On May 17 2012 The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) will finally announce the introduction of The Laser Re-Spot System - designed, manufactured and sold under license by me.
At all Major Snooker Tournaments, The Laser Re-Spot System will be installed into the canopy lighting above the match table(s). The system will comprise of 22 Lasers, a Wide-screen High Definition Camera and a Computerised Control System.
The 22 Lasers and Wide-screen Camera will installed directly above the Match Table and attached to a Computer System running Motion Sensing Software. The entire playing area of the table will be Digitised and various parameters set.
As each frame is played, the Motion Detection Software will track the exact position of all 22 balls. When a player commits a foul and / or has to have the white ball and / or any other balls disturbed during a foul shot replaced - the referee flicks one button on a remote control in his pocket, and the lasers will instantly indicate the exact position on the table of every ball in play prior to the foul - thus allowing extremely quick and precise replacement / repositioning of the ball(s) involved.
The system is also used when the match table(s) are being erected prior to the start of the Tournament to 'True-Up' the table(s) to within the acceptable parameters.
The development and introduction of coloured lasers will indicate the exact position of the reds, each of the six colours and obviously the white ball.
The introduction of this technology will speed up the replacement of balls after a foul shot, with a far greater degree of accuracy and thus fairness.