[THESIS] Midterm Presentation

GAMETIME [assistant]
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
GAME DATA // REHASHED
a midterm overview of inspiration, context, progress, and next steps

LIZ RUTLEDGE
THESIS STUDIO // FALL 2011
TEAM LAWSON/PRENTICE
PARSONS MFA DESIGN + TECHNOLOGY 10/20/2011

WHY DATA VISUALIZATION? / Background + original concept
WHAT IS GIRLS’ LACROSSE? / A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE GAME
THE CONCEPT / DESIGN QUeSTIONS + GOALS
IMPETUS / STATS ARE YOUr FRIEND + POSITIONING GIRLS FOR SUCCESS
PRECEDENTS / CAPTURING + VISUALIZING GAME DATA
PROTOTYPES / Designing the system + scorekeeping
NEXT STEPS / WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
liz rutledge | fall thesis studio | MIDTERM REVIEW 10/20/2011

WHY DATA VISUALIZATION?
Background + original concept
my background. data visualization.
// math + statistics
// analyzing and interpreting data
// economics + finance



// fine arts // creating visually striking compositions that
// visual design bring meaning to complex information



// fine arts // creating visually striking compositions that
// visual design bring meaning to complex information

// code/programming // pulling information from databases and APIs
// web (design + development) and transforming it into dynamic interactive
experiences


the original concept. the details.
// to create an easily accessible and visually // apps would range from a full-size browser
intuitive suite of applications for people without web app to iPad/tablet and iPhone/mobile apps.
a statistics background to collect, visualize, and
effectively analyze their data. // all apps would have slightly different
functionality tailored to the device’s size and
“data vis to the people” capabilities yet integrate seamlessly


WHY DATA VISUALIZATION? // RELATED PRECEDENTS
PRECEDENT 01: Daytum
// an online personal data collection and
visualization service.


WHY DATA VISUALIZATION? // RELATED PRECEDENTS
PRECEDENT 02: Protovis + d3.js
// javascript libraries to help quickly create your
own interactive data visualizations


challenges.
// how to motivate users to actually keep track
of their personal data

// narrowing down the target audience

// difficulty finding a strong focus or
over-arching need/purpose


WHY DATA VISUALIZATION? // THE REVISED PLAN
focus the project on a user group that:
// already tracks data on a regular basis
// could benefit quickly and significantly from
being able to capture, visualize, and analyze
their data more effectively
// has been a very important and formative part
of my own personal development (as both a
player and coach)


WHY DATA VISUALIZATION? // THE REVISED PLAN
focus the project on a user group that:
// already tracks data on a regular basis
// could benefit quickly and significantly from
being able to capture, visualize, and analyze
their data more effectively
// has been a very important and formative part
of my own personal development (as both a
player and coach)

GIRLS’ LACROSSE


WHAT IS GIRLS’ LACROSSE?
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE GAME
the basics.
// field sport with 12 players per side

// game is played using lacrosse sticks, made
up of a molded plastic head that is strung with
nylon and/or leather strings and attached to a
metal or composite shaft

// players try to score by shooting the ball into
opponents’ goal, using their sticks to shoot,
pass, and carry the ball down the field


THE CONCEPT
DESIGN QUeSTIONS + GOALS
the form. the audience.
// an easy-to-use web application (in the // mobile device owners that are involved in the
form of a suite of coordinating iPhone/mobile lacrosse community, primarily at the youth-level
phone, iPad/tablet, and desktop/laptop-based
apps) for members of the girls’ lacrosse // different aspects of the project would cater
community to the various subsets of this demographic,
such as parents, coaching staff, players, and
// this series of apps would allow users to community members/fans, with parents
collect, visualize, and effectively analyze comprising the largest user group
team, player and game data in real time


THE CONCEPT
the purpose.
// if members of the girls’ lacrosse community
(primarily coaches, players, and parents) were
able to personally collect, analyze and
visualize game and season data in real time

// then they would be much better positioned
to encourage the physical, emotional,
intellectual, and social development of
individual players, as well as the continued
growth of the girls’ lacrosse community as a
whole.


THE CONCEPT
the design questions.

Q: In what ways might access to accurate and
timely data about their own athletic performance
keep young girls engaged and encourage
lifelong participation in sports?

Q: How might a collaborative data collection
and visualization tool for girls’ lacrosse be used
to foster a strong support base for girls’
sports in their community?


01 02
IMPETUS
STATS ARE YOUr FRIEND
sports run on numbers.
// winners of sporting events are almost always
determined by statistics

// these top-level statistics,
however, are not the only ones that
matter to the athlete


01 02
IMPETUS
to improve you need to play smart.

// you have you know where you are to
know where you can go next—assess personal
strengths/weaknesses and track progress


01 02
IMPETUS
to improve you need to play smart. the secret’s in the stats.

// you have you know where you are to // objectively-collected data is the only
know where you can go next—assess personal way to get conclusive/absolute information
strengths/weaknesses and track progress about performance and progress

// data allows you to track your own progress or
compare yourself definitively against competitors


01 02
IMPETUS
if stats are so great, why don’t some
teams record accurate game stats?

// scorekeeping is hard!

// more scorekeepers = higher costs

// parent volunteers face a steep learning curve

// the current paper-based system is a mess!


01 02
IMPETUS

scoresheets are either WAY too simple... ...or incredibly cramped and complicated.


