Athletic Ability Test Stations

Developed a suite of test stations for assessing various aspects of athletic ability.

Context

The company had a new concept for testing students’ athletic abilities and making the information available on-line for college recruiters. In order to standardize the tests, reduce human error and reduce the possibility of cheating, they wanted to design test equipment and a database for storing the information.

Solution

BCA developed the electronics and firmware to record information from various test machines and send it over a wireless network to a database. BCA also developed the following test machines:

  • Upper Body Strength – measures the strength of a weighted ball thrown by the student.
  • Lower Body Strength – measures the height of a jump.
  • Agility – measures the time it takes a student to move an object from one location to another.
  • Speed – measures the time it takes a student to run a specific distance.
  • Flexibility – measures the length of a sitting stretch.
  • Body Composition – measures height, reach, weight, and body fat percentage.
  • Reaction Time – measures the time it takes a student to react to various visual stimuli.
  • Hand-Eye Coordination – measures the student’s ability to follow the movement of an object with a track ball.

As part of the Body Composition station development, BCA designed and executed clinical trials to support the development of the proper body fat equations and the FDA submission. BCA conducted a Hazards Analysis and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis for the Body Fat FDA submission as well.

Software was developed to register participants over the web and record the registration information in a database. PC software was also developed to register walk-in registrants, take their picture, print bar-coded id badges and print test results upon completion of all tests.

BCA also provided information architecture review services for the client’s web software, graphic design services to create exhibition materials and test station materials, and extensive project planning services.