Case Study
Vindishow

Parc Y Scarlets: Next-Level Pitch-Side Tech With Vindishow...

Background. Llanelli is one of the most famous rugby towns in the world. It’s also the focal point for one of the most passionately supported rugby clubs in the world – the Scarlets. In 2008, the newly built Parc Y Scarlets became the Scarlets and Llanelli RFC’s new home. The state-of-the art stadium has become synonymous with cutting-edge technology – and we’re proud to be the people behind the design, build and management of the stadium’s entire tech infrastructure. In fact, we’re so committed to its success that our team are there on every match day to make sure that Parc Y Scarlets’ tech operations are delivered seamlessly. So, when disaster struck, we knew exactly how to tackle it. Brief. A key feature of the new stadium was a large pitch-side screen. It looked great, but making sure it delivered seamlessly took a lot of time and effort. The system needed two people, using two different controllers, to manage the game’s content and output. On top that, it also had some reliability issues that made us question its efficiency. It was an uphill struggle. Then, in 2014, disaster struck. The screen’s controller system broke down beyond repair – and some serious #ThinkPurple action was needed. Rather than rebuild a mirror of what was there before, we sat down with (then) General Manager David Stock to understand exactly what he wanted to achieve. Armed with a blank pieces of paper and plenty of ideas, we were sure this would be a valuable meeting. What did we get? The Scarlets GM drew a simple diagram (see below). Yes, that’s right – a stick man holding a small square. #ThinkPurple Solution. Although basic, the diagram represented was a man holding an iPad at the pitch’s halfway line. And it really got us thinking. We left the meeting and immediately got to work by asking lots of questions. LOTS! But we’ve worked with the Scarlets for 20 years – and they trusted that we would deliver. We wanted to understand everything from broadcasters’ requirements and pre-match advertising to social media feed integration and what in-game action was needed – such as TMO (which is rugby talk for “give me another look, please”). This opened up even more questions, posed a ton of considerations and gave us a heap of research to do – and the pressure was on. We had just six weeks to develop and build the prototype that needed to be ready for the first game of the season. But we delivered. It wasn’t pretty, but the new product was faultless, and it delivered flawlessly. We called it: Vindishow (see what we did there?). This cutting-edge product used the latest technology to take in live video direct from the broadcasters – upgrading it from SD to HD – to deliver instant control to the Scarlets via one simple and intuitive interface. As the season progressed, we also added iPad control and social media integration. Vindishow has now been running for six seasons at Parc Y Scarlets, and we continue to evolve the product to this very day. Gone are the days where two panicked people, synchronising watches and praying to the AV Gods that the system wouldn’t crash as Leigh Halfpenny crossed the try line. Now, it’s as simple as a tap on an iPad. “I had only been working at the Scarlets for a short while as General Manager, but the existing pain of the big screen system was well-known. It stressed the staff, and upset sponsors and broadcasters. “I had the picture of the perfect system in my head, but I didn’t actually think it’s what I’d get! When I was first handed the iPad, and I pressed a few buttons, I think I smiled all day.” – David Stock, Former General Manager Click here to find out more about the latest evolution of Vindishow, see who currently uses it, and discover how it can help

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Transport for Wales...

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Gaiagroup UK: Reducing Construction Site Fuel By 50%...

Background.   Gaiagroup UK have been pioneering the design and supply of remote and off-grid power systems since 2011.  From their very first Solawedge products to their latest Solatainer, Gaiagroup UK is at the forefront of renewable energy innovation.  Their mission is to reduce the environmental impact and fuel consumption of construction sites across the UK.  But it’s tricky business.  Balancing optimum working conditions for construction site staff with managing power consumption and environmental impact is a tough gig.  And it’s just the type of gig we love.  The brief.  Gaiagroup UK came to us with the concept of an IOT (Thats means Internet Of Things, by the way) platform. It needed to measure, monitor, and manage power distribution across construction sites. It also needed to maintain optimum conditions while minimising the site’s carbon footprint. Gaiagroup UK knew there had to be a way – and if there was a way, we’d find it. Spoiler: they were right. #ThinkPurple Solution. We put Gaiagroup UK’s smart distribution IOT concept through our incubator to transform the concept into a prototype that would then become a product – known today as Automate.  But let us elaborate.  Working closely with the client, we redesigned both the hardware and software with maximum accuracy, reliability, scalability and power control in mind. The result is a Power Distribution and Management IOT Platform that’s been designed to reduce CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and generator size on small to large construction projects. It uses sensors, actuators and software to measure, monitor and control power consumption across multiple portacabins on a construction site. It also intuitively diverts power away from non-essential supplies, and supplies additional power where and when it’s needed. It’s adaptable design also means it can be retrofitted with existing power distribution systems, or custom-fitted inside cabins to measure, monitor and control non-essential power (such as heating and drying facilities). We also created diagnostic dashboards that accurately deliver end-to-end reporting of data using both Automate and the Cloud. In fact, we became so impressed with the sheer scope of this project that we at Vindico decided to invest in the product. Today, Automate helps over a dozen construction sites reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by 50%. That’s a huge saving for both organisations and the environment. “When I came to Vindico, I had a concept, a deep understanding of an industry, logic of how the functions work – but that wasn’t enough. The guys at Vindico had the intelligence to understand where my brain was, pick it apart and put it back together again as lines of code. “Their whole process is remarkable. This product wouldn’t have worked if I’d have gone to any other developer.” – Jamie Morris, Founder of GaiaGroup UK   Got an idea that could drive the next big change? Get in touch to see how our #ThinkPurple solutions can transform basic ideas into

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UWTSD and Tenovus: A Treatment Tool to Optimise Patient Wellbeing...

