This concept was originally presented in the "RE: IDEAS" email that jump started this forum...

Idea #1 - A website that would be a Who's Who of Shuffleboard.  If you are familiar with MySpace, it would be sort of in that vain.  A place where you could not only look up info on any Bowers listed player, but also easily add comments or photos or info to their page.  A very, very rough example of what it might look like is at...
http://www.computerpeas.com/Web%20Sites/Prototypes/sample.htm.  The sytem's foundation would be an SQL database.  The basic starting data (photos and past Bower's ratings) would be progamatically generated (not manually entered), as this information already exists in Computer Peas (go to computerpeas.com if you're not familiar with the software).  Also, if you are not familiar with MySpace, go to my page at http://www.myspace.com/eddieallenb to get a taste of what it's all about.

Eddie

Reply to Jeri Williams comment:
Is the payoff worth the work?  Most of the players that play in tournaments know each other.  Who would be using the database and for what purposes?  

I would look. I recently came across of the ratings for 1997 and was looking through it. I found several people that were 3s then and are still playing and are 3s in 2007. People would look themselves up and their friends to see their ratings history. Wouldn't it be interesting to see everyones ratings for the past 10 years and how they had improved (or not improved?)

Also say I wanted to look at the winners from Reno (in my case Divsion III) and see if they had been re-rated since the previous year or if I would have to play them again this year. I did this last year and yes, all but the lowest places had been re-rated. This way I could pull the winners list (from any tournament) and do it in a few mintues and see their ratings history.

People would also want their best picture up there and this would help Eddie and Computer Peas have the best pictures too.

The more I think about this Eddie, the more I like it.

Ann Harrell

Well... there's one reason (Ann's).  And like I said earlier, it's a "plant the seed" thing.  You start off slow, putting this thing together and see how useful it becomes and what grows out of it.  In many ways, computer technology has long been under utilized in promoting and aiding what we do in shuffleboard.  I'm not saying it's "the answer", but it's an area I can use to make my contributions to the game (now if I can just come up with a device to rig my weights so I can lag 4's every time I'd be set).

Also, Jeri, in answer to your earlier comment about "divide and conquer" and getting more people to help out... like I said earlier, people can help by feeding the site with information AND voicing their opinions.  As far as the technical side goes... when it comes to Web design and Web tools I think we have some talented people out there who might be able to help out.  As far as programming, I don't know of anyone in the shuffleboard world with those qualifications besides myself.  I've tried to contact James Cummings on a number of occasions in the hopes of a possible collaborative effort, but he's never returned my emails.  I've never seen his software so I really don't know what he might be able to contribute or if he'd be at all willing.  

Anyway, the work I do isn't all altruistic.  The tools I develop I retain the rights to, and reuse for other projects I'm working on.  Some have nothing to do with Computer Peas, but one does.  I'm currently in talks with the BCA and WPBA (Nat'l Billiard Associations) to use Computer Peas for Pool tournaments.

I would certainly use it and contribute to its development and upkeep.  Although a lot of us know each other personally due to going to a great many tournaments around the country there are a lot of players who only play in their area and don't get to meet a lot of players from other parts of the country, and even if they do once a year, it would be a way of keeping up with friends and/or meeting new ones if we include our e-mail and personal contact information.  Anything that helps the game continue to grow, I will now and always support with my time and money as long as I am capable.

Lorraine Olson aka hurricane  
hurricanelorraine@msn.com

The idea that Lorraine would "contribute to it's development and upkeep" is an understatement.  Lorraine is in possession of enough shuffleboard video footage and enough digital photography to fill a large Museum of Suffleboard History.

Also, the point she makes regarding making new friends is really a good one that I hadn't put a lot of thought into.  I do refer to MySpace earlier and though our site would look a bit different, there are similar concepts.  Increased communication amongst players, especially amongst those that would otherwise never meet is a key element of shuffleboard growth.

What would you suggest?  I would love to contribute to development and upkeep and if all the digital photography and shuffleboard video footage could be used let me know where to start and what you would like to see done with it?

To start with I have many, many video's that need to go from tape to DVD so that will probably be where I will start, from there I am open for suggestions....

Lorraine  

Yes, your first step would be to digitize.  Your next step would be to go through everything and get things organized as best you can, whether it be on DVD's, or perhaps, even better, on HD.  

The 3rd stop doesn't happen until the website exists.  The site will offer the ability for you to upload selected photos and movies to the appropriate places.