Mobile phones as measuring devices

[rulefan]

I'm guessing that the problem is that the functionality of a DMD is defined - whereas the functionality associated with a mobile phone cannot be defined - it could include be anything and become anything - including functionality that we haven't thought about. As soon as the R&A allow mobiles they open the door to they know not what. And once open, then future super whizzy apps for mobiles will be walking through an opened door that will be difficult if not impossible to shut.

To me it seems that they looked at the compass app as an app that could possibly in some way help in golf that is clearly not distance measuring; and that is on most if not all smartphones - and used that as the door stop. A compass isn't distance measuring and it's on all smartphones - so if your device has a compass - it's illegal. Has that changed?

Yes a compass is no longer 'illegal'.

14-3/4
Use of Compass During Round
Q. A player uses a compass during a stipulated round to help determine the
direction of the wind or the direction of the grain in the greens. Is the player
in breach of Rule 14-3?
A. No. A compass only provides directional information and does not gauge
or measure variable conditions or assist the player in his play. (Revised)

 

[rulefan]

Is this a built in phone app or a feature of phone based DMD apps? Asking because as far as I know, my phone has no built in gradient facility/app.

Some iphones and androids have built in levels.

http://www.macworld.com/article/2048982/get-to-know-ios-7-compass.html

 

[ger147]

Some iphones and androids have built in levels.

http://www.macworld.com/article/2048982/get-to-know-ios-7-compass.html

Thanks for that, will go have a read.

Does that mean if your phone doesn't have the built in level functionality, it could be legally used as a DMD?

 

[mefromhere]

I think playing partners might notice if you start lying your phone down on the green at various points before you putt ... Besides that would be breaking the touching your line of putt rule anyway wouldn't it?

 

[duncan mackie]

Thanks for that, will go have a read.

Does that mean if your phone doesn't have the built in level functionality, it could be legally used as a DMD?

if it doesn't have an accelerometer (tilt sensor), barometer, thermometer or annenometer (wind speed) then it is capable of being legally used as a DMD ..... right now that's the iPhone 3G (not the 3GS) alone on my list, but I'm always looking for other, more modern, models.

 

[ger147]

if it doesn't have an accelerometer (tilt sensor), barometer, thermometer or annenometer (wind speed) then it is capable of being legally used as a DMD ..... right now that's the iPhone 3G (not the 3GS) alone on my list, but I'm always looking for other, more modern, models.

My Android phone doesn't have any of these apps. Does everyone else in the world have an iPhone?

 

[rulefan]

My Android phone doesn't have any of these apps. Does everyone else in the world have an iPhone?

They are available for android I am told.

 

[BTatHome]

I seem to remember the HTC Desire C lacking many of the typical sensors .... to be honest I gave up looking for one ages ago as I really didn't want my phone in the weather conditions, and killing its battery during a round.

 

[BTatHome]

My Android phone doesn't have any of these apps. Does everyone else in the world have an iPhone?

Which phone do you have ?

 

[ger147]

Which phone do you have ?

Samsung Galaxy Note.

 

[duncan mackie]

My Android phone doesn't have any of these apps. Does everyone else in the world have an iPhone?

please enlighten us - that my list only has an iPhone on it isn't because it's an iPhone only list!!!

and this isn't about 'apps' it's about hardware sensors

 

[ger147]

please enlighten us - that my list only has an iPhone on it isn't because it's an iPhone only list!!!

and this isn't about 'apps' it's about hardware sensors

My point was I have an Android phone and it doesn't have any of these apps as standard.

If it's about sensors and not apps then that answers my questions as I assume it has all of the latest sensors as it's a relatively modern and high end phone.

 

[BTatHome]

Samsung Galaxy Note.

You must have a very special one then, as I also have a Galaxy Note and mine contains .... Sensors: Accelerometer, Digital compass, Proximity, Barometer, Light, Gyro. (As taken from the samsung web site)

 

[ger147]

You must have a very special one then, as I also have a Galaxy Note and mine contains .... Sensors: Accelerometer, Digital compass, Proximity, Barometer, Light, Gyro. (As taken from the samsung web site)

I was talking about apps, not sensors.

 

[rulefan]

Thanks for that, will go have a read.

Does that mean if your phone doesn't have the built in level functionality, it could be legally used as a DMD?

And if you haven't got the app.

 

[Sweep]

Whilst I understand the reasoning behind the rules and decisions on rules, it seems you have to be a lawyer to play the game of golf these days.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Whilst I understand the reasoning behind the rules and decisions on rules, it seems you have to be a lawyer to play the game of golf these days.

There is an alternative

 

[Sweep]

There is an alternative

Which is?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

which is?

erm - let me think ...

I've thought - and I'm not saying

 

[BTatHome]

I was talking about apps, not sensors.

And if you haven't got the app.

Well the wording of the ruling mentions features, rather than specifically apps. Which I've always thought to mean the hardware capable of doing these things. It takes seconds to download an app that would use said features on the phone, and that can done at any point during a round too, aswell as being deleted before the round ended, hence why they used the terms features.