[Ti_pin_man]

I saw this and thought it looked interesting, I've pledged, I'd be keen to have a go and see what it records and how it works so would be pretty interested to be a guinea pig.  Thought you 'orrible lot might be interested in this one.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210109440/climbax-climbing-wrist-bands-that-assess-your-skil

Clearly if the retail price is good it would minimally be a good diary keeper and looks a good way to objectively capture what you do each time you climb.  Look forward to more info.

 

[abarro81]

I struggle to see the point in this..?

[slackline]

I struggle to see the point in this..?

To raise capital, start a business and make money selling people things they don't need.

[Ti_pin_man]

Well I cant answer for them but I think it might be a good tool to measure your own performance more objectively and see where weaknesses are as you train.  I have some questions on where they draw baseline data for 'what makes a good climber', but this is a kickstarter so I dont think you expect this to be perfect from day one.  I can see it being useful tho for comp climbers or people interested in improving/training.   

So many negative cynics in the world, sigh. 

[Nibile]

That's absolutely brilliant!!!
Recently I've added 2 kg to my deadhangs, I've climbed projects on my board and I stay on the feet on campunsing for 15 seconds longer: I can't wait to buy it to know whether I'm improving or not.

[Stubbs]

What Nibs said, I use one of these http://www.simplymoleskine.com/ to objectively capture my training and climbing, and does anyone really want to climb with something around their wrist?!

[Paul B]

Another climbing kickstarter project:

http://www.fundable.com/yosemite-bigwalls-the-complete-guide

300+ Big Wall topos, the complete guide to Yosemite.

[Wood FT]

does anyone really want to climb with something around their wrist?!

aye, bad enough with this as it is

[tomtom]

Is it the climbing equivalent of Exlax? now there's a market for a pre red point natural weight loser..

[tomtom]

does anyone really want to climb with something around their wrist?!

aye, bad enough with this as it is

If your probation officer is giving you shit about being out climbing Guy, then simply ensure your ankle and tag are within a cast iron bathtub whilst at the crag. It's a legitimate excuse allegedly

[lagerstarfish]

I thought Climbax was the marketing name for condoms made out of stealth rubber?

[tomtom]

I thought Climbax was the marketing name for condoms made out of stealth rubber?

Hope they're not made by 5:10 - else one might be baggy as f*ck, and the next too small

[rich d]

and the next too small

you fucking wish!

[ianv]

Can't wait for the Wankax.

[tomtom]

Can't wait for the Wankax.

Do you mean RockFax?

[i.munro]

Well I cant answer for them but I think it might be a good tool to measure your own performance more objectively and see where weaknesses are

Thanks for drawing our attention to this. Clearly there's a lot of potential there.

I must admit to being a little disappointed  at the response (thought I was on the wrong channel).

[chris j]

Well I cant answer for them but I think it might be a good tool to measure your own performance more objectively and see where weaknesses are as you train.

If they can come up with a prototype that can tell shark what he needs to do to climb the Oak then I'll be more interested! 

[Stubbs]

i.munro: I reckon useless expensive climbing related gadgets would probably get a better response on the 'other channel'. 

[i.munro]

Unless I'm missing something they've potentially got something that can provide quantitative feedback on at least some aspects of technique.

Don't know which bit you think is useless ... technique?

[chris j]

Unless I'm missing something they've potentially got something that can provide quantitative feedback on at least some aspects of technique.

They mention climbing skills a lot in the paper that the 'scientific validation' link goes to, but they define those as power, control, speed and stability. As far as I can see it measures the number of hand moves you do, speed of movement between moves and how hard you're pulling (I think if you're trying hard then the accelerometers pick up higher frequency vibrations). Which produces some pretty graphs on their demo page. But I can't see how without a lot of ancillary data input (problems/routes/training routines done, grades etc) and correlation you get anything  useful out if it? It might say you tried hard on a certain session but it doesn't know if you were on a V3 or a V8 at the time.

It's rather ironic that they say it is to be aimed at 'amateur' climbers as professional coaching is hard to come by (is it?) as they say top end climbers have regular individual coaching sessions so won't need the climbax. Which to me suggests that it's going to be aimed at a market which would mostly benefit from actual technique coaching, which is something that a wristband on each arm can make no assessment of at all. (which is probably also why they have the emphasis that it has to be 'cool' as well as useful and are starting off with an ipad app...)


Anyway I don't like climbing with anything on my wrist so it's never going to be for me. Back to notebook and pen...

[abarro81]

Pretty much what he said

[account_inactive]

+2

http://nikeplus.nike.com/plus/what_is_fuel/

Probably useful for people looking to track from inactivity----->activity

[Jaspersharpe]

Reeks of total bullshit to me and seems utterly pointless.

[SEDur]

Like i said in my email to the creators:
'Hey Cassim
I suppose what I was getting on at, was:
Is there any consideration for a version 2, which might incorporate centre of gravity and foot placement/movement data?
As much as I can see the use of hand movement dynamics to measure a bunch of characteristics i.e. accurate, fast/slow, tense movement stuff for hands; comparing the data from each hand, there is still no way you can have accurate analysis of movement without taking these other factors into account i.e. centre of gravity, torso orientation, foot movements, the relationship between the position of your torso and your extremities.

While I fully respect the word of coaches and yourselves, and I wish I knew a team of people with the right skill-set to make this kind of product a reality: I just cannot see how you can accurately determine how good someone is at climbing, to the level of a professional coach as you claim, through only measuring hand movement.
I mean that with no disrespect at all.
I have read the technical paper you published, but I still think the method leaves something to be desired when aiming for the end product i.e. a system capable of continual critical analysis of a climbers key attribute values to the level of a professional coach.

I hope this makes my question/comment clearer.
Cheers
Simon'

The 'technical validation' paper looks like marketing bollocks, and I would be surprised to see an engineering institution take it seriously.

[Ti_pin_man]

 

For all you naysayers: 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210109440/climbax-climbing-wrist-bands-that-assess-your-skil/posts