Rewarding developers a problem for Sparc

One of the major problems facing Sparc high-performance consultant Richard Young is how to ensure the developers providing world-leading technology for elite athletes are rewarded.

Mr Young is dealing with some of Dunedin's brightest and best when it comes to developing technology applications to help give New Zealand athletes an edge in world competition.

"Dunedin is a great place to develop high-end ideas. Unfortunately, it is not a great space to sell the stuff in."

Much of the time, Sparc wanted control over how the intellectual property was protected. That conflicted with the developers trying to earn a living from their work, he said.

"That's why we need understanding partners. We get on the nerves of people with high demands, in a hurry. We are a demanding customer. We want decent rates and we want the IP. We don't want them to sell it or tell anyone else."

In most cases, Sparc paid full rates to get the speed and secrecy it was looking for, Mr Young said.

But now he was trying to consider how the developers could earn money from their work. One of the suggestions was Sparc having the high-performance product, with the developer retaining some lower specifications to sell.

"If we want high-quality providers, we have to look after them or we won't have anyone left to help us out," he said.

Dunedin technology company Igtimi has been involved with Sparc and Mr Young developing tracking devices for Yachting New Zealand and an iPhone application for triathletes.

Igtimi owner Brent Russell said some of the yachting technology had been around since the 1992 America's Cup.

He had customised it after a request from Animation Research Ltd managing director Ian Taylor. He had continued the development, getting the tracking device small and light enough to be carried by smaller yachts.

By customising the equipment and software for Sparc, Igtimi could get a return on its research and development costs.

"We learn from the customisation and that goes back into the product and they get an exclusive programme. We get paid for our time to develop that stuff. The money goes back to product development, the product gets better and both partners benefit."

There was a certain amount of collaboration within the Dunedin technology community regarding sports development, he said.

In some cases, developers sounded each other out on concepts. That could involve running a trial and judging the results. If the results showed no benefit, the developer moved on to the next phase.

"There is so much going on in this environment, it is amazing. To have one of Sparc's top technology people based in Dunedin says something about Dunedin."