I've noticed the phrase 'Virtual Orienteering' has started being used to describe orienteering courses which use smart phone apps like MapRun. It seems to me that apart from the technology used for 'punching' and timing these courses are real orienteering. They can be used with or without printed maps and physical control flags and can be used for real events as well as temporary or permanent courses.
Limitations in the accuracy and reliability of the current technology make it unsuitable for competitive events, but I would be surprised if similar technology doesn't become standard for orienteering in the future.
Virtual Orienteering has been used in the past to describe computer based exercises and apps such as Virtual-O, Catching Features, Street View O, Virtual Trail O, etc. It would seem appropriate to reserve the term for these types of activities.
That does beg the question what to call events that use smart phone and GPS technology?
Virtual Orienteering
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Virtual Orienteering
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buzz - addict
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
Agree entirely that 'Virtual Orienteering' does not quite 'hit the mark'; and stands to be confused with the other types of events you mention buzz.
Well, we run with a map so I would have thought the generic term MapRun (building in part on an identity with the successful 'parkrun' events) would be fairly logical and easy to market?
Well, we run with a map so I would have thought the generic term MapRun (building in part on an identity with the successful 'parkrun' events) would be fairly logical and easy to market?
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DaveK - green
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
buzz wrote: 'Virtual Orienteering' has started being used to describe orienteering courses which use smart phone apps like MapRun. It seems to me that ... these courses are real orienteering.
Totally agree..
IMHO There is absolutely nothing virtual about them. To call them so is very confusing and misleading.
- blindasabat
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
DaveK wrote:Well, we run with a map so I would have thought the generic term MapRun (building in part on an identity with the successful 'parkrun' events) would be fairly logical and easy to market?
I agree MapRun is a good marketing/brand name - I bought the maprun.org domain a while back and intended to use it for a smartphone based project, but MapRun has since been used by an Australian business. I guess the ParkRun connection was obvious.
I saw 'MapRun' as being evocative of real orienteering where we run with a map and the use of a smartphone was only incidental to make it easier to organise and more attractive.
There are examples of brands being used as generic terms (Hoover, Velux) but it doesn't help their competitors.
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buzz - addict
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
How about InvisibleO? The English translation of UsynligO.
- babs f
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
I see MapRun is now available on Smart Watches as well as Smart Phones.
How about Smart Orienteering Courses (SOCs) as a generic term?
How about Smart Orienteering Courses (SOCs) as a generic term?
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buzz - addict
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
Smart is good
Phones became smart phones
Watches became smart watches
Homes are becoming smart homes
orienteering can become smart orienteering when we incorporate similar tech!
I like it.
Phones became smart phones
Watches became smart watches
Homes are becoming smart homes
orienteering can become smart orienteering when we incorporate similar tech!
I like it.
- iainwp
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
buzz wrote:I see MapRun is now available on Smart Watches as well as Smart Phones.
How about Smart Orienteering Courses (SOCs) as a generic term?
Excellent!
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awk - god
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
Smart phones and watches are more advanced than regular phones and watches. Smart orienteering is not more advanced than regular orienteering, there is nothing "smart" about it, so it is a misleading name, I am afraid. How about orienteering on demand (OOD), similar to video on demand, referring to the fact you can do it at any time and not just "live" when an event is put on?
- MChub
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
yes. i agree with your words here.
- iainwp
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
MChub wrote:Smart phones and watches are more advanced than regular phones and watches. Smart orienteering is not more advanced than regular orienteering, there is nothing "smart" about it, so it is a misleading name, I am afraid. How about orienteering on demand (OOD), similar to video on demand, referring to the fact you can do it at any time and not just "live" when an event is put on?
I agree that Smart Orienteering doesn't work but Smart Orienteering Course does - its the technology used for staging the events that is more advanced.
You can do Permananent Orienteering Courses (POCs) and Temporary Orienteering Courses (TOCs) on demand but they can use 'smart' or traditional technology. You can also use 'smart ' technology for live orienteering events.
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buzz - addict
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
I've noticed that clubs have now started using the abbreviated Virtual-O for MapRun courses. Virtual-O is the name of a different product and someone else's brand. We are a small sport and I think its appropriate that we should respect others within the sport.
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buzz - addict
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
Meanwhile Virtual Orienteering is having something of a resurgence during the ongoing pandemic. Lockdown Orienteering continues this weekend with a junior only competition, next week JROS are running a 'Virtual Deeside' training week for MW16s in place of the cancelled real tour, and IOF are considering a 'virtual' World Orienteering Championships for later this year. https://orienteering.sport/unofficial-world-eorienteering-championships-later-in-2020/
Interestingly IOF are using the phrase eOrienteering to align it with eSports although they're still using 'virtual' in this context too.
Interestingly IOF are using the phrase eOrienteering to align it with eSports although they're still using 'virtual' in this context too.
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buzz - addict
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Re: Virtual Orienteering
Virtual orienteering continues to thrive away from the chaos in the real world. The Scottish Catching Features League is halfway through its second season https://twitter.com/catchingleague, the Brazilian Confederation of Orienteering are organising the Virtual South American Orienteering Championships starting this weekend https://www.cbo.org.br/evento/869, and Lockdown Orienteering returns next week with a new name 'Orienteering Unlocked' and an event reliving the World Champs in Scotland in 1999. https://orienteeringunlocked.com/
Any other virtual orienteering coming up to keep us entertained during Lockdowns?
Anyone know what happened to IOFs plans for an eOrienteering World Championships?
https://orienteering.sport/unofficial-world-eorienteering-championships-later-in-2020/
Any other virtual orienteering coming up to keep us entertained during Lockdowns?
Anyone know what happened to IOFs plans for an eOrienteering World Championships?
https://orienteering.sport/unofficial-world-eorienteering-championships-later-in-2020/
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buzz - addict
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