01 02
IMPETUS
POSITIONING GIRLS FOR SUCCESS

why specifically girls’ lacrosse?
// 18+ years of personal experience

// young sport that is constantly evolving
(opportunity to help shape its rapid growth)

// men’s sports tend to have a more thriving
culture around recording and analyzing stats and
game data—it’s our turn!


01 02
IMPETUS
girls are fierce competitors too!

// some coaches choose not to measure/
broadcast girls’ empirical progress at all in order
to make sure all players feel like “winners”

// many female athletes crave the same intensity
experienced by male athletes:*
— playing through injuries
— pushing themselves to their mental limits
— facing fierce competition

* Adams, Natalie, Alison Schmitke, and Amy Franklin. 2005. “Tomboys, Dykes, and Girly Girls: Interrogating the Subjectivities of Adolescent Female Athletes.” Women’s Studies Quarterly 33 (1/2, Women and Sports): pp. 17-34.


01 02
IMPETUS

benefits beyond the playing field.
// studies show that girls that participate in
team sports are more confident/assertive and
gain critical life skills

// girls participating in sports have better
grades, higher graduation rates, and are more
likely to go to college than non-athlete females

American Association of University Women (AAUW). “Title IX Athletic Statistics.” Accessed 10/12, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.aauw.org/act/laf/library/athleticStatistics.cfm.


01 02 03
PRECEDENTS
CAPTURING + VISUALIZING GAME DATA
PRECEDENT 01: SCOREKEEPERS
SoccerMate and Lacrosse Star Player
// iPhone and iPad apps for real-time game data
collection designed for soccer and lacrosse,
respectively

// need to input player and game data directly
into the mobile apps (no full-size web interface to
streamline the process in advance)


01 02 03
PRECEDENTS
PRECEDENT 02: DATA HANDLERS
Sportability and LeagueAthletics.com
// web-based sports league administration
services to facilitate running a league, promoting
your team, and scheduling games, etc.

// adds social element to team and game data

// full-size web browser interface for easy data
entry


01 02 03
PRECEDENTS
PRECEDENT 03: STAT VISUALIZERS
GameTrac Stats Book & Score Keeper
// iPhone app that lets you track stats for any
activity, and then analyze and display the data
visually

// comes “pre-loaded” with five sports and
can add any other sports/games by manually
inputting the stats you want to track

// need to input player and game data directly
into the mobile apps


PROTOTYPES
Designing the system
when someone scores, you
need to find their name, find
the goals column, tick off a
goal, note the time on the game
clock, write down the time, then
record the goal AGAIN down at
the bottom
the current [paper] system.

space to hand-write in 25 players—
most teams only have between 16-20
players on the roster (wasted space!)


the proposed digital alternative.
// SYSTEM DIAGRAM
01 02 03 04 05

(iPad/tablet)
THE MAIN SCOREKEEPING APPLICATION

// SYSTEM DIAGRAM
01 02 03 04 05

(iPad/tablet)

(iPhone/mobile)
SINGLE-STATISTICS COUNTERS

// SYSTEM DIAGRAM
01 02 03 04 05

PHOTO INTERFACE THAT LINKS TO TIMELINE
(iPhone/mobile)
(iPhone/mobile)
(iPad/tablet)

// SYSTEM DIAGRAM
01 02 03 04 05

BASIC GAME INFO SCREEN FOR FANS
(iPhone/mobile)
(iPhone/mobile)
(iPhone/mobile)
(iPad/tablet)

// SYSTEM DIAGRAM
01 02 03 04 05

THE ENTIRE PROPOSED SYSTEM
BASIC GAME INFO SCREEN FOR FANS
(iPhone/mobile)
(iPhone/mobile)
(iPhone/mobile)
(iPad/tablet)

PROTOTYPES
scorekeeping
quickly add stats
not displayed in
counters below

goals marked with their
actual location on the
field for a richer data set

easy counter buttons for quicker
stat keeping of common events like
passes, ground balls, turnoevers, etc.


PROTOTYPES
scorekeeping

all stats will be tied to game clock
to enable time-accurate playback
after the game is complete
goals appear wherever you
click the mouse to indicate field
position using Javascript. Future
functionality will including dragging
from the goal location to indicate
an assist and its location.

easy counter buttons incrementing using Javascript,
with hover/touch states and other feedback elements


PROTOTYPES // MARKING A GOAL
scorekeeping

a player scores from the second click or tap on the a ball appears the goal is now recorded
(and you will be asked the scoring
hash (riiiiiight here!) location of the shot player’s name or number)
and tagged with the time
on the game clock!

coming in the next iteration: goal marking will also include the ability
to record assists by dragging your finger/mouse from the shot
location to the spot the assisting pass came from


PROTOTYPES
scorekeeping
drag and drop controls
for all players—to sub a
player or swap positions
of players on the field,
just drag a player over
the one she’s replacing
and the app will make
the changes for you
throughout the rest of
the interface
current positions for all
the players on the field

easily see who still
needs to be subbed in


NEXT STEPS
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Implementation Research
// Continue to refine sketches/prototypes for // Follow up with contacts in the lacrosse
the scorekeeping application community for feedback

// Build out more components of the application // Reach out to youth teams in the area to
with HTML/CSS/Javascript for testing establish a local connection for observation and
user testing
// Sketch and build out a variety of prototypes
for the visualization side of the project // Research what types of visualization tools/
techniques would be the most useful for
displaying sports statistics data and start
designing!


[THESIS] Midterm Presentation

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[THESIS] Midterm Presentation