The Future of Golf GPS Units
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 30, 2009 12:38 PM EDT
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PrintDavid Dawsey has a really cool patent application post over at his site. Since Callaway has acquired uPlay - the golf GPS people - there have been two patent applications filed that reveal some of their plans for the future.
One of the coolest things in the patent application is that Callaway-uPlay looks to introduce a golf GPS unit that will respond to voice commands! How cool would it be to be able to ask the GPS how far it would be to cut off the corner, or to a certain point on the green?
Maybe not quite yet, according to the application:
Several examples of the use of the voice recognition capability follow. The golf GPS device 10 may be configured to allow a user to enter shot information while using the shot tracking mode using vocal inputs, or to enter scores on each hole. For instance, when entering a club selection for shot tracking, the user simply enters the voice mode and speaks into the device, "seven iron" or "driver", or whatever club is being used. For score keeping, the device 10 can be configured to recognize a player's name vocally input into the device, and then the score for a hole for such player. Thus, a user need only activate the voice recognition, then state the player's name and score in order to input the score for a player (e.g. "John, six;" Jerry, four"). The voice recognition feature may also be used to audibly enter commands, such as switching between Basic Mode and Pro Mode, navigating through the devices menus, changing the settings, or any other command within the devices menus.
Still, it sounds like the golf GPS is about to improve significantly.
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Even better...
…have the voice responses in your favorite Callaway player’s voice – or – better still – as a joke program – have it as TWO voices – Mickelnuts and Bones arguing over yardage and where to play the shot. :-)
If you haven’t seen the uPro – it’s worth a look. I thought it should have been the product of the year at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show. You don’t see an animated picture of the hole you’re playing, you see an actual picture of the hole (not live, of course) with great views to help you visualize the yardage, carries, and hazards.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Reminds me
Of something Rodney Dangerfield would use in Caddyshack.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I can hardly wait for the day GPS devices are so prolific you’d be considered under-equipped if you didn’t have one.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
Izzo Swami
later this year, if they keep on their schedule, the Izzo people are hoping to have a simple, portable GPS device for $99. It only gives front, center, and rear to the green, so you have to be in sight of the green to get any real benefit from it – but if you know the courses you play and know what to hit off the tee to get in sight of the green, it’s a pretty handy little tool.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I have one :) I’m going to be reviewing it in the next couple of weeks when the weather gets nice. It’s pretty cool.
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 30, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Am I the only one
Who is fine with what we have already in terms of GPS in carts?
I mean, sometimes I get the feeling we go a little TOO over-board
Honestly, I’ve never really used a GPS, so I’m kind of interested to see if it will help my game or not. I played with a guy in Vegas who had a very nice one. He still played like crap. He knew the number, but couldn’t get it there anyway.
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 30, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
maybe where you play
There really aren’t many courses that have GPS in carts and even if all did, many of us prefer to walk.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
Sure !
GPS is GPS – some are more detailed than others – but what you get is basically accurate yardage measurment. But D’s right, not all that many courses have it on their carts, so it’s nice to have it available on your belt.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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