For about two decades indoor climbing became a trend in adrenalin sports. In many Western countries climbing halls of huge size have been build. Most urbanized citizens at least tried it once. But even though the climbing community is huge, only a few starters remain active or advance in skills and techniques. The business background of this research is a new product that is able to track the movement of any professional climber and re-project the shape of the body to help an inexperienced climber to make his next best move while being stuck on the wall. This will help less skilled users to advance and enjoy climbing even more. The applications for this product are numerous but the market is highly uncertain. Therefore this study tries to reveal why most users
do not advance and it identities common problems and barriers that most climbers
have to face. How do they get over them or why do they stumble. After having
a deeper insight into the indoor climbing market, the possible market size and user acceptance for the new product can be estimated more accurately. This thesis is seen as an opportunity assessment reducing uncertainty before bringing the product into the market.
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Indoor climbing
1.2 Hypothesis & research questions
1.3 Product description
1.3.1 Body and movement tracking
1.3.2 Body projection
1.4 Market assessment
1.4.1 Private expenditures for leisure and fun
1.4.2 Sports
1.4.3 Indoor climbing facilities
1.5 Discussion of uncertainty
1.5.1 Capital concerns
1.5.2 User acceptance and other innovations
1.5.3 Goals and limits of this thesis
2 Literature Review
2.1 Market research in practice
2.1.1 The market research process
2.2 Climbing as a niche market
2.2.1 Rock-Climbing and Indoor-Climbing
2.3 Motives
2.4 Progression
2.5 Conflicts & Regression
2.6 Linking the hypotheses
3 Methodology
3.1 Qualitative research
3.1.1 Interviews
3.1.2 Topic selection & outline
3.1.3 Method of data collection
3.2 Quantitative research
3.2.1 Questionaire design
3.2.2 Site information and sampling technique
3.2.3 Method of data collection
3.2.4 Variables
4 Results
4.1 Results of Interviews
4.1.1 Selection and discussion of valid results
4.2 Results of the questionaire
4.2.1 Response and completion rate
4.2.2 Adjustments and data correction
4.2.3 Publishing the results
4.2.4 Geographical distribution and general demographics
4.2.5 Gender demographics
4.2.6 Demographics on training intensity and performance
4.2.7 Findings
4.2.8 Research question 1
4.2.9 Research question 2
4.2.10 Research question 3
4.2.11 Research question 4
5 Discussion and Conclusion
5.1 Summary of the results
5.2 Factors influencing the product
5.3 Limitations and boundaries
5.4 Suggestions for future research
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This thesis investigates the market potential for an innovative technical solution designed to assist indoor climbers in improving their technique and movement efficiency. The central research objective is to identify the barriers and motivational factors that cause climbers to stagnate or discontinue the sport, and to evaluate how an automated tracking and projection system could reduce uncertainty and enhance the training experience for climbers and facility operators.
- Analysis of the indoor climbing market and its growth potential.
- Examination of climber psychology, motivation, and the "learning curve" in climbing.
- Identification of technical, mental, and physical barriers to progression.
- Evaluation of user acceptance regarding high-tech training aids in a traditional sport.
- Methodological development through a multi-method qualitative and quantitative research approach.
Excerpt from the Book
1.3.1 Body and movement tracking
Using your complete body is an important factor when it comes to improving your climbing skills. Despite the human nature of using your hands and arms to climb, the real step forward in training comes when a climber learns how to climb with the help of legs and the correct positioning of the body. This is important for saving energy when climbing up a wall. When it comes to help in climbing sport everyone says that just pointing visually to the next grip will be enough to let the climber know where to put the hands for the next move. But because it is so important to learn how to position your feet and body, a well designed help system should include that in the learning process. Therefore recognizing, tracking and comparing body positions and movements is the most important feature of the product that is introduced in this document. The extracted shape of a body can also be used for analysing the style of climbing or where the climber lacks technical skills. This can be used for giving training advices within an online community.
For a long time body recognition was a topic only in security surveillance industry. But now it is a huge topic in the gaming industry and therