What about a wrist band sensor to go on your bridge arm? It can be detected to allow identification of the player, can identify the start and end of a shot (if you don't want to use cue ball motion), can notify shot time warnings and violations via haptics or beeps, Some people might find a wrist band annoying, but it could alternatively be shoulder mounted or pinned to a shirt.
There are matches I've watched where i identify the players through wardrobe or body shape since the faces are so similar, or their shooting position hides their faces.
How about a camera package that could be installed for certain tables? I'm playing my buddy and can enter my email address, provide a credit card, and it records the game until I stop it, and then emails the video to me.
Go to a pool hall and you can see pool parties where many players have never played, and struggle to hold the cue in any useable way. And you know that due to their poor play, they're happy to get it over with, and never plan to come back. What if you could start them off with a spring-loaded, (or electric) cue where you just point it and pull the trigger? The usual safety issues come up (don't want people holding against their opponents arm and shooting them. But maybe if you had it only with enough power to shoot soft-midrange shots, and possibly an optical sensor that would only allow it to shoot when it was pointing at a cue ball? I know these have been tried in the past, but maybe a modern version might get traction.
