Electronic Equipment on Field (ASA)

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Dakota

If there is a wifi signal nearby, any number of ways are available to communicate. Eventually (probably the eyePad 3G ), it will connect to cell phone service, as well. But, if some coach is dumb enough to take a $700 electronic device out into the playing field, well ...

So would you classify this as a communication device? Or an electronic scorebook?

The iPad can't make any phone calls, send text messages, nor does it have any camera functions.

Again, the lines between certain devices are now becoming increasingly blurred, and I predict it won't be long (less than 2 years) before all devices that are strictly 100% electronic scorebooks will cease to exist in favor of software-based development.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

So would you classify this as a communication device? Or an electronic scorebook?..

The new ASA rule doesn't mention "communication device"... it says, "electronic device", which it most certainly is. It allows an exception for a scorekeeping device, which is most certainly is not. It is a computing device that can be used for scorekeeping, as well as for lots of other things, including accessing the internet and all that comes with that. The eyePad is presently more limited than your typical smart phone in its ability to access the internet from your random ball field, since it needs to be in range of a wifi signal, but I expect Lord Jobs to address that with the next revision.

As to what I would allow, I'd be inclined to take the rule for what it says and not try to interpret in too loosely... But, I expect I'll be calling very few ASA games this year (local sanctioning politics, etc.).

[shagpal]

hi dave, thanks for biting me.

the ipad is really a tablet pda, but a really big fast one, and only has wifi capabilities in this first release, but another release will come out soon that could make calls thru a 3G or 4G wireless data service, so in essence, it could send text messages, which would qualify it as a communications device.

technically speaking, setting up a mobile wifi point is now rather easy.

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

So would you classify this as a communication device? Or an electronic scorebook?

The iPad can't make any phone calls, send text messages, nor does it have any camera functions.

Again, the lines between certain devices are now becoming increasingly blurred, and I predict it won't be long (less than 2 years) before all devices that are strictly 100% electronic scorebooks will cease to exist in favor of software-based development.

[Skahtboi]

Even without the ability to text or make calls, the iPad can still send emails which could be read on any phone or computing device, therefore making it capable now of communicating.