In this episode Evan Wimpey chats with Mike Arney, founder of PB Vision, a company helping pickleball players gain game-changing insights. Tune in as he shares how his company got started and how his team is applying AI, machine learning, and computer vision in new ways.

Mike also shares why it’s important to value the thoughts and ideas of end users and how that collaboration makes a difference. Whether your team is embarking on a new analytics project or seeking data-driven inspiration for existing ones, we hope this episode will be insightful!

In this episode you will learn:

🔹 How analytics can be applied in diverse ways and lead to innovative solutions

🔹 The importance of considering end users with any project

🔹 How asking for feedback from end users can help refine an analytic tool

🔹 The need for balancing technical optimization with maintaining a positive user experience

Quotes
💬 “I [saw] the amazing things [AI was] doing and said, ‘How can I actually get my toes in the water and understand how this works from a functional perspective?”
💬 “Here's a problem that we can solve. What would a possible solution look like? … Let's do a little bit of research. Let's experiment.”
💬 “Some people are super passionate about certain things and their voice can be pretty loud. It's great to have that passion, but you have to be very careful that does not drown out the silence or the quiet majority.”

Featured in This Episode
Mike Arney, Founder, PB Vision
Mike Arney is the founder of PB Vision, a company combining the power of AI, machine learning, and computer vision to transform video analysis in pickleball. With his background as a UI/UX designer and his love for pickleball, Mike embarked on a journey to transform the game with AI.

Through PB Vision, Mike’s team is providing insights and data-driven coaching to help pickleball players improve their performance. The platform leverages analytics to offer an in-depth level of game analysis, enhancing both training and overall playing experience.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikearney/

Evan Wimpey, Director of Analytics Strategy, Elder Research
Company website: elderresearch.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/evan-wimpey

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:04 Talking about the focus of PB Vision
02:35 Sharing the story behind the launch of PB Vision
04:57 Vetting the solution and delving into computer vision
07:54 Discussing the different ways to approach a challenge
10:54 Talking about the downside of being locked into a solution
12:00 Sharing the importance of building technical skills
12:30 Discussing why UI/UX can’t be an afterthought
15:28 Evaluating user feedback
18:35 Inviting the pickleball community and developers to the table
19:47 Delving into the need for user buy-in
22:46 Looking to the future of PB Vision
30:31 Wrapping up the show

Find more show notes, transcripts, & more episodes at:
https://www.elderresearch.com/resource/podcasts/