The SmartBall from Playfinity tested
This ball is set to be a big hit. Playfinity wants to use a sensor and apps to make the toy smarter, more versatile and even more interesting. Sounds presumptuous - but motivates children immensely.
There was only one option for me, even during the shortest school break. Out on the sports field, playing ball. Pass, shoot, throw, catch. At least five minutes. Because it was always five good minutes. No matter whether the weather was good or bad, the ball big or small, a worn piece of leather or plastic. Anyone who discovers a love for this most perfect of sports equipment will never let go of it. The play instinct kicks in as soon as a ball is nearby. What could be better? Is that even possible? Isn't a smart ball a stupid idea?
Playfinity believes that more technology can bring more fun and is trying it out with a strange ball that looks like a mutated orange. It's small and is supposed to be quite a lot. Handball, mini football, motivational aid, training tool, toy and jump tracker on the trampoline. This works via a removable sensor in the ball, the "Smart Activity Meter". It counts the throws, measures height, speed and flight time. Games can be created from this data. There are different apps for the various applications.
The company behind the gadget comes from Norway. Handball is big there, and the current biggest player was involved in the development of Playfinity: Sander Sagosen, superstar and contender for the title of world handball player. The Norwegian Handball Federation, which is also involved, organises training camps for young people with him, and his name is omnipresent at Playfinity. [[image:35128567]] [[quote:I joined the Playfinity team because the joy of playing has a crucial role of being successful in any sports. If it is not fun, it is difficult to motivate oneself to become really great."Sander Sagosen"]]
So it's about throwing and catching. It's about motivating and challenging children and young people, making sure that the handball players of tomorrow stay on the ball. And that all those who don't like to put their mobile phones down move more than just their thumbs from time to time.
In with the chip: Smart + Ball = Smartball
The package contains the bright orange ball with a black drawer, the sensor, a CR2032 battery, which should last for around 80 hours of play, and something like a bent Allen key. This is used to lever open the drawer in order to insert or remove the sensor. This is shown in the corresponding illustrations. The rudimentary instructions are only available in Norwegian. As a warning triangle can be seen next to the illustrations and the meaning of "Pass på!" can be guessed, I prefer to play it safe.
Aha. This "key" doesn't really have a lock as a matching counterpart, but after some poking around I can use it to lever the drawer out of the ball. Once the sensor has been fitted with the battery and inserted, the compartment closes with a click that inspires confidence. The ball is weatherproof, but not made for water games in the swimming pool. There are two indentations above and below the drawer that give the ball an unusual appearance. There is also a wide-edged button on the ball to start a game and a hole just under one centimetre in diameter, the reason for which remains a mystery.
Significantly smaller than a children's handball
With a circumference of just under 31 centimetres, the Playfinity ball is significantly smaller than a size 1 children's handball (50 to 52 centimetres in circumference). With the sensor installed, it weighs 139 grams on my kitchen scales. The two-centimetre-thick rubberised surface is very grippy and not too hard, it encases the hard plastic core and can be pressed in to a depth of about one centimetre. The ball is said to be perfect for throwing and catching. And it is. Despite its cratered surface, it flies great, has a good grip and bounces well. Even my four-year-old son can throw a decent shot with it without the ball slipping out of his hand. Let the games begin. [[image:35189153]]
Which app should it be?
In wealthy Norway, Apple is in demand, with the iPhone having a market share of just under 55 per cent. There are five different Playfinity apps for iOS. In the Play Store, there are currently only three, the training-focussed "Handball" and "Team Play" are missing. So I'm the poor Android bastard. What's more, the apps on my Google Pixel with fresh Android 10 occasionally crash after launch. On the iPhone, which I organise for comparison, everything runs smoothly. This confirms the suspicion that iOS is the top priority.
Football first: Playfinity Trix
A large selection of game variants is available in all apps and you have the option of creating your own. I find "Trix", the app that turns Playfinity's smartball into a football, to be the simplest. When juggling, you collect points for every contact and minus points if the ball falls to the ground. The time you need to reach the game goal is also a factor. There are high score lists and the option to challenge other players. You can record and share your attempt using the smartphone camera.
Depending on the variant, time and errors are weighted differently. How many attempts can you make before the ball hits the floor? How quickly can you make fifty contacts? Or only attempts in which the ball reaches at least a certain height count. It's fun, but it can't be everything.
High 5: A colourful smorgasbord
This app combines a whole host of throwing games with different goals. In "Lava" the ball must not fall to the ground, in "Fastest" throwing speed is key and in "Hot Potatoe" the ball must be thrown as quickly as possible. During the game, the app recognises successes and failures with sound effects. At the end of each round, it shows the score and a comparison with the personal best performance and all players worldwide. The children find this particularly exciting. Even my four-year-old comes and asks if he can now throw "the Eiffel Tower", only to stand proudly on the lawn after 109 throws, 34 drops and one fall, because he has managed a total of 324 metres in altitude. [[image:35197883]]
During the games, the app reliably collects data that can be interesting not only for children but also for coaches. How many passes did we complete in 60 seconds? What was the average throwing speed? How fast did we play? It's a good mix of motivation and information, and you can see the guiding principle behind the development of Playfinity. The smartball can be more than just a fun gadget.
Handball & Team Play: playful training
In these two apps, which are only available for the iPhone, there are serious training tips instead of funny animated figures and fonts. Various throwing exercises are shown in short videos and graphics. In "Handball" for two to four players. In "Team Play", the aim is also to bridge the entire field as a team, play around obstacles and find optimal passing and running routes. [[image:35129238 "The exercises are demonstrated in graphics and short videos."]]
What makes this app particularly interesting is the option of having up to six teams with six smartballs compete against each other at the same time. The live score can be followed in the app and also sent to a monitor or projector via Apple TV. This turns rather monotonous passing and catching drills into a motivating spectacle. Perfect for sports camps such as those run by the Norwegian Handball Association. The apps are still a mix of languages, with the occasional Norwegian term appearing in the game names. But the explanations are available in English or German, everything is understandable and well done.
I have to skip the trampoline apps
For the sake of completeness, "Jump Games" and "Trampo" should be mentioned. As the sensor can be removed from the ball, the "Smart Activity Tracker" can also be used in other sports. For trampolinists, there are various jumping tasks, challenges and leaderboards modelled on the other apps. As I don't have a trampoline, I'll have to skip this app.
Conclusion: The SmartBall is not a stupid idea
A ball can't be bad. I'm biased on that. This little specimen throws, catches and juggles well, which already makes me happy. In combination with the app, the games, sound effects and high scores, it's especially fun for children. I could do without the accompanying noise, but I find the data interesting. As an iPhone user, you're on the safe side; I had minor problems with various Android devices from time to time.
Since children and young people are the main target group, I have to say: mission accomplished, Playfinity. The SmartBall is not a stupid idea. What Playfinity calls "active gaming" works. Children are motivated, coaches can use it to offer exciting exercises and at the same time generate useful data for analysis. The SmartBall is a gadget that I would have loved to have as a child. I can still get excited about it today. If you feel the same way, it's a good catch.
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Michael Restin
Senior Editor
Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.chSimple writer, dad of two. Likes to be on the move, shimmies through everyday family life, juggles with several balls and occasionally drops something. A ball. Or a remark. Or both.
