This section mainly details the background and purposes of this study. This chapter consists of six parts: (a) The statement of the problem, (b) purpose of the study, (c) research questions, (d) importance of the study, (e) limitations, and (f) definitions.
1.1 The Statement of the problem
Today, the smartphone is not only a simple communication device, it also provides convenience by allowing significant information to reach users anytime, anywhere.
Smartphone applications have been developed, and then supplied to the user. Applications include abilities that can replace necessary devices in our life (Lee & Na, 2012). The App (Application) is a software application developed specifically for use on computing devices, and it is a program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user or, in some cases, for another program (Rouse, 2007). The word "App" is an abbreviation for application, the word "App" has a more modern usage, but this is the same as a software program. In modern usage, most people refer to Apps as applications or software programs that run specifically on phones or other mobile devices (Karch, 2017). The App development is based on user experiences and user interface (Sin, 2015; Xiang, 2007; Yang, 2012).
Usually, Apps can be used with mobile devices via downloads from the internet. The number of smartphone users is already over 17.6 billion in the world, and over 40 million people use a smartphone in Korea (Lee, 2016). Lee and Na (2012) outline smartphone users’
motives as broad functional for relationships, easy to carry and informative, and the type of Apps are related to business, utilities, entertainment, lifestyle, education, basic
communication, information, utilities and entertainment. Many users like to use Apps closely related to their life and lifestyle (Lee & Na, 2012). This shows that Apps are widely used in the daily lives of smartphone users. Apps are also gradually being applied to the area of
sports. In the sports, the application is a strong tool used to manage competitions. According to Lee and Lee (2017), school sports club competitions were efficiently managed using Apps, and SNS applications make communication easy between all participants.
In winter sports, the scoring system in the field is mainly operated by a person with/without a walkie-talkie. Automatic systems are gradually used in international competitions, but off-line manual systems are generally used in domestic competitions in Korea (Park, Jung, & Park, 2013). In 1992,Short Track Speed Skating gave a big honor to Korea in Winter Olympic Games (Jun & Baek, 2014), and has rapidly developed since the Torino Winter Olympic Games in 2006 (Kim, 2013). The number of competitions increased by 10 %, and the number of skaters increased by 13 % in the last several years (Korea
Skating Union, 2016). The number of officials within previous three years has not changed in spite of the number of competitions and skaters. The officials mainly handle recording or scoring tasks, but all recording procedures are still operated manually. The Korea Skating Union (KSU) has imposed a digitalized system across a small part of the working process.
According to the Korea Skating Union (2016), several different positions are involved in recording procedure. Referees, competitor stewards, organizers, photo finish judges, technical committees, coaches, and skaters are all involved in the recording procedure, all with
different tasks. Most of the recording positions still use a manually operated system, with the exception of a photo finish line judge. For this reason, mistakes have frequently occurred within Short Track Speed Skating competitions. The author has consistently found mistakes in domestic competitions during the work as an official.
In this paper, through analysis of recording procedures of Short Track Speed Skating co mpetitions, different types of application functions, and which functions is matched the dema nds of the recorders in the Short Track Speed Skating competition.
1.2 Purpose of the Study
In accordance to the statement of the problem given above, the target group of this study encompasses all the officials who are responsible of recording the Short Track Speed Skating competition in Korea. The records and working procedures of officials were analyzed, to not only determine the most suitable App, but to also identify existing App functions that are suitable. An attempt is made to understand which App can help the recording procedure during the competition. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to:
1. Analyze the tasks of the different recording positions in the Short Track Speed Skating competition in Korea;
2. Evaluate the App functions for different procedures in the Short Track Speed Skating competition.
1.3 Research Questions
The study focuses on the three main topics following the purpose of the study. Firstly, this paper examines what each recording position is responsible for doing during Short Track Speed Skating competitions. The functions and trends of currently existing Apps are then investigated. Lastly, the App functions corresponding to the demands of different recording positions are examined.
1. What are the tasks of different recording positions in the Short Track Speed Skat ing competition?
What is the task of the referee and assistant referee?
What is the task of the competitor stewards?
What is the task of the photo finish judge?
What is the task of the organizer?
What is the task of the technical committee?
Who are the skater and coach?
2. What are the important App functions for recording procedures?
Which App functions can combine the demands of recorders before the competition?
Which App functions can combine the demands of recorders during the competition?
Which App functions can combine the demands of recorders after the competition?
1.4 Importance of the Study
In terms of academic research, no studies on the recording of Short Track Speed Skating have been carried out. Thus, this study can be a base study for the further study of improving recording systems of Short Track Speed Skating in Korea. In a more practical sense, this study can help to highlight the needs of officials in recording procedures, and improve their recording system for a higher quality of events.
1.5 Limitations
This study deals with only Short Track Speed Skating competitions in Korea. The study targets are competitor stewards; chief referees; assistant referees; photo finish judges; skaters;
organizers and technical committees. Other positions of officials or organizations are not included. This paper refers to constitutions, regulations, and rules of ISU and KSU for the analysis of recording procedures of Short Track Speed Skating competitions in Korea.
There is limited literature and data relating to this topic, thus data collection for the stud y require a long time. In addition, it is difficult to collect a large amount of data. Furthermore, this study cannot be applied to other sports, just Short Track Speed Skating.
1.6 Definitions
1. Short Track Speed Skating is a form of competitive personal on-ice sport. In competitions, many skaters (typically between four and six) skate on an oval ice tracks with the circumference of 111.12 m (Korea Council of Sports for All, 2008).
Short Track Speed Skating consists of six rounds. The Qualifying Rounds may consist of pre-preliminaries, preliminaries, and heats that are the first instance of elimination races. Depending on the number of entries, Eight-Finals, Quarter-Finals, and Semi-Finals may be required to determine who will skate in the Final. The Final is the final race of the competition over the relevant distance (ISU constitution, 2016).
2. The ISU (International Skating Union), founded in 1892, is the exclusive international sports federation globally recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) administering sports in the Branches of Figure Skating and Speed Skating. (Long Track) Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating come under the Speed Skating Branch while Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance and Synchronized Skating constitute the Figure Skating Branch. The ISU is composed of many
national associations denoted as ISU Members, who administer ISU sports at the national level and recognize that all international matters are under the sole jurisdiction and control of the ISU (ISU Homepage). Under ISU constitution, the event is organized by ISU members, and Korea Skating Union is already on the list of ISU members. The KSU comply with ISU rules during the event.
3. Recorders are all individuals in recording positions. They record all of the competition. The recording positions include organizer, referees, competitors’
steward, photo finish line judge, coach, and skater (ISU constitution, 2016).
4. Recording procedure denotes all process required to make a time sequence record of the competition. This process includes the event announcement, seeding, the
make-up of the races, and all the results of the competition.
5. The App (Application) is a software application developed specifically for use on computing devices, a program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user or, in some cases, for another program (Rouse Margaret, 2007).
6. The Kano model is a product or service development theory that helps people to determine which features people may want to include in a product or service to improve customer satisfaction. This model has classified five unique categories of customer requirements, three of which are desired qualities: the Must-be quality; the One-dimensional quality; and Attractive quality. The Indifferent quality and the Reverse quality should be removed. The main objective of the Kano Model is to help teams understand, classify, and integrate these three main categories of requirements into the products or services that they are developing. The five groups of customer requirements are classified depending on their ability to create customer satisfaction or cause dissatisfaction (Kano, 1984).