murk1e writes "The BBC reports that in this article that a smart Pool table has been invented. The full information is here. For more about the Physics of Pool, try this site, or for a game, try here."
that suits me fine. it's your shot, clippy comes along to tell you something utterly inane like "it looks like you're playing a popular western pastime, do you want me to write you a fucking letter?" and you've already got a pool cue in your hands...I can't think of a better user experience...
The technology behind James, who looks like a professional pool player
So he has a mullet, old faded AC/DC t-shirt (hanging out), worn out old blue jeans, home made tattoos that have H A T E on his fingers on one hand and L O V E on the other, a beer in hand and squinting from his cigarette smoke that he lit with his Harley Davidson Zippo lighter (he's never actually owned a Harley though) while he waits for his shot. When he takes his shot, he smashes the sweet baby Jesus out of it where ever possible.
Of course, the physics of pool has and never will enter his head, because pool comes naturally to him, what growing up in pool halls and all.
He's professional because he usually wins the local comp, which just covers his practice expenses.
-- War crimes, torture, lies, illegal spying... Would someone give Bush a blowjob, already, so he can be impeached?
I've seen this before
by
gowen
·
· Score: 5, Funny
...sadly, I think it was in an episode of Quantum Leap, where Dean Stockwell used his handheld computer to calculate the angles.
-- Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
Re:I've seen this before
by
suhit
·
· Score: 4, Informative
Well, actually a professor at Columbia University (Dr. Tony Jebara) was just interviewed about his "new device [that] may turn billiards beginners into high-tech pool sharks". The article was at http://www.ny1.com/Living/technology.html. It looks very cool. Also he just bought a pool table for the department to test his stuff on, and given that my office is just a few doors down from his, I will enjoy playing for hours (so much for my PhD).
Clippy...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 3, Funny
'The technology behind James, who looks like a professional pool player, is the same Microsoft uses for its paperclip office assistant. '
"It looks like you're trying to pot the black, would you like help?"
Great.
The first rule of bar games...
by
gowen
·
· Score: 5, Funny
"Never play pool with a man named after a state."
-- Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
"People do not speak to pool tables so we came up with this personalised system and people are happy to talk to him," explained Mr Larsen.
Uh, I never needed an AI assistant to speak to a pool table, but the number of curses you can apply to an inanimate object are limited. Kudos to them for offering a target for my rage and frustration.
-- That's not a soda... it's a caffeine delivery device!
1) Knows not to make smart alec comments like "Whoops" just when you're making that crucial shot to win the game.
2) Doesn't "eat" your money and give you no balls
3) Doesn't take your money and give you all the balls except one.
4) Actually has chalk you don't have to pay for - say on a piece of string.
5) Doesn't charge you ridiculous amounts for a game.
6) Is too smart to be in a pub.
7) Has recently submitted a phD thesis on game theory.
8) Reminds you when you've left out linebreaks posting to slashdot.
All this "laser" business reminds me of an old episode of Quantum Leap.
I'd rather something that took the shot I told it!
by
6Yankee
·
· Score: 5, Funny
I can see the angles, dammit! The hard part is getting the damned stick thing to poke the damned round white thing into the other round things at the angle I can see, without going down a damned hole thing, getting airborne, or knocking the damned round black thing down a damned hole thing!!!
Re:I'm a big fan of pool
by
superid
·
· Score: 3, Funny
"Pool Sluts" is a great name for a band:)
light on the details....
by
FaRuvius
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
I wonder if it will just calculate angle shots, or if it considers more complex shots like ones involving English or combo-shot situations in 9 ball.
Sounds like a good tutoring system nonetheless, but I also wonder how dependent a person will be on the laser lines. Kind of like a sniper without a scope, probably.
Re:light on the details....
by
mydigitalself
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
my sentiments exactly regarding tutoring. what a fantastic application to have on your basement pool-table so that when you go out "sharking" you really kick some ass.
in terms of the dependance on the laser lines. i would think that maybe a good mechansim for this would be a level of competitance meter. basically, if you are a crap pool player - the lines would stay on the table until you've hit the ball. as you become better, the lines last on the table for a shorter period. this way you can use the lines as a guidance and still use some form of intuition to make the shot.
Re:the grapevine
by
gormanly
·
· Score: 3, Informative
Yeah, but it helps out those saddos who only ever read/.
If your opponent has a lot of balls left on the table, and you have sunk all of yours and then the 8-ball, then you have a high score. Simple as that.:)
Maybe you and I should play some 9-ball for money:).
-- Never underestimate the bandwidth of a 747 filled with CD-ROMs.
If going on the pool table in your local bar is a humiliating experience then help is at hand.
