laptop as a stopwatch with an external switch

[Ron]

Could I get your help?

I'd like to set up some type of timing system for the individual
players on my soccer team to measure themselves when they are doing
sprints (5 - 10 secs with tenth of second accuracy).

Some type of button/switch/beam that the kid's feet would start the
timer with and something similar at the finish to stop the timer that
would be good. It would need to be combined with software that would
display the elasped time as well as save/log it to view later.

My goal would be for the "system" to be easy for me to put together for
a reasonable cost. Something off the shelf would be ideal, or if there
is some idea that wouldn't be hard to assemble that would work also.
I don't have any great programming skills.

thanks,
Ron
RGRAHAM1 at MAINE dot RR dot COM

 

[Fred Bloggs]

Could I get your help?

I'd like to set up some type of timing system for the individual
players on my soccer team to measure themselves when they are doing
sprints (5 - 10 secs with tenth of second accuracy).

Some type of button/switch/beam that the kid's feet would start the
timer with and something similar at the finish to stop the timer that
would be good. It would need to be combined with software that would
display the elasped time as well as save/log it to view later.

My goal would be for the "system" to be easy for me to put together for
a reasonable cost. Something off the shelf would be ideal, or if there
is some idea that wouldn't be hard to assemble that would work also.
I don't have any great programming skills.

thanks,
Ron
RGRAHAM1 at MAINE dot RR dot COM

This is a possible start
http://www.download.com/Lap-Timer-2000/3000-2130_4-10396161.html?tag=tab_pub

 

[Si Ballenger]

Could I get your help?

I'd like to set up some type of timing system for the individual
players on my soccer team to measure themselves when they are doing
sprints (5 - 10 secs with tenth of second accuracy).

Some type of button/switch/beam that the kid's feet would start the
timer with and something similar at the finish to stop the timer that
would be good. It would need to be combined with software that would
display the elasped time as well as save/log it to view later.

My goal would be for the "system" to be easy for me to put together for
a reasonable cost. Something off the shelf would be ideal, or if there
is some idea that wouldn't be hard to assemble that would work also.
I don't have any great programming skills.

thanks,
Ron
RGRAHAM1 at MAINE dot RR dot COM

The simplest software setup might be using the serial port to
input an event into the computer and record the start/stop time
for each event. I made a simple program for a bicycle wheel
revolution counter using the free just basic (discussion link
below) programming application. The hardware is simple. Just
touching the serial port Rx and RTS lines together puts an event
in the serial port input buffer. Monitoring the input buffer for
an event and noting the time of each event would make for a
timing setup.

http://justbasic.conforums.com/

 

[rob]

Could I get your help?

I'd like to set up some type of timing system for the individual
players on my soccer team to measure themselves when they are doing
sprints (5 - 10 secs with tenth of second accuracy).

Some type of button/switch/beam that the kid's feet would start the
timer with and something similar at the finish to stop the timer that
would be good. It would need to be combined with software that would
display the elasped time as well as save/log it to view later.

My goal would be for the "system" to be easy for me to put together for
a reasonable cost. Something off the shelf would be ideal, or if there
is some idea that wouldn't be hard to assemble that would work also.
I don't have any great programming skills.

thanks,
Ron
RGRAHAM1 at MAINE dot RR dot COM

Large display cheap LCD stopwatch + 2 x security mat switch pads.

Hack the stopwatch and wire a pad across start & stop switches.

Years ago Radiospares sold a suitable stopwatch / timer, about the size of a
calculatlor. It worked well - easy to set up, use & abuse.