2 cameras and 2 computers for Open Score??

[Stevejt66]

Just wondering if anyone has considered using a second computer such as a laptop with a second camera hooked up to be able to have up to 8 bowlers for Openscore? It seems as the Openscore project is about where it is going to get at least in the near future. I haven't been able to reach Jimmy either by phone or by PM's. It would be nice to have everyone's name on the score board instead of having the rest of bowlers on paper.

[theultimateandy]

You have quite the league there Steve. The most I have ever needed so far was for 2 players. I am not sure if there is a way to run 2 applications of the program on the same computer. That way all you would need is an extra monitor, the laptop would show players 1-4, and the extension monitor would show players 5-8. All you would need to do in theory is toggle between the 2 screens with a mouse. I am not a computer programmer, and I would have no idea how to set this up, but it sounds feasible in my world.

[TwinFountainLane]

Steve- I am certain that you could have as many OpenScore's running as you would like, as long as you have the room for the extra computers and camera's. Not so sure it could all be run from one computer, but if you are looking at 8 bowlers, then 2 computers and 2 cameras should work great. Scores would just be inputted on whichever computer the bowler is on. By the way, since you mentioned Jimmy, just wanted you to know that I have him as a Facebook friend, and he seems to still be active on Facebook. I rarely talk to him (it's been months), but I'm sure he is busy with school and work.... Let us know if you try out the multiple camera's and computers!

Tim

[Stevejt66]

Hi Tim, yeah, Just don't want to have to do that, especially if he plans on updating Openscore in the next couple months or so.....Last I spoke with him, he said he'd do some updates during the Holiday break, but that's over now....See if you can contact him on facebook to get an idea of his plan. Not sure why though he's not answering his phone unless he is away at school and that was his home number?? Thanks!!! Yeah, I have six on the league...me and two other bowlers for my team and three on the other team....

[Compy]

Hey guys,

So yeah, it has been a bit since I have logged in to BT, and I have a *ton* of PMs to respond to, so I'll try to make it down the list.

I have been busy with school and work and such. I've got projects that have to ship between now and April, so those had to take precedence over OpenScore (which is free and open source software, btw. Anyone can contribute or modify the code.). Keep in mind that I think this is one of the best communities of folks around, and you guys rock the crap out of the bowling industry (small scale or full scale)!

Steve: The reason you haven't been able to reach me is that I was out of town pretty much the entire month of December. I've been tinkering with 3D graphics engines for OpenScore (which was written as a 2D application on top of PyGame). However I don't know when I'll get around to finishing the implementation of it. I understand you have the biggest league out of all the small scale owners here, and I'd love to help.

Basically it boils down to this: 50+ hours a week at work plus being a full-time masters degree student with a bunch of other hobbies means that things get shifted around

Since OpenScore can be calibrated from any position, technically yes, you could use a second computer. However I might be able to push out a quick patch that alternates the bowler display and scrolls down to facilitate more bowlers. The problem with the current system is its hard to scale the graphics down to fit more bowlers on one screen. So my "fix" would involve having the code scroll down to another grid of 4 bowlers after the 4th bowled their current frame, then back up to the first block of 4 after the last person completed the frame. This would save you on another computer, AND would save you from writing peoples' scores down.

If you need more than 8 bowlers, tough :P

[Stevejt66]

Hey Jimmy,...You are alive and well.....LOL. that woud be great if you could do a quick patch to scroll the scores up when the 5th bowler bowls starts and until to the 8th, 8 bowlers would be enough!!! LOL That way we would not have to use paper, and until you can get time and figure out all graphics to go on one screen at once, this would be perfect. If possible, it would be good to have a keystroke programmed so that when the second screen is scrolled up, you can quickly go back to compare scores to the first grid, then back again to continue bowling.......Heck,...I'd pay you several hundred dollars if money is needed to complete it....It would definitely be worth it! People just love the auto scoring and it's very impressive. Hopefully you'll have more time in the summer maybe, and get the ball detector designed... I hope you still have the PM's for the added splits... :-) Thanks for the update!!!!! Can't wait to see your lane up and running when it's done..!! Keep in touch

[Scaleman]

I figured as a temporary work around I would try opening 2 windows of OpenScore on the same computer but the second one locks up, so I guess that won't work, oh well.

and on a sidenote I figured out a way to automate the scoring process a little!