Yes, I hate it when I urinate on the pool table...::blush::.
This reminds me of a Howie Mandell joke. (You know, that guy with the blown-up glove on his head.)
He likes to party, so one night he's at a club, dancing the night away. He literally does not stop dancing all night long, except to drink copious amounts of alcohol. Eventually, many hours later, his friends are amazed at his stamina, drinking skills, and RETENTION skills. They ask him, "Dude, you are amazing! Do you EVER go to the bathroom?"
I can see where this technology can be adapted to other sports and activities
Golf James : "I've noticed that you've landed in the rough again, would you like some help?"
Baseball James : "I've noticed that you've kicked dirt all over the umpire, would you like some help?"
Football James : "I've noticed that you're the Cincinatti Bengals, would you like some help?"
NASCAR James : "I've noticed that Todd Bodine has once again wrecked half the field, including yourself, and you're about to throw your helmet at his car on national TV, would you like some help?"
Extreme Skier James : "I've noticed that you're tumbling down a snow-covered icy slope with your legs and arms flailing at angles not normally associated with normal movement of the human anatomy, would you like some help?"
Create your own, share and trade with friends!
Re:smart pool table
by
Shanep
·
· Score: 4, Informative
All this "laser" business reminds me of an old episode of Quantum Leap.
Lasers are actually not practical for showing pool ball angles after the first bounce (even if the shooter takes imparted cushion spin into account with off centre shooting) due to the fact that the angle reduces after each successive bounce due to spin the cushions impart on the ball.
If you hit a ball hard at a moderate angle, intending to get the ball to bounce back and forth many times between two cushions, you will find that the angle will keep getting closer to 90 degrees to the cushions, until it actually appears that the ball is just bouncing back and forth parallel to the cushions 90 degrees to those being bounced off. Going from a moderate start angle to close to 90 degrees quite quickly.
I don't think photons suffer the imparted effects of cushion spin.
Also, not related to angle, but velocity, is that when a ball is first hit (on centre) it moves across the table surface initially without forward "rolling" spinning. The friction between the ball and table surface actually slows the ball down mostly up to the point where the rolling becomes "in step" with the velocity. When this ball hits a cushion, this rolling speed is slowed dramatically by the sudden braking effect of the ball pushing hard into the cushion and any rolling that remains after the bounce is quickly reversed as the ball now starts rolling in the opposite directing, again due to the friction of the ball against table surface. This in addition to energy being absorbed by the cushion (well, I don't like the term "absorbed" being used to describe energy "loss". The energy is converted to sound and heat) has the overall effect of making a ball travel much less than if it were to be hit with the same force without obstacles.
-- War crimes, torture, lies, illegal spying... Would someone give Bush a blowjob, already, so he can be impeached?
This is so sad...
by
al701
·
· Score: 4, Interesting
I love pool, comes right up there with computers, sex and food. I love it because it gives me a non-technical escape from my every day. It doesn't involve anything except technology from centurys ago, and a lot of math and physics.
They should just let the game stay as a classic, and not try to always improve on things with lasers and computers and such.
When I was a teenager, my best friend had a really nice table in his basement. By the time I left high school I was actually quite good at the game. But even when I was bad, I wouldn't have wanted a "smart" table. Part of the fun is really bolluxing up what should have been an easy shot, laughing at yourself, and learning how to do it right. The only "smart" table I want is one that knows more games than I do and will always be tabulating the score.
Off topic story now. When I was 16 there was a Danish exchange student in my circle of friends. I wanted her like mad, but hadn't found a way to get past that "good friends" stage. She was hot as all get out, and had an adorable way of mistaking what we were saying and/or not knowing the words, especially the slang. So we're all at my friend's place playing pool, and I just about won a game with an incredible shot on the 8-ball. But instead, the 8 hit the cue a second time, knocking in the cue. I lost, and exclaimed something about how I "double kissed"** it. Danish exchange student says "what's a 'devil kiss'?" Full deadpan, I said "step in that closet over there and I'll show you." She grins and accepts! All our friends' jaws drop, we head in the closet and come out 20 minutes later, breathless. Turns out all the guys knew I wanted her, and all the girls knew she wanted me, so they never said a word. Started a short-lived but highly passionate relationship that was broken up by her exchange parents. And that's my best pool story ever.
**"double-kiss" is when the cue hits the intended ball (in this case the 8) more than one time in a shot.
-- been out for 5 years, time to comment again...
