Next time you head to the beach, consider packing a new gadget for a different experience of a timeless game.
LoopBall, which was created in France and is Loop’s first product, offers a more seamless version of “Beach Ball,” the game in which two players try to keep a ball in the air as long as possible. The game is said to have originated in the 1920s in modern-day Israel, though some credit its beginnings to Brazil.
The high-tech ball packs Bluetooth, a number of movement sensors, a processor and memory bank, and a battery all into waterproof and shockproof casing.
The result is a ball that calculates the number of rallies and the distance between you and your partner; keeps track of various game metrics; and stores all the data in the ball so that you can view it on a connected smartphone app and share your games on social media with a community of players (with location-specific geotags using your phone’s GPS). According to an FAQ section, if you leave your phone in the car, the data will automatically update on the app when the phone is back within range.
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In case the small sphere gets lost in a thicket or trapped in the sand, the app uses that Bluetooth technology to locate the ball just as you would track down your iPhone. One potential downside is that, like your iPhone, the LoopBall’s battery is sealed within the shell. Though it can’t be replaced, LoopBall’s creators claim the battery life will last for weeks of continuous play. It also hibernates during long breaks in usage. Once the battery dies permanently, Loop operates a trade-in program for a new ball. The replacement cost, if any, is as of yet unknown.
LoopBall, which launched last month, is currently getting its funding through Kickstarter. So far, 39 people have raised $2,644 of a $50,000-plus goal. Various contribution levels beginning at 45 Euros will grant you a LoopBall and the app for iPhone or Android, and possibly other gifts.