DigiBall LIVE for Streaming

[nataddrho]

Here is an example of OBS Studio using an auto-generated image as an inset in the upper left corner of the screen, which shows where the cue ball is being hit. This video is different than previous ones I've shown because the inset is updated in real time. Before I could only add the image by post-processing a pre-recorded video and manually inputting the ball speed (via drawing the distance between CB and OB for each shot). I was able to add a second specialized accelerometer which gives enough data for a reasonable estimate of "percent from center" of the tip. This hardware was not affordable or on the market when I started the project.

Please imaging a commentator controlling the stream able to pop visible the ball graphic and talk about how the player hit the ball. I'm thinking of JJ during his 1p streams, etc.

The black oval is an estimate of where the outline of the entire tip was during contact. In other words, the tip was somewhere along the black oval at the moment of impact. Similarly, the blue line is an estimate of where the tip contact point occurred... i.e. contact point was hit somewhere along the blue line. Clock English (angle) is extremely accurate down to the 1/2 of a degree... and is more accurate than percent from center estimations.

 

[kling&allen]

Here is an example of OBS Studio using an auto-generated image as an inset in the upper left corner of the screen, which shows where the cue ball is being hit. This video is different than previous ones I've shown because the inset is updated in real time. Before I could only add the image by post-processing a pre-recorded video and manually inputting the ball speed (via drawing the distance between CB and OB for each shot). I was able to add a second specialized accelerometer which gives enough data for a reasonable estimate of "percent from center" of the tip. This hardware was not affordable or on the market when I started the project.

Please imaging a commentator controlling the stream able to pop visible the ball graphic and talk about how the player hit the ball. I'm thinking of JJ during his 1p streams, etc.

The black oval is an estimate of where the outline of the entire tip was during contact. In other words, the tip was somewhere along the black oval at the moment of impact. Similarly, the blue line is an estimate of where the tip contact point occurred... i.e. contact point was hit somewhere along the blue line. Clock English (angle) is extremely accurate down to the 1/2 of a degree... and is more accurate than percent from center estimations.

That’s killer that the user no longer needs to input anything.

 

[Bavafongoul]

That is so cool. Now we’re talking about sophisticated information never before imagined but rather only conceived.
From what I saw, display of the contact information was splendid. Is there room for rotational spin rate & lbs. of
energy applied, more so for draw, stop, stun and follow shots? Rotational spin rate would informative & really helpful.

 

[gerryf]

Very cool!

 

[nataddrho]

That is so cool. Now we’re talking about sophisticated information never before imagined but rather only conceived.
From what I saw, display of the contact information was splendid. Is there room for rotational spin rate & lbs. of
energy applied, more so for draw, stop, stun and follow shots? Rotational spin rate would informative & really helpful.

Yes there is room.

I literally have no idea what is too much information and what is too little. We may just have to try displaying different things and see what people like the best on average.

Does the “oval” make sense? In the sense that it is stretched from being a circle due to some unavoidable uncertainty? Is that something people will understand quickly?

 

[straightline]

The oval looks like a mouse. I'd prefer a small circle indicating the actual strike.

 

[kling&allen]

Does the “oval” make sense? In the sense that it is stretched from being a circle due to some unavoidable uncertainty? Is that something people will understand quickly?

I think you could have a mode where you fudged a circle in the middle of the oval (and didn’t show the oval) and it would still be useful to people.

 

[Bavafongoul]

The oval needs to be smaller and moved to be adjacent to the table on the left or right side.
Where it is currently positioned in the upper left quadrant requires taking your eyes askew of
the action taking place from contact point to completion. Keep it within the same overall field
of vision and the viewer can focus on which information or image they want to see. It is far
easier to dart your eyes to and fro than up and down, especially at a 45 degree upper angle.

The pointers are too large……shrink both of them down but keep the contact point smaller so
that you can see where it strikes with reference to the aim point. So keep the aim point displayed
but make it a circle and make the contact point display small enough to fit within the circle. This
will let the viewer know exactly where the aim point was and how close the contact point was.

Now if there was unintended side spin that caused you to miss a shot, including rotational spin
data tells you how bad it was. In fact, if there’s a way to shade the cue ball to highlight the likely
miscue zone (say more than 2 tips of English or too high or low on the cue ball), the player/viewer
gets additional information that helps evaluate the outcome and potential mistakes, as well as flaws.

p.s. illustrations of cue balls, object balls, strike points, tangent lines, etc. should always be circular.

 

[nataddrho]

The oval looks like a mouse. I'd prefer a small circle indicating the actual strike.

Good feedback

I’ll try this again by placing a circle and contact point only.

 

[nataddrho]

I've been a bit busy, but I got around to making some new videos. I've eliminated the "oval" which seems to work fine. I've also added some numerical information which may be interesting to the audience.

 

[VarmintKong]

This is so dawg-gone cool!

A.Have you tried using another one of those as an object ball?

1.Thinking bout your rpm gauge
a. would be pretty sweet to show what rpm produces the most throw by cut angle.

b. I remember hearing you could transfer a little extra roll to the object ball shooting max draw. Could that be quantified by showing rpm from stop vs draw on identical shots?

