Bridgescore+ (BS+) started most of the KOs and compact KOs. The schedule was a little unusual in that there would be a KO event starting at 9:30, then a different KO at 10:30. The larger ones were started with Bridgescore+, the smaller ones using the old fashioned way. With BS+ we typically only had 1-2 directors and had all assignments up within 1-2 minutes of start time. The smaller KOs would require 4-5 directors and assignments were about 10 minutes after start time.
For D7, we are now at the point where the KO starts should IMHO all be done with BS+. D7 needs to buy a projector, printer and ensure that the TD has WiFi access. BS+ runs on the Internet, the TDs can use their current computers, although newer computers with bigger display resolution would be much better. The 1024x768 resolution of the laptop PCs that the TDs use is just not good enough. For the cost, I would recommend that D7 invest in a better laptop just to start the KOs. I am sure that the laptop would be used for other things, but a laptop with a good resolution makes it so much easier. D7 has the money, this would be a sound investment.
No pre-registration as tournament didn't want it.
The capital cost to let BS+ start KOs is going to be minimal: projector, printer, laptop. See previous emails about projectors etc.
The computer/camera cost less than $100.
The computer/camera was shown in the D7 board meeting. The camera sat quietly in the room filming everyone (done with permission from Jim). The signal went as far as upstairs. It allowed me to continue watching the meeting without being there.
At no time did I record any video, it was just used for watching video.
The camera technology is cheap - under $100. The setup is easy. The camera is small and lightweight.
The quality is fair (5Mpixel resolution).
The problem is the players. When the camera was on Flight B or C players, the amount of hesitation and UI is amazing. With Flight A it was worse.
Our goal is to encourage people to come play, it is not to assume that they are cheating and stick a camera on them. Based on what I saw, I think using a camera to help determine hesitation/UI for appeals is not justified at this point.
It is justified when we have the District GNTs or NAPs finals. For these tournaments, money is involved. I think it reasonable for all players to assume that they might be filmed.
What is also justified would be to have a camera at the corner of the room to help the DIC.
For example, during a KO sale, the camera can tell how long the line is. The DIC back in the far remote office can see that the line is getting long and send an extra director to help shorten the line. Currently we have no good way of doing that.
I therefore recommend that we look at this type of camera for D7 tournaments.
We need a TD that is knowledgable on how to operate these. D7 is fortunate to have these TDs.
Raspberry Pis are powered by a USB cable. Most modern TVs have a USB out port so the Pi was powered from the TV. The Pi has an HDMI out that plugged into the TV. The Pi is small - about 4"x2"x1".
The screen was big enough to display two browser windows.
On one window we had an auto-scrolling display of the Bulletin. On another window we had a static display of the schedule.
The only issue was logging in to the hotel WiFi everyone morning using Jack's room # and password.
The system ran with little/no maintenance during the day.
The pages we displayed were from Jay Whipple's site which auto-created the bulletin. This was the first tournament that displayed the scrolling ability so the software improved rapidly throughout the week as I worked with Jay.
The biggest problem was players thinking it was an interactive display and trying to move the mouse by putting their hands on the TV. Next time I bring more glass cleaner.
It should be easy to scroll through all the KOs and have the actual table assignments of the returning KOs for each match. This does mean that the TDs will need to enter the table assignment for each round into the computer and the data sent to Fast Results.
It is also easy to say where events are going to be sold.
This stuff - TVs/projectos/displays - is 'trivial'. We need to make more use of this technology. D7 leads the ACBL by far in most matters technical so it seems correct to create best practices and share with the other Districts, Units and even ACBL.