Mobstats

[tetsujin1979]

Morning all

a few months ago, I participated in the Dublin Science hackday - http://www.sciencehackdaydublin.com - a two day programming competition for developers to work on any project they want.

The idea was to use the crowd at a game, and the audience watching at home, to track the statistics of the match in progress - passes, shots, goals, etc - using your phone, pc or tablet. There wasn't enough time to develop a full product, but the proof of concept was strong enough to win best design on the day.

One of the other guys that was helping me, Kevin Sexton, and another developer who was there, Alan Rice, have been developing this in the NDRC's Launchpad program - http://www.ndrc.ie/ - with a view to presenting it to venture capitalists in a little over 6 weeks to develop as a full product. They received some coverage in the Sunday Business Post as part of their "Launching Success" article on the NDRC - http://siliconrepublic.com/start-ups/item/29453-ndrc-reveals-15-new-digital (read under "MobStats")

Alan has developed the product to the point where we're ready for testing, and we're looking for volunteers to watch the Ireland - Faroe Islands game with us on 16th October, and record the stats using their phones, and then give some feedback afterwards on the app - how easy it as to use, what they liked, what they didn't like, what was missing, etc.

You can sign up for updates on the product at www.mobstats.com (http://www.mobstats.com) or follow them on twitter @MobStatsMob We're looking for as many people as possible for an effective test.

Post below if you're interested in participating, or have any questions

(note - I've run this by Adam and he's okayed me posting this, as long as it's limited to this thread)

[Serb]

This is a clever idea. I'd be happy to help you out on this one.

[tetsujin1979]

Great, thanks. I'll be in touch with the details closer to the game

[tricky_colour]

Not sure I understand, particularly "and record the stats using their phones" what does this mean precisely?
You seem to assume people know what you are talking about but I have no idea, so would be helpful if you
gave a full and clear explanation, particular one which assumes I have no mind reading ability whatsoever ;)

Sounds interesting though even I have no idea what is being talked about, I may have a totally different concept
(or two) of what is being talked about. Do you have to have a mobile phone? Sounds rather expensive.

[tetsujin1979]

sorry, not the best explanation.
Picture the team selection screen from fantasy football or football manager, on your phone. If there's a pass between Whelan and Keane, swipe from Whelan to Keane. If Keane shoots and scores, swipe from Keane into the goal, and so on. The idea is that each motion on the phone (or tablet, or PC) is recorded as a statistic - pass, shot, tackle, etc.
What we're trying to do is use the audience of a game, either at the stadium or watching at home, to record these stats and make them available to the public in a wiki, which is publicy editable, so say you could correct the pass as coming from Andrews instead, or that the shot was missed instead of a goal.
Like I said all we have at the moment is a proof of concept, so we need some volunteers to test it and give us feedback.

I'll ask Alan to do up a demonstration video and I'll post it here

[BonnieShels]

This is a great idea. Defo onboard.

[Manblue]

happy to help

[tetsujin1979]

Great, thanks guys. Can you sing sign up at http://signup.mobstats.com ?
Just using it to keep track of people

[tetsujin1979]

I realise that the last thing anyone wants to think about right now is watching another game, but if people are still interested in this, we're still looking for volunteers at http://signup.mobstats.com/

For anyone who's already volunteered, we're finalising the where and when of it all and will have the details tomorrow.

[tetsujin1979]

the day of the first big test for the app is here, for anyone who has already signed up, you should have gotten a mail yesterday with some instructions for the game tonight, for everyone else, there's still time to signup at http://signup.mobstats.com/

I'm going to be watching the game in Messrs Maguire on the quays later, so feel free to stop in if you have no other plans and would like to help out

On a positive note, the app was chosen as Startup of the Day for the business post: http://www.businesspost.ie/#!story/Home/News/Startup+of+the+day%3A+Mobstats/id/19410615-5218-507d-2a86-35b004116887 which has given us a massive boost ahead of tonight.

We'll release the results later in the week, and I'd like to thank anyone who's already signed up

[Manblue]

Well tets,

Not sure if this is the right place for feedback but if not i'm sure you can pass it on.

Firstly I like the concept and would defo be interested in taking part again.

Regarding the app, I don't want to be too critical as I know it was a dumbed down version but here goes:

Thought the navigation was very straightforward and the app was easy to use. I used it for about 30 mins (from 15-45 mins).

Couple of suggestions I would have,

Instead of the click function, I would prefer if there was a ribbon on the side with different functions such as Sideways pass, backpass, forward pass, long ball, tackle, dribble, interception and cross (obviously that list isn't exhaustive). People could then use a drag and drop function with the item on the ribbon between the players etc, this way not only are we counting player touches but passes, directions, who they pass to most often etc (i'm sure ye have probably thought of all this but anyway).

I'd also like to be able to right click on my players in real time and see what data i've recorded (how many touches, headers, completed passes etc).

I'd like to be able to have an option to see what other people are recording in comparison to what I have recorded, just like peoples opinions differ on players i'm sure (although i dont know how) there must be some variation in what the people them doing in games and it would be interesting to be able to see this in real time. As an aside this also made me wonder what if I just passed it to a kid to keep them quiet and let them button bash away while i watched the match. How does the system know if the tapping is a legitimate attempt to add information and not just some of Robbies fan club giving him extra touchs and goals etc :)

A match forum option in the app may be decent too, to discuss results.

I have a couple more suggestions but will wait to see what people come back with before going into more details.

Finally just one thing. Sounds silly but when I was done, I didnt know what to do. Did I just close out of the window? Was I required to click a finished tab to ensure my data was recorded etc.

Hope this is what your were after.

[tetsujin1979]

Well tets,

Not sure if this is the right place for feedback but if not i'm sure you can pass it on.
No problem, the whole idea is based around open data, so here is as good a place as any


Firstly I like the concept and would defo be interested in taking part again.Great, we'll hopefully be running another test around the Greece game, with an updated version


Regarding the app, I don't want to be too critical as I know it was a dumbed down version but here goes:

Thought the navigation was very straightforward and the app was easy to use. I used it for about 30 mins (from 15-45 mins).

Couple of suggestions I would have,

Instead of the click function, I would prefer if there was a ribbon on the side with different functions such as Sideways pass, backpass, forward pass, long ball, tackle, dribble, interception and cross (obviously that list isn't exhaustive). People could then use a drag and drop function with the item on the ribbon between the players etc, this way not only are we counting player touches but passes, directions, who they pass to most often etc (i'm sure ye have probably thought of all this but anyway).nice idea, do you think it would take a longer than needed time to select the correct option from the ribbon, drag it over and drop on the correct player?


I'd also like to be able to right click on my players in real time and see what data i've recorded (how many touches, headers, completed passes etc).

I'd like to be able to have an option to see what other people are recording in comparison to what I have recorded, just like peoples opinions differ on players i'm sure (although i dont know how) there must be some variation in what the people them doing in games and it would be interesting to be able to see this in real time.All in the future plans. There's definitely an audience who just want to watch the numbers change, without contributing themselves.


As an aside this also made me wonder what if I just passed it to a kid to keep them quiet and let them button bash away while i watched the match. How does the system know if the tapping is a legitimate attempt to add information and not just some of Robbies fan club giving him extra touchs and goals etcPart of the concept is based around the wisdom of crowds. Enough people will hit the correct option, that any mistakes (e.g. tapping Walters instead of Keane) or attempts to improve a player's performance will be ignored because enough people will make the correct choice and that will be selected by the system


A match forum option in the app may be decent too, to discuss results.also in the plans. We're thinking a general thread for the whole game, and the a comments section for individual actions, passes, shots, etc


I have a couple more suggestions but will wait to see what people come back with before going into more details.

Finally just one thing. Sounds silly but when I was done, I didnt know what to do. Did I just close out of the window? Was I required to click a finished tab to ensure my data was recorded etc.

