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There were no scoring errors, no judging snafus and no technical meltdowns at the 2006 Winter Olympic Figure
Skating competitions – all thanks to the AMX Modero Touch Panels and NetLinx Controllers that were used to score the competitions.
"It was a pretty uneventful and quiet two weeks, but that's just the way we like it. The system performed beautifully and everyone was
more than
pleased," said Bill Taylor, president of Mobile Facilities who sold, installed and programmed the AMX control systems.
With worldwide television coverage at Torino, everything was timed precisely – there was no room for any downtime.
The AMX system breezed through the competitions without breaking a sweat.
The Road to Torino
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While the Modero and NetLinx scoring system made its Olympic debut at this year's Torino, Italy Games, Taylor and
AMX equipment have been supporting the International Skating Union (ISU) since 1998. Figure Skating competitions are judged on execution
of specific skating movements during a routine and then those movements are judged again for accuracy, difficulty and style. Since the
action happens so quickly, video replay and a quick scoring interface are essential, which makes AMX Touch Panels and Controllers well
suited
for the task.
A Stop at Salt Lake
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AMX system performance was so robust during its first four years working for the ISU that they requested Taylor to
handle scoring for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The system's versatility during the Salt Lake Games impressed ISU
officials and Taylor was commissioned to build a second AMX system for scoring of their annual Gran Prix series that leads up to the
organization's
world competitions.
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The new system would eventually also be used in Torino, which called for intensive video replay capability,
blazingly fast processing, an extremely friendly user interface and most importantly accuracy and reliability. With such stringent
requirements, Taylor felt that a Modero/NetLinx combination would be most effective. The system was put through its paces at smaller
competitions around the world but Torino would prove the ultimate test. Taylor explains, "With worldwide television coverage at Torino,
everything was timed precisely – there was no room for any downtime. The AMX system breezed through the competitions without breaking a
sweat."
Friendly to All
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User-friendly interfaces were an important consideration for the ISU. Many of its pool of over 80 judges worldwide
were initially skeptical and resistant about using technology to judge skating competitions. "Some of these judges had never even
operated a VCR before our training classes but we eased them into the technology and after scoring two or three skaters, they really seemed to like
it. Now, most judges look forward to using the AMX Modero Panels and seem totally at ease with them."
They Keep Going and Going...
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The AMX Touch Panels being used by the ISU, 12" and 15" Moderos, are also a testimonial for durability and
portability. During the skating season they are loaded, unloaded and shipped around the world for several months on end and Taylor
reports that they've held up beautifully, "The initial system commissioned in 1998 is still working well today and neither system has needed any
real support. The only real maintenance is keeping the screens clean, which is no surprise when you consider how many times they get touched
during an event."
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If you ask Taylor what he most enjoyed about working the Olympics, you might expect to hear something more
glamorous, but for Taylor his joy is in the job. "With tensions running high during a competition and so much riding on the performance
of the equipment, I'm satisfied when an event concludes successfully but when a judge comes over with a smile and they thank me for making their
job easier, I know I've done my job a little better."
