ChoiceSeat Inc., a Williams Communications venture, was
developing an interactive touch-screen multimedia application which
would be integrated into stadium seats for live events. Fans could
select from multiple video feeds, including live action, instant
replays, real-time statistics, and merchandise and concession
purchases.
The problem
The ChoiceSeat technology ran on a PC-based appliance with a
10-inch touch-screen built into seat backs, fed by a SUN server on
IIS with Sybase database through a 100 Mbps Ethernet connection.
Prototypes were deployed at Madison Square Garden and the San Diego
Padres Qualcomm Stadium.
But the prototype application, built in ASP with a C++ backend
by a San Diego IT shop, was buggy and prone to crashes. So Choice
Seat turned to StoneHenge Partners.
The solution
StoneHenge Partners led analysis and development of a complete
rewrite of the application, abandoning the ASP architecture in
favor of a thin-client Javascript and XML model.
We developed new systems using MS VC++ 6.0 and Visual Age for
Java; provided data transport using MS SQL Server 2000 and XML;
provided client units with various data channels using MS IIS; and
designed the application to be portable for new venues and
events.
The result
The new application was completed, testing was under way, and
plans were begun to add more features. StoneHenge Partners
delivered the app on-time/on-budget, with under 1% defects. But
before the product could be brought to market, ChoiceSeat Inc. lost
its venture funding and collapsed into bankruptcy. Its parent
company, Williams Communications, later entered Chapter 11
reorganization.