There are a lot of working parts of a football game. From the players, to the refs, to the jumbotron to the scoreboard.
One thing that doesn’t draw a lot of attention but is a key component to the game is the down marker.
Currently, the down markers use digits that are painted onto plastic or metal plates and flipped when the down changes. However, that might be changing.
Victory Game Clocks, designer and manufacturer of electronic products for professional, college and high school sports and Auburn University’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design have collaborated to design eDown, an electronic down marker that has been used during football games at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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Sixteen students spent the spring semester of 2015 researching and designing concepts that were easier to work with the expectation for their end product to be in full use for the 2016 season.
“The new LED down marker was designed with user interface an experience as a key parameter,” Randy Bartlett, professor of industrial design in Auburn University, said. “The user can change which down is in play by simply pressing a ‘Down Selection’ switch. The push-button switch is located on the support pole and is within blind reach of the user.”
This easy one-press down marker is an enhancement on the traditional method where the users would need to reach above their heads or tilt the device to access the lever that changes the numbers.
The eDown LED down marker is powered with a “nickel-metal hydride,” which is a battery assembly that holds a charge for more than eight hours.
According to Bartlett, other human and football factors were involved in the design of the eDown LED maker.
“The down markers must be visible for 100 years,” he said. “They also need to be lightweight and durable. The electronics needs to be able to withstand impact – when a 300-pound football player is barreling toward you, you toss the down marker to the ground and get out of the way.”
The first model of the eDown markers have been used during this football season and are now being sold nationally.
Loving new invention. Digital down marker. Invented by Auburn. So easy to see on night games Dana Marquez at it again pic.twitter.com/Y6G375DOSg
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) October 23, 2016