[Compy]

Haha, yeah. 2 OpenScore windows won't work since they'd effectively be competing for the same webcam. However, I have shipped a version to Steve today with the completed 8 bowler scoring sequence, and we're doing some testing on his end. He has already reported some glitches (none related to the 8 bowler sequence, mostly just splits not being recognized in the system), and then I'll push out a release to everyone.

There are a few ways to handle automatic scoring triggers. One I'd try would be in software. See if we can detect when the pincount changes using the image (so have the score sequence sweep every second or so), then hold for a defined period, then score to allow for pin carry. Another option is having an Arduino control a set of optos at a high sample rate. This obviously involves external hardware that would have to be ordered, and we'd have to incorporate those changes into OpenScore. Another way is to order something like the Ultimarc IPAC board and wire in a slam switch to the IPAC device. Then have the device report an 'S' keystroke when that switch is hit. Basically what it does is reports keystrokes based on switch closures from an external device. It communicates with the PC over USB or PS/2. It is commonly used in arcade cabinets to wire up the buttons to the system.

Just a few ideas there.

[TwinFountainLane]

How about the infrared to recognize the ball traveling past it around mid lane and incorporate a delay before scoring? I believe this idea was brought up in the past. As I was telling Jimmy, I wish I had some computer expetise to help out by developing and testing some ideas since its open. Great continuing work brother!

[moosehead]

any luck on a candlepin scoring system?

[Scaleman]

I was talking to a buddy that has some minimal experience in writing software (he's more of a hardware guy) and he was explaining to me a way you could do something with a resistor and a micro switch either mounted in the ball return track or behind the curtain that was connected via a serial port that would trigger a simulated "S" command. Not sure how that would work. I think I would like to do more of a infared beam from Radio Shack? a few feet in front of the pins, but there would have to be some sort of a few second delay before OpenScore would read the pins to account for things still moving around and I don't know how hard that would be to interface with OpenScore but I think that would be the most reliable option with gutter balls and such.

Also just a few observations I have with the software since I just downloaded it, might I add that it is awesome that you took the time to make this software in the first place for all the scale bowlers on here, so by no means am I trying to be a pain in the ass, just had a few suggestions on the look of things.

Would it be possible to display a pindication of just a simple big "X" on the screen for a Strike and a big "/" for a spare? I think that would add to the fun of the pindications.



One other thing can the scoregrid *.png files be updated to have a box in the upper right corner of the frames and the tenth frame be divided into three? I just think it would make the grids look more authentic. But by looking at where the software puts the strikes X in the boxes you'd have to change around where the software places the numbers and marks in the boxes, so that might be more of a pain in the ass then just editing the grids.

Like this:



Just a few ideas I had, let me know what you think.

By the way if you need another Beta tester for the software I would love to test any changes you are planning on making, just let me know

[theultimateandy]

I figured as a temporary work around I would try opening 2 windows of OpenScore on the same computer but the second one locks up, so I guess that won't work, oh well.

and on a sidenote I figured out a way to automate the scoring process a little!


[ATTACH=CONFIG]4174[/ATTACH]

Lol, glue a keyboard to the ball cushion in hopes that a pin or ball will hit the "S" key. You might need some spare keyboards.

Jimmy, glad to see your doing good and back on here. You have mentioned that it is opensource and that anyone can change it, but I don't think you would want to encourage me to make changes. I know nothing about programming, and with my luck my shark avatar would probably start eating the frames until there are no more (it might take a little more time to eat Steve's frames since he is running 8 player mode)