Rowing with GoogleEarth?

[niclashjerdt]

Does anyone know if it is possible to use a PC with GoogleEarth to continuously show the position of my "boat" along some pre-defined path as a row my erg (model D)? This would be very exciting to watch during my training passes and motivate me to keep up my training!

I'm thinking, for instance, that I could define a path along the eastern coast of the US, say between Boston and Miami, and then watch my position move live along this path as I start rowing on my rowing machine. When I stop rowing, a placemark will be entered on my new position, and I will continue from this place next time I start rowing. I know it sounds a bit geeky but, hey, whatever it takes to keep me going is a good thing

/Nick

[johnlvs2run]

Great idea!!!

[TabbRows]

Nick,

I think Google Earth Plus, the subscription edition of Google Earth, has GPS tracking/importing capabilities. Just google Google Earth Plus for information.

[atahualpa]

I noticed that the Eh! Team is using GoogleEarth to track their 'round the world row. It looks interesting. You have to download the GoogleEarth file and open it to see their progress.

http://216.119.121.169/ehteam/default.aspx

cheers!

[niclashjerdt]

Thanks for your replies but I wonder if there is a way to hook up with GoogleEarth in real-time, not just posting a placemark after I finished exercising. The Eh-team and all other users of GoogleEarth I am aware of do not use a live connection. Wouldn't it be great to actually tour waterways live as you row? Not only waterways for that matter, how about a row around NY Central Park in 3D?

Keep the ideas coming!
/Nick

[/b]

[khatores]

Thanks for your replies but I wonder if there is a way to hook up with GoogleEarth in real-time, not just posting a placemark after I finished exercising. The Eh-team and all other users of GoogleEarth I am aware of do not use a live connection. Wouldn't it be great to actually tour waterways live as you row? Not only waterways for that matter, how about a row around NY Central Park in 3D?

Keep the ideas coming!
/Nick

[/b]

That would require a more advanced interface and software compatibility that I'm not entirely sure the C2 has yet. Maybe when Technogym makes a rowing machine, it'll have Google Map features (and cable TV).

[michaelb]

If you have a computer next to your erg that can run google earth, why not download and run rowpro instead? Rowing against real opponents live or downloaded is likely going to be a lot more fun than a virtual tour.

The google earth idea would involve somehow spoofing a virtual GPS signal from the PM3. So you would tell google earth where you are in UTM, and then virtually "move" from there like if you were using a GPS.

[niclashjerdt]

Well, touring the world is just a different thing to racing against other rowers... RowPro is great for racing in a competetive way, but I still like to enjoy other forms of motivation as well.

But I think you're on to something with the gps idea. With the continuous distance output from the PM3 and a pre-defined track in Google Earth, there should be no problem recalculate the lat/long coordinates of your position and display it on the screen.

Some argue that the scenary will move too slow to be exciting, but there could be an optional "speed multiplier" for those in need of a thrill...

[michaelb]

Actually running google earth and spoofing a gps signal would just get you a slow scrolling view/flyover in google earth, with no rowing related customization presumably.

Maybe better would be incorporate flyover images of famous rowing courses as backdrops for rowpro. So you get the rowing related features of rowpro, with a superimposed backdrop, say of the river thames, from google earth, that you row down. Obviously there would be licensing issues of some sort integrating google earth images into rowpro.

Someone suggested incorporating video into rowpro, and Pete said they would look into that. Video adds the complexity of having to actually shoot the locations and edit/digitize the images, etc. Grabbing a fly over from google earth might be easier, and can be done from anywhere, including New Zealand.

http://www.digitalrowing.com/forums/For ... hread_id=5

[niclashjerdt]

I'm not contesting the idea of uploading videos of famous rowing courses etc., but I was thinking more along the lines of doing what Jill Fredston and her husband was doing in "Rowing to latitude" (recommended book!), but in a virtual sense for those of us who can't spend months in the wilderness every year...

[ulu]

Does anyone know if it is possible to use a PC with GoogleEarth to continuously show the position of my "boat" along some pre-defined path as a row my erg (model D)? This would be very exciting to watch during my training passes and motivate me to keep up my training!

I'm thinking, for instance, that I could define a path along the eastern coast of the US, say between Boston and Miami, and then watch my position move live along this path as I start rowing on my rowing machine. When I stop rowing, a placemark will be entered on my new position, and I will continue from this place next time I start rowing. I know it sounds a bit geeky but, hey, whatever it takes to keep me going is a good thing

/Nick

Nick:
Yes, this should be possible. I am the author of the software that makes the Eh!Team around the world row display in Google Earth, albeit post row.

Google Earth files can be real time. You would then see your progress while you were on your erg. You would of course have to plot your course prior to the row. Google earth and the math are sensitive enough to display a distance of one meter.

I am thinking of making this softwear over the next few months but work and erging cut into my "hobby time". The main difficulty for me will be the interface with the PM3/PM4 monitor, although C2 does make the coding for this available publicly.

If there is more interested in this, let me know and it will stimulate me to get my butt in gear.

Jim