Hope this is what your were after.
no, that's helpful, we need to let people know how to exit. Each action is sent as it happens, not all together at the end of the game.

[tetsujin1979]

Bumping this for the second round of testing. Anyone that signed up for the test in the Faroes game should have gotten this mail over the weekend.

We're running another test for the Greece game with the new version of the app,

We've been flat out in HQ going through the fantastic feedback following our first live test. You've been amazing and we're glad to announce that we're already adding some of the features you asked for.

So now we need to ask you another favour:
Will you help us grow the Mob ahead of Wed's match?: http://signup.mobstats.com/

Spread the word around - send the link above to 3 or 4 of your mates
We're aiming to get the Mob playing from right inside Aviva stadium -- let's do this
Let's introduce a bit of spectator competition -- see who rises to the top positions on our leaderboard

Here are a few of the new features you asked for:

1.You asked for your score to be based on your correct tags?
You got it. Our algorithm will now only give points if you tag correctly. We were far too generous last time :)

2.You asked whether it'd be possible to see other taggers scores?
No problem. On Wed next you'll see highest tagger scores and see your personal ranking on our Mob leaderboard in the app.

3.You suggested an option to log in with Twitter rather than email?
We're adding the Twitter login so now you'll have both options.

If you want to contact us at any time here's our details:

@mobstatsmob -- that's our twitter
http://www.facebook.com/Mobstats/app_46468144668 -- add to our list of requested features or vote/comment on the ones there

[paul_oshea]

Tets, is this solely based on those who attend games or those at the games and those who watch on TV? It seems like a good idea in fairness, but I wonder would many at a game be interested in messing with their phone throughout the game? Either way best of luck with it.

[tetsujin1979]

both actually, but we'd imagine it'll be a little bit more difficult for people in the stadium to keep updating throughout the game

we're still working through the numbers from the test we did for the Faroes game (thanks again to anyone who volunteered), but it was clear from a very early stage that people were engaged and using it all the way through the game.

I had thought that there would be a drop off towards the end of both halves as people went to grab a bite, or put on the kettle or just switched off, but the amount of updates we were receiving remained consistent.

[tetsujin1979]

bumping this again as the guys who've been developing the app have been shortlisted for funding from the Arthur Guinness Projects
Can you vote here: https://www.arthurguinnessprojects.com/sport/mobstats

You can vote once a day per category, so vote early, vote often

[tricky_colour]

Sounds like it would be pretty hard work to do that to on a live match.
Something very simple might be OK like player ratings after the match or maybe
hitting a positive or a negative for a player.
Ie if he does something good you hit plus, bad hit minus.
Anything more than that would be to difficult, would be hard to watch the game as you input the data.

I mean they have a thing in election speeches where the audience hit positive or negative as they hear what is said,
but that is just for one person, 11 people is gonna be quite hard work.

[tetsujin1979]

the tests we conducted for the Faroes qualifier and Greece friendly gave a fairly thorough representation of the games, and we've done more tests since then with hockey and rugby, with similiar results.

The guys have had positive feedback from users, but it's hard to get funding, so this is one way we're attempting to raise the investment cash

[tetsujin1979]

bumping this again as the guys who've been developing the app have been shortlisted for funding from the Arthur Guinness Projects
Can you vote here: https://www.arthurguinnessprojects.com/sport/mobstats

You can vote once a day per category, so vote early, vote oftenvoting is continuing on this until this Friday, so can everyone click the link and vote once a day until then? I'd really appreciate it, and so would the guys

[ArdeeBhoy]

Done...

[tetsujin1979]

thanks, the lads put together this video explaining the idea behind the app: http://vimeo.com/72651801
It might end up looking completely different, but it does explaing the concept very well

[tetsujin1979]

final day of voting (and me bumping the thread) today
we broke 1000 votes earlier this morning, which is amazing, I'd like to thank everyone who voted so far, this really means a lot
If you haven't voted today, you have until midnight tonight to cast your final vote here: https://www.arthurguinnessprojects.com/sport/mobstats