FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
May 3, 2012
Media inquiries
Contact for EquiSight:
Kenleigh Hobby ● Co-founder ● (208) 304-1228 ● kenleigh@equisight.com
David Matt ● Co-founder ● (602) 339-0563 ● dpmatt@equisight.com
TUCSON, AZ—EquiSight’s innovative jockey camera technology wins at the University of Arizona Engineering Design Day. The team won second place for Texas Instrument Analog Design Contest and received $500 as well as an opportunity to compete in Texas Instrument’s national competition.
EquiSight won for their patent pending jockey cam prototype design. This smart horseracing helmet streams sound, vision and GPS data to give viewers a virtual reality experience that creates the illusion of being in the race along with the jockeys. The cutting edge camera system is being developed as a project by University of Arizona engineering students sponsored by EquiSight co-founders, David P. Matt and Kenleigh Hobby.
The Interdisciplinary Engineering Design Program at the University of Arizona allows teams of engineering students to work directly with industry and faculty on real-life projects. Seniors from across the College of Engineering work in multidisciplinary teams to solve design problems identified by industry partners, faculty, and student clubs. This activity culminates in the annual Engineering Design Day.
EquiSight’s camera system was one of the senior capstone design projects featured at Engineering Design Day on May 1, 2012. The event showcased more than 55 projects designed and built by seniors majoring in various engineering disciplines. Teams exhibited their work to the public and competed for more than $13,000 in industry-sponsored prizes.
The Texas Instrument (TI) Analog Design Contest recognized the technical skill that is necessary to design the key component required in many engineering projects – the analog integrated circuits. UA engineer student teams using three or more TI analog ICs in their design entered the TI Analog Design Contest earlier in the year. Projects were judged on originality of design, quality of design, creativity of design, level of engineering analysis, and a written description of how each TI analog chip benefited the design. More information on the contest is available at www.ti.com/analoguniversityprogram.
EquiSight’s win catapults them to into the Engibous Prize contest where they will compete with top teams from schools across North America for a $10,000 first place prize. The team leaves in July for Texas with expenses paid by Texas Instrument.
TI’s Analog Design Contest is named in honor of Thomas Engibous, the retired Chairman of Texas Instruments. The Engibous Prize makes cash awards to teams of engineering students who incorporate either three TI analog devices or two TI analog devices and a TI processor in their senior project or other project course design.
“The jockey cam technology we are developing is ahead of the video content trend. There is something invigoration about watching horse racing from the race point of view. We want to put fans in the saddle and allow them to be the arm-chair jockey hence our tag line Ride the Race®,” said co-founder Kenleigh Hobby.
The University of Arizona recently spotlighted EquiSight with the cover story And the Race is On featured on their home page. Website visitors get the inside story on the driving force behind this student start-up company and learn how the “jockey cam” invention will change the horseracing fan experience.
EquiSight co-founders, David P. Matt and Kenleigh Hobby recently launched their company with assistance from the business incubator, the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI). AzCI provides structured business development for technology companies and works with entrepreneurs to move technology through the commercialization process. EquiSight is also a portfolio company with Wasabi Ventures, a venture capital, incubator, and consulting firm that specializes in building and advising early stage technology companies.
About EquiSight
EquiSight enhances the viewership for horseracing fans and officials. EquiSight utilizes cutting edge technology to bring the traditional two-dimensional binocular video experience into the present day by allowing viewers to Ride the Race® from the jockey’s point of view. This new perspective allows people the ability to feel the speed, beauty, and intensity from this “Sport of Kings.” For more information about EquiSight visit www.equisight.com. Keep track of the action by following EquiSight on Facebook, Twitter @equisight and YouTube.
Team EquiSight – From left to right: Garrett Weaver, Trevor West, David Matt, Stephen Nelson, Louie Benitez, Cedric Bosch, Patrick Llull, Kenleigh Hobby, Greg Waterfall from TI, Tim Kalthoff from TI
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