scores; presumably this server will be local to the playing site, rather than off in a cave somewhere, since in the latter case you'd be relying on network connections at two sites rather than just one. (my reading comprehension is off today, apparently -- I don't like the idea of the scoring being off on a server somewhere far away).

Lastly, you will need to remember to have methods for a TD to override stuff, but that's just more programming.

I'm not claiming this can't be done, btw, or that it is not worth doing.
I just think it is a very involved project that will be quite intricate and will require a lot of work to get right to ensure that it is preferable to the technology existing today.

This post has been edited by matmat: 2011-July-17, 21:42

[Rossoneri]

I think it's a good idea, but matmat has raised some good points.

[hotShot]

I'm sure that during the last year, I saw an offer for a smartphone tournament scoring program.
(edit: found the link again http://www.bridgepho...Pages/index.jsp )

As to matmat points any decent smartphone can act as a wireless hotspot and as a server for a small web-application.
Scoring a tournament is nothing that needs real computer power, any smartphone can do that.
So you don't need an internet connection and a remote server.
Alternatively you can install a WLAN with your laptop for WLAN able smartphones or add bluetooth support to your laptop.

[matmat]

 hotShot, on 2011-July-18, 02:20, said:

I'm sure that during the last year, I saw an offer for a smartphone tournament scoring program.
(edit: found the link again http://www.bridgepho...Pages/index.jsp )

As to matmat points any decent smartphone can act as a wireless hotspot and as a server for a small web-application.
Scoring a tournament is nothing that needs real computer power, any smartphone can do that.
So you don't need an internet connection and a remote server.
Alternatively you can install a WLAN with your laptop for WLAN able smartphones or add bluetooth support to your laptop.

fair.

so why not just text the scores to the smartphone and have it process those texts and compile the scores?

[Vampyr]

 inquiry, on 2011-July-17, 09:19, said:

It is a pisser that I have to leave my phone in the car/motel room when I play at ACBL nationals, etc.

There is no hospitality desk at ACBL Nationals?

[matmat]

 Vampyr, on 2011-July-18, 16:26, said:

There is no hospitality desk at ACBL Nationals?

so long as you're willing to pay for the hospitality...

[Vampyr]

 matmat, on 2011-July-18, 16:57, said:

so long as you're willing to pay for the hospitality...

You have to pay to leave your phone? That is pretty annoying.

[Phil]

 Vampyr, on 2011-July-18, 17:22, said:

You have to pay to leave your phone? That is pretty annoying.

No you have fill out an index card, then pay. (annoying)

Picking it up means waiting in line at the end of a session. (ANNOYING)

Originally they allowed in and out privileges but some renob on the local NABC committee discovered his nephew or favorite charity could make some money so they charge you every time you check it. (REALLY ANNOYING).

The only saving grace is that they allow multiple phones in a single bag.

[mtvesuvius]

 Phil, on 2011-July-18, 18:11, said:

The only saving grace is that they allow multiple phones in a single bag.

For a discounted rate of course.

[barmar]

It's $2 a session, I don't think it's going to break anyone's bank. And I'm pretty sure the money goes to charity, not a nephew.

I think a number of us are going to go phoneless in Toronto, since the cost of talking on a US cellphone in Canada is eggregious.

[jh51]

Of course, all this talk about cell phones not be allowed at ACBL Nationals is specifically NABC+ events. In other events, you are simply requried to have them turned off. At the spring NABC I mostly played in regionally rated events, and such was the case. Only when I played in the Red Ribbon Pairs was I not allowed to have a cell phone in the room.

[matmat]

 barmar, on 2011-July-19, 14:56, said:

It's $2 a session, I don't think it's going to break anyone's bank. And I'm pretty sure the money goes to charity, not a nephew.

I think a number of us are going to go phoneless in Toronto, since the cost of talking on a US cellphone in Canada is eggregious.

$2/session is not trivial for someone like a college kid bumming their way to the playing site already throwing $20 at each session and eating out every meal. $6/day is a meal -- not a great one, but a probably a decent one. I still think this regulation is driven more by greed than any expectation of curbing cheating.