Background.   Tenovus is a charity that’s committed to bringing people equal access to the best treatment and support. They conduct and fund research that aims to improve cancer outcomes and experiences. The charity also continues to develop healthy lifestyle programmes that raise awareness of cancer and prevention. Their ongoing research continues to evolve the practical advice, emotional support and treatment options available to both cancer patients and their loved ones.  Brief.  Tenovus recently partnered with UWTSD (University of Wales Trinity Saint David). Working with the university’s KESS-funded PhD studentship, the task was to develop a tool that allows them to measure, analyse, and tailor treatment options for optimal patient wellbeing.  That’s where we came in. Our task was to design and deliver a psychological evaluation tool to provide insights into the effectiveness of cancer treatments.  The tool needed to record and measure the patient’s quality of life, anxiety levels, depression, and health status. It also needed to be easy to access and simple to use. #ThinkPurple Solution. We designed, developed and implemented an intuitive online visualisation tool. It measures multiple aspects of a patient’s wellbeing – from physical and social to emotional and physical quality of life.  The tool lets patients fill in one or multiple questionnaires based around treatment and wellbeing.  Once the results are submitted, they’re then fed into algorithms that use psychological techniques. This, in turn, offers data and insights on the patient’s wellbeing before, during, and after receiving cancer treatment.  This provides Tenovus with a statistical overall outlook on both the treatment outcomes and quality of life of cancer patients throughout each stage of treatment.  The results highlight the psychological state of the patient, and can help Tenovus identify anxiety and depression cases, borderline cases, and non-cases. It also helps determine which treatments are most effective, which treatments leave less psychological strain on patients, and also offers an insights into how treatments affect different age groups and genders. Could your organisation focus more on wellbeing? Drop us a line to see how our intuitive #ThinkPurple solutions can enhance your third sector research, organisation

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Techniquest: Extending the Digital Outreach of Science...

Background. Techniquest is Wales’ leading Science Museum. Its cutting-edge exhibits, interactive experiences, and world-wide reputation attracts school children and families from across the country. The science hub’s experts also work closely with schools and teachers to provide services that complement formal education in Wales. The Science Capital is Techniquest’s latest project. It promises to radically transform the science discovery centre and make science accessible to everyone in Wales. Since the pandemic hit in early 2020, online accessibility and digital outreach of this experience has never been more crucial. That’s where we came in… Brief. Traditionally, school children have visited Techniquest through science trips. But as schools increasingly turn to online learning and resources, Techniquest needed a digital platform to house and distribute themed science content for classrooms. Alongside in-person visits, this content would help teachers deliver fun, cutting-edge science content that would engage and help students understand all aspects of science. Then COVID-19 hit. With museums forced to close, the only way Techniquest could continue to engage with teachers and classrooms was virtually. They urgently needed that digital outreach platform – and pronto. #ThinkPurple Solution. Sure, the pandemic accelerated the need for this project. And, of course time was of the essence, but our #ThinkPurple approach (in case you missed it: that means asking better questions to deliver the best results), means we can keep cool, work hard and get results – no matter what the situation. But back to the solution. We developed a Digital Outreach platform that lets schools access science content through pre-purchased access. It’s simple, intuitive, and lets teachers easily get hold of relevant teaching materials and resources for their classroom. These include themed videos and teaching materials on a variety of science topics in both Welsh and English. Some materials are downloadable, whereas others are viewable only through the platform. We also developed a bespoke Content Management system that allows Techniquest to manage its science content, resources, and users. It also generates single-use redemption codes that can be purchased through Techniquest’s existing ticketing systems. We should also mention that we developed both the Digital Outreach Platform and the bespoken Content Management System for Techniquest in just one month. Yes, you read that right – one month. It was good-to-go by September 2020, and it’s being piloted at a number of Welsh Schools as we speak.   The aim of this project was to deliver highly engaging and theatrical STEM themed shows and content to excite and engage pupils from across the whole of Wales – especially during times where in-person visits aren’t possible.   “Vindico’s forward-thinking approach, and ability to work to an extremely tight deadline, helped us transform the idea into a digital solution that is now delivering content to pupils across Wales. The project, which is currently in its pilot phase, is already a great success. The positive feedback we’ve received has been overwhelming – and we can’t wait to see the full scope of this digital platform as the project evolves.” – Gareth McTiffin, Head of Commercial Development at Techniquest   Does your business need to raise its digital game – and fast? Drop us a line to see how our #ThinkPurple solutions can help you

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