A Smartphone Based Sonification and Telemetry Platform for On-water Rowing Training

On water rowing training greatly benefits from sonification. However, no real-time usable smartphone based platform exists for acquisition and sonification of data measured during rowing. We propose the use of a smartphone based system, coupled with an Accrow (BeSB) data acquisition device. The whole system is able to convey the produced sound within 100ms from the movement, thus enabling the presentation of functional real-time feedback to the rowers. The system is thought to be useful for both athletes and coaches. The sonification presented to the athletes is aimed at enhancing their perception for the movement execution with the final aim of synchronizing the crew in a uniform rhythm in order to improve the boat velocity. The sonification presented to the coaches aimed at assisting their visual observation of the boat motion in the daily training routine by listening to the sound in order to detect fluctuations that are not visible. An empirically investigated concept of acoustic feedback that is presented in real-time during on-water rowing training sessions already exists. This paper deals with the extension of the technical hardware currently used in high performance rowing training to a smartphone based platform in order to provide the sonification to more users and to everyday club training including young and older rowers (juniors and masters).