Physics of Pool
by
JewFish
·
· Score: 5, Informative
The real physics[PDF] behind pool. This is much more stimulating than the "physics link" posted in the story.
free book on the physics of pool
by
bcrowell
·
· Score: 5, Informative
There's a free book on the physics of pool. Reviews here would be appreciated.
why this wont make you a pool shark
by
PissedOffGuy
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
it may help a beginner who doesnt know the angles yet, but any decent player can tell you that you also have to know exactly where to hit the cue ball.
in the technical description it says this is designed for two-ball practice scenarios where you sink a ball and leave the cue ball in a particular spot. however in a real game, putting the cue ball where you want it will often require follow (topspin), draw (bottomspin), or left/right spin as well. the one picture of the laser path of the cue ball going off in a straight line doesnt quite match the reality where the cue ball's path is parabolic until it stops sliding on the table and begins rolling.
anyway, what separates the good players from the average is cue ball control and strategy, and strategy isn't covered by this machine so it'll still take practice, practice, practice to get better.
The lasers are suspended above the table and used to draw out a computed path for the ball. It isn't like there's a laser beam coming out of the cue ball to let you know where you're pointed.
Slashdot Mirror
The technology behind James, who looks like a professional pool player, is the same Microsoft uses for its paperclip office assistant.
Uh oh, Clippy has invaded pool tables
...sadly, I think it was in an episode of Quantum Leap, where Dean Stockwell used his handheld computer to calculate the angles.
Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
'The technology behind James, who looks like a professional pool player, is the same Microsoft uses for its paperclip office assistant. '
"It looks like you're trying to pot the black, would you like help?"
Great.
"Never play pool with a man named after a state."
Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
It looks like you're trying to pot the '8' ball. Would you like me to:
( ) Show you the angle
( ) Pot it for you
( o ) Shut the hell up
"People do not speak to pool tables so we came up with this personalised system and people are happy to talk to him," explained Mr Larsen.
Uh, I never needed an AI assistant to speak to a pool table, but the number of curses you can apply to an inanimate object are limited. Kudos to them for offering a target for my rage and frustration.
That's not a soda... it's a caffeine delivery device!
My definition about a smart pool table:
1) Knows not to make smart alec comments like "Whoops" just when you're making that crucial shot to win the game.
2) Doesn't "eat" your money and give you no balls
3) Doesn't take your money and give you all the balls except one.
4) Actually has chalk you don't have to pay for - say on a piece of string.
5) Doesn't charge you ridiculous amounts for a game.
6) Is too smart to be in a pub.
7) Has recently submitted a phD thesis on game theory.
8) Reminds you when you've left out linebreaks posting to slashdot.
All this "laser" business reminds me of an old episode of Quantum Leap.
Video Game cheats, hints a
Well, it looks like I watched Donald in Mathmagic Land for nothing.
Bort.
Free, Anonymous surfing: Pagewash.com.
I can see the angles, dammit! The hard part is getting the damned stick thing to poke the damned round white thing into the other round things at the angle I can see, without going down a damned hole thing, getting airborne, or knocking the damned round black thing down a damned hole thing!!!
"Pool Sluts" is a great name for a band :)
I wonder if it will just calculate angle shots, or if it considers more complex shots like ones involving English or combo-shot situations in 9 ball.
Sounds like a good tutoring system nonetheless, but I also wonder how dependent a person will be on the laser lines. Kind of like a sniper without a scope, probably.
Need to get away?
Adirondack Vacations
Yeah, but it helps out those saddos who only ever read /.
BTW, the New Scientist article is here
with your solid knowlege of geometry if the pool table knows more about angles and proper shot alignment than you do.
is one that will go get me a beer right before I want one.
"There's no such thing as a fluke shot in pool. It's just an oversight in the calculations."
Despite the hypocrisy, made glaringly obvious by his proficiency at the game, my dad loved to quote Mark Twain whenever the subject of pool came up:
"Proficiency at billiards is sign of a mis-spent youth."
So, does this project mean that I can possibly cite all of my college evenings as research?
It can call us Betty!
(mangled Quantam Leap/Paul Simon reference)
Face it, people are stupid, and the internet is the place where they all meet.
How many people didn't read any of the links and went straight for the java pool game???
sweet. me too.
Eeeasssssyyy buddy.... Put doowwwnnn the pool cue...
my religion lies somewhere between buddhism and super monkey ball - pamphlet?
"He congratulates you if you get a high score," said Mr Larsen.
Since when is there a "high score" in 9-ball?
If going on the pool table in your local bar is a humiliating experience then help is at hand.
::blush::.
Yes, I hate it when I urinate on the pool table...
This reminds me of a Howie Mandell joke. (You know, that guy with the blown-up glove on his head.)
