Markets /markets Customer Profiles /markets/customerProfiles/default.asp 2002 Olympic Winter Games /markets/customerProfiles/2002OlympicWinterGames/default.asp 2002 Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City, UT Entertainment /markets/customerProfiles/2002OlympicWinterGames/imgs/image_OlmpicPanelsLinedUp250-b.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/2002OlympicWinterGames/imgs/image_Olympicjudgeslinedup650.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/2002OlympicWinterGames/imgs/image_olymicpanelcloseup copy.jpg When determining Olympic gold depends on the slightest of margins, only the gold standard in control technology will do. Figure Skating and Ice Dancing judges at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City are using — for the first time ever — an AMX control system and 10.4" Color Graphic TiltScreens for instant replays and scoring. Several times during last week's performances at the Salt Lake Ice Center, the AMX Tiltscreens made an appearance on network television as cameras followed the skaters around the rink and zoomed in on the judges. More than four years ago, before the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, the International Skating Union (ISU) decided to implement a cutting edge replay and scoring system. ISU, the worldwide governing body of figure skating, wanted a comprehensive user interface that would be easy-to-use and, of course, capable of translating different languages. The solution: AMX control and touch screens. Bill Taylor, engineer and founder of Mobile Facilities, designed and programmed the AMX system, which has been employed in major skating events throughout North America, Europe and Asia in preparation for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. "It was a huge challenge," Taylor said. "Each panel requires a lot of data flow. There's a ton of information going back and forth." The AMX control system communicates with an Olympic PC network-based "Results System" through 12 separate 10.4" TiltScreens. This gives the nine figure skating judges, one alternate judge, one referee and one assistant referee the ability to input and instantly calculate scores, retrieve personal information on every competitor, and review as many as 20 different skating elements, including lifts, jumps, spins and spirals — all at the touch of a button. "The judges have fallen in love with it," Taylor said. Each judge and referee navigates their own TiltScreen, which can be effortlessly positioned to remove glare and for a better viewing angle. Boasting an appealing overall design and bright easy-to-read screen, the judges discern replays of every Triple Lutz, Quadruple Salchow and Death Spin. Then, with the press a few buttons register points. AMX, a golden touch at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Photographs: Bill Taylor, Mobile Facilities Contibuting source: David Teel, Avenida Marketing