Signature Q1 2009 - (Page 30) Wacky Apps | By Mike Sharsky | Q1 ’09 Taekwondo’s literal Korean translation is “the way of the foot and fist.” Tournament opponents rain hand strikes and deliver kicks with lightning speed. How do you keep accurate score? With Bluetooth technology, of course, built into a vest that both protects an athlete’s torso and wirelessly signals a scoring device that a permitted blow has been successfully delivered. ATM Sport – Handel GmbH & Co. KG, a firm based near Munich, Germany, has developed the Electronic Body Protector (EBP) in an exclusive branding partnership with adidas. The EBP is a Bluetooth enabled version of the traditional hogu, a protective vest and scoring target required in tournaments sanctioned by the World Taekwondo Federation, one of two primary international governing bodies of the sport and the one under which athletes compete at Olympic events. “We had to choose a technology that is allowed to be used worldwide,” says Daniel Pirchmoser, ATM’s technical director. “With other wireless technologies you have different frequencies, regarding the country or region you are in. Or you have to pay for a worldwide frequency, which makes the product more expensive.” In addition to its global compatibility, Pirchmoser also lauds Bluetooth technology’s wireless range, which he says is more than sufficient for competition halls. The EBP already a staple of training sessions worldwide, has been used in tour, naments sanctioned by the Oceania Taekwondo Union and European Taekwondo Union. It has received preliminary approval for use in WTF tournaments; formal certification and licensing are now in progress. Because of disputes that arise in scoring the fast-paced sport, the WTF announced last August that it wanted to use electronic protection systems at the October 2008 world championships in Copenhagen and at the 2012 London Olympics. It’s a Kick Electronic scoring vests are becoming the norm in taekwondo training and tournaments. ATM and adidas have partnered to strike a blow for Bluetooth technology with their wireless version. Look for it at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. OK, so you’ve created your own novel application of Bluetooth technology or know of someone who has. Share your Wacky Apps by e-mailing signature@bluetooth.com. 30 | SIGnature | Bluetooth.org http://www.bluetooth.org
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