He likes to party, so one night he's at a club, dancing the night away. He literally does not stop dancing all night long, except to drink copious amounts of alcohol. Eventually, many hours later, his friends are amazed at his stamina, drinking skills, and RETENTION skills. They ask him, "Dude, you are amazing! Do you EVER go to the bathroom?"
"Depends."
"And like that
I can see where this technology can be adapted to other sports and activities
Golf James : "I've noticed that you've landed in the rough again, would you like some help?"
Baseball James : "I've noticed that you've kicked dirt all over the umpire, would you like some help?"
Football James : "I've noticed that you're the Cincinatti Bengals, would you like some help?"
NASCAR James : "I've noticed that Todd Bodine has once again wrecked half the field, including yourself, and you're about to throw your helmet at his car on national TV, would you like some help?"
Extreme Skier James : "I've noticed that you're tumbling down a snow-covered icy slope with your legs and arms flailing at angles not normally associated with normal movement of the human anatomy, would you like some help?"
Create your own, share and trade with friends!
All this "laser" business reminds me of an old episode of Quantum Leap.
Lasers are actually not practical for showing pool ball angles after the first bounce (even if the shooter takes imparted cushion spin into account with off centre shooting) due to the fact that the angle reduces after each successive bounce due to spin the cushions impart on the ball.
If you hit a ball hard at a moderate angle, intending to get the ball to bounce back and forth many times between two cushions, you will find that the angle will keep getting closer to 90 degrees to the cushions, until it actually appears that the ball is just bouncing back and forth parallel to the cushions 90 degrees to those being bounced off. Going from a moderate start angle to close to 90 degrees quite quickly.
I don't think photons suffer the imparted effects of cushion spin.
Also, not related to angle, but velocity, is that when a ball is first hit (on centre) it moves across the table surface initially without forward "rolling" spinning. The friction between the ball and table surface actually slows the ball down mostly up to the point where the rolling becomes "in step" with the velocity. When this ball hits a cushion, this rolling speed is slowed dramatically by the sudden braking effect of the ball pushing hard into the cushion and any rolling that remains after the bounce is quickly reversed as the ball now starts rolling in the opposite directing, again due to the friction of the ball against table surface. This in addition to energy being absorbed by the cushion (well, I don't like the term "absorbed" being used to describe energy "loss". The energy is converted to sound and heat) has the overall effect of making a ball travel much less than if it were to be hit with the same force without obstacles.
War crimes, torture, lies, illegal spying... Would someone give Bush a blowjob, already, so he can be impeached?
I love pool, comes right up there with computers, sex and food. I love it because it gives me a non-technical escape from my every day. It doesn't involve anything except technology from centurys ago, and a lot of math and physics. They should just let the game stay as a classic, and not try to always improve on things with lasers and computers and such.
Off topic story now. When I was 16 there was a Danish exchange student in my circle of friends. I wanted her like mad, but hadn't found a way to get past that "good friends" stage. She was hot as all get out, and had an adorable way of mistaking what we were saying and/or not knowing the words, especially the slang. So we're all at my friend's place playing pool, and I just about won a game with an incredible shot on the 8-ball. But instead, the 8 hit the cue a second time, knocking in the cue. I lost, and exclaimed something about how I "double kissed"** it. Danish exchange student says "what's a 'devil kiss'?" Full deadpan, I said "step in that closet over there and I'll show you." She grins and accepts! All our friends' jaws drop, we head in the closet and come out 20 minutes later, breathless. Turns out all the guys knew I wanted her, and all the girls knew she wanted me, so they never said a word. Started a short-lived but highly passionate relationship that was broken up by her exchange parents. And that's my best pool story ever.
**"double-kiss" is when the cue hits the intended ball (in this case the 8) more than one time in a shot.
been out for 5 years, time to comment again...
The real physics[PDF] behind pool. This is much more stimulating than the "physics link" posted in the story.
There's a free book on the physics of pool. Reviews here would be appreciated.
Find free books.
it may help a beginner who doesnt know the angles yet, but any decent player can tell you that you also have to know exactly where to hit the cue ball.
in the technical description it says this is designed for two-ball practice scenarios where you sink a ball and leave the cue ball in a particular spot. however in a real game, putting the cue ball where you want it will often require follow (topspin), draw (bottomspin), or left/right spin as well. the one picture of the laser path of the cue ball going off in a straight line doesnt quite match the reality where the cue ball's path is parabolic until it stops sliding on the table and begins rolling.
anyway, what separates the good players from the average is cue ball control and strategy, and strategy isn't covered by this machine so it'll still take practice, practice, practice to get better.
You didn't read any of the article, did you.
The lasers are suspended above the table and used to draw out a computed path for the ball. It isn't like there's a laser beam coming out of the cue ball to let you know where you're pointed.