YinzCam
{{Short description|American software company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = YinzCam
| logo = YinzCam logo.png
| logo_caption = YinzCam, Inc. logo
| image = YinzCam screenshot January 2014.png
| image_caption = Screenshot of YinzCam's Pittsburgh Penguins app, January 2014
| industry = Mobile app development
| founder = Priya Narasimhan
| location = 6024 Broad Street
| location_city = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| location_country = US
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.yinzcam.com}}
}}
YinzCam is an American software company that builds mobile applications, IPTV platforms and augmented-reality experiences. It specializes in creating applications for professional sports organizations.{{cite web | title =Interactive In-Game Technology | publisher =YinzCam | url =http://www.yinzcam.com/ | access-date =January 12, 2014 }} As of 2018, YinzCam's software had been downloaded over 55 million times and used by 170+ sports properties, including NFL clubs, NBA/WNBA teams, AFL clubs (Australia), La Liga clubs (Spain), as well as in the La Liga official league app and the NBA's G League app and the NBA2k app. The applications generally offer real-time statistics, multimedia, streaming radio, social media. The live video technology offering instant replay, including NFL RedZone, is offered within NFL stadiums.{{cite web | title =About YinzCam (R) Inc.| publisher =YinzCam | url =http://www.yinzcam.com/about }}
YinzCam was founded by Priya Narasimhan, a Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.{{cite web | title = Priya Narasimhan, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University | publisher =Carnegie Mellon University | url =https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~priya/ | access-date = January 12, 2014}} She is a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The company is a spin-off from the university.{{cite news | title =The Pittsburgh-India connection has paid off for Pittsburgh | newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date =May 1, 2011 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2011/05/01/The-Pittsburgh-India-connection-has-paid-off-for-Pittsburgh.html| access-date = January 11, 2014}} Narasimhan has incorporated YinzCam into her Sports Technology course at Carnegie Mellon University.{{cite news | last =Price | first =Karen | title =Students bring together sports and smarts | newspaper = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review| date =December 3, 2009 | url =http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_655996.html | access-date = January 11, 2014}}
Official mobile apps for professional sports
The first version of YinzCam's sports app was available in 2008 in limited portions of Civic Arena in 2008.{{cite news |last = Leonard Kim|title = Tech toys bring game home - to game-goers|newspaper = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date = October 22, 2008|url = http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_594534.html|access-date = January 12, 2014}}{{cite news | last =Leonard | first =Kim | title =Virtual Consol is shooting for 'wow' factor | newspaper = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | date =August 1, 2010 | url =http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_692396.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}} That version of the software allowed users to view the game, replays and real-time game statistics.{{cite news | last =Cronin | first =Mike | title =Smartphones rise from gadget to tool of necessity | newspaper = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | date =February 28, 2010 | url =http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_668540.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}} With the opening of Consol Energy Center in 2010, YinzCam was made available throughout the arena.{{cite news | last =Conte | first =Andrew | title =Fans impressed by Consol's technology | newspaper = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | date =Oct 8, 2010 | url =http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_703341.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}} In October 2010, YinzCam released an official application for the Pittsburgh Steelers.{{cite news | title =YinzCam launches app for Steelers on smart phones | newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date =October 7, 2010 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/business/businessnews/2010/10/07/Business-news-briefs-85.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}} Partnerships with the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers followed. By March 2012, YinzCam had added applications for 3 National Hockey League teams and more than 16 additional National Football League teams.
As of 2018, YinzCam is the developer of the official team apps for professional sports teams in the National Football League (NFL), the Australian Rules Football League (AFL), La Liga (Spain), the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as for teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL). YinzCam is also the developer of the official league apps for La Liga, National Rugby League (Australia), NBA G League, and the AFL Women's League (Australia). YinzCam also developed official venue apps for the Gillette Stadium, the Barclays Center, the United Center, CenturyLink Field, and other stadiums.
Augmented reality
YinzCam has also worked with professional sports teams to launch unique augmented-reality (AR) experiences, including a virtual pop-a-shot interactive game for basketball fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors. Fans could play against each other on the video board inside these basketball arenas and also earn badges and other achievements for being the top scorer. The Hawthorn Hawks (AFL) also launched an interactive version of this game for footy fans, allowing them to compete against other to score goals. Other AR sports experiences developed by YinzCam include an interactive Hall of Fame for Pittsburgh Steelers fans at Heinz Field.
iBurgh
In July 2009, Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto, with the support of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, announced their intention for the city of Pittsburgh to become the most tech-friendly city in the United States.{{cite news | last =McNulty | first =Timothy | title =Pittsburgh tries to move quickly to be tech-friendly | newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date =July 10, 2009 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2009/07/10/Pittsburgh-tries-to-move-quickly-to-be-tech-friendly.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}} A number of Pittsburgh technology firms and personalities were present at the announcement, including Priya Narasimhan. By August 2009, YinzCam had produced iBurgh, an iPhone application to allow citizens to report complaints to the city's departments via smartphone. The app sends complaints, coupled with photos and Global Positioning System data to city departments.{{cite news | last =McNulty | first =Timothy | title =Pittsburgh begins receiving problem reports via mobile phones | newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date =August 17, 2009 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/local/breaking/2009/08/17/Pittsburgh-begins-receiving-problem-reports-via-mobile-phones.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}}{{cite news | last =McNulty | first =Timothy | title =iBurgh lets you complain to city by cell phone | newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date =August 18, 2009 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2009/08/18/iBurgh-lets-you-complain-to-city-by-cell-phone.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}} It was the first iPhone application to permit such complaints to municipal authorities.{{cite news | title =YinzTech | newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date =December 20, 2009 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2009/12/20/Next-Page-Shake-Things-Up-2-0.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}}{{cite news | last =McNulty | first =Timothy | title =iBurgh app takes its place at last on iPhones | newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date =January 2, 2010 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2010/01/02/iBurgh-app-takes-its-place-at-last-on-iPhones.html | access-date =January 12, 2014}}
In February 2010, YinzCam developed a follow-up program, CityZenMobile, to allow crowd-sourcing of road conditions.{{cite news | last =Cato | first =Jason | title =CMU profs, students launch street site CityzenMobile.net | newspaper = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | date =February 16, 2010 | url =http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_667431.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}} It was released amid the February 9–10, 2010 North American blizzard that left much of Pittsburgh impassable.{{cite news | title =Site offers information on local road conditions | newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date =February 12, 2010 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/business/businessnews/2010/02/12/Business-news-briefs-02-12-10.html | access-date = January 12, 2014}}
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Notes
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References
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{{Pittsburgh}}
{{Carnegie Mellon University}}
{{Yinz}}
{{Pittsburgh Penguins}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers}}