2.Thinking bout third ball principle and throw
a. Always hear little to no spin transfer after third ball. Could definitively measure that.

b. Measure what cut angles and spins produce most throw and what type is more important to that 3rd ball spin, angle, or speed.

3. Could measure what speed and spin makes pocket most forgiving on rail shots and differences between pocket angles.

B.Also, can you measure the distance the cue ball travels while sliding?

1. One thing I spend a lot of time trying to become more consistent with is that stun line from a variety of distances and cut angles where I want to hold maybe same side of table or run through center table.

-It would be cool to see some feedback using drag or a little inside vs dictating by the fullness of hit.

2. Be cool to use this to measure how new cloth vs old cloth plays.

I get that it’s often times best to just play and not overthink the particulars and this is prolly common sense stuff you’ve addressed before, but dang I went down to do my workout tonight and couldn’t focus at all for thinking ‘bout this; had to put it out there. Keep up the good work.

 

[j13smiley]

Very cool.

I personally would like to see the video delayed - so you could display the cue ball contact info before the shot is shown. Showing the cue ball info 2 seconds after the shot makes me want to rewatch the shot each time.

 

[nataddrho]

This is so dawg-gone cool!

A.Have you tried using another one of those as an object ball?

1.Thinking bout your rpm gauge
a. would be pretty sweet to show what rpm produces the most throw by cut angle.

b. I remember hearing you could transfer a little extra roll to the object ball shooting max draw. Could that be quantified by showing rpm from stop vs draw on identical shots?

2.Thinking bout third ball principle and throw
a. Always hear little to no spin transfer after third ball. Could definitively measure that.

b. Measure what cut angles and spins produce most throw and what type is more important to that 3rd ball spin, angle, or speed.

3. Could measure what speed and spin makes pocket most forgiving on rail shots and differences between pocket angles.

B.Also, can you measure the distance the cue ball travels while sliding?

1. One thing I spend a lot of time trying to become more consistent with is that stun line from a variety of distances and cut angles where I want to hold maybe same side of table or run through center table.

-It would be cool to see some feedback using drag or a little inside vs dictating by the fullness of hit.

2. Be cool to use this to measure how new cloth vs old cloth plays.

I get that it’s often times best to just play and not overthink the particulars and this is prolly common sense stuff you’ve addressed before, but dang I went down to do my workout tonight and couldn’t focus at all for thinking ‘bout this; had to put it out there. Keep up the good work.

Yes, please visit www.digicue.net for more info (needs some updating since you can now get hands-free tip position). This can be used as both a training aid or a streaming overlay. The app that goes with it shows a lot more including some of the things that you've mentioned. You can measure induced spin and the cloth friction (old vs new). You can not measure absolute position off the ball (distances and accurate velocities). This is more for tip position and spin.

 

[SlateMan]

It would be really cool if you could put the feed on a bit of a time delay, say 30 seconds or a minute. Then have the digital cue ball show where they are lining up to hit the cue ball (based on where they actually hit the cue ball a few seconds ago. I guess the hard part is they take a different amount of time between shots.

 

[nataddrho]

It would be really cool if you could put the feed on a bit of a time delay, say 30 seconds or a minute. Then have the digital cue ball show where they are lining up to hit the cue ball (based on where they actually hit the cue ball a few seconds ago. I guess the hard part is they take a different amount of time between shots.

Yes, both fixed video delays and instant replays are possible, and can make what you mentioned happen.

Edit: I just tried it and adding a delay is super easy. I will add this in the next video.

 

[SlateMan]

Yes, both fixed video delays and instant replays are possible, and can make what you mentioned happen.

I really liked Earl's commentary on matches when he would describe what was most likely to happen. "He's gonna draw out one rail with some bottom right..." and boom it happened. At first I thought the man did some research and watched the matches but then you realize he is winging it. With your technology, I could see voice over commentary for prior matches where you see the cue position and speed and an expert talking about the table and where they are trying to get to for position. That type of feedback is unreal for learning... and makes it pretty entertaining (to me).

 

[nataddrho]

I really liked Earl's commentary on matches when he would describe what was most likely to happen. "He's gonna draw out one rail with some bottom right..." and boom it happened. At first I thought the man did some research and watched the matches but then you realize he is winging it. With your technology, I could see voice over commentary for prior matches where you see the cue position and speed and an expert talking about the table and where they are trying to get to for position. That type of feedback is unreal for learning... and makes it pretty entertaining (to me).

It is mostly geared towards those who watch pool to study it, which I think most players do a little bit. It is part of the interest of the hobby.

This is a nice visual, the same way digitally-drawn strike zone boxes and yellow first down lines are.

The Story Behind the NFL's Magic Yellow First-Down Line - Insight Replay

Football’s Virtual Yellow 1st & Ten® line debuted on ESPN 17 years ago—a production enhancement that utterly changed the way fans watch football on television.

insightreplay.com

 

[Bavafongoul]

You are getting ready for takeoff and this rocket ship is gonna be a big hit.

 

[nataddrho]

New video, this time with a 10 second video delay so that the ball information is shown before each shot.

I like this a lot better, thanks guys!

 

[j13smiley]

Much better!