Apr 6, 2004 : HP to Track Boston Marathon Runners

📅 April 6, 2004 - Hewlett-Packard (hp.com) is providing the technology to track every runner in the Boston Marathon, making race information immediately available over the Internet, the company announced on Tuesday.

HP is delivering technology based on the HP Athlete Search System, which the company has redesigned and optimized specifically for this year's race. This is the tenth consecutive year HP has participated in the Bsoton Marathon as the offical technology sponsor.
The HP Athlete Search System is powered by a wireless network that uses industry-standard HP ProLiant servers, HP iPAQ Pocket PC handheld devices and HP ProCurve networking products that run on the Verizon Wireless national access wireless data network. Race participants will attach small computer chips to their shoes or wheelchairs that will transmit their location as they cross stationary sensor mats at various points in the race. The system will provide updates at designated sites throughout the race and at the finish line.
The race information will be available through the race Web site at www.bostonmarathon.org. The site is running HP ProLiant DL360 servers on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and SQL Server database. HP said the servers will be able to handle an estimated 6 million page views through the duration of the race, which is expected to last at least six hours.
"The Boston Athletic Association relies on HP technology to accurately track participants along the historic Boston Marathon route," said Dave McGillivray, race director for the Boston Marathon. "Fans on the course and around the world will have access to the BAA network, getting real-time information while the race is in progress."
HP is also providing onsite wireless access so that athletes and members of the press can work online and check race statistics on the race's Web site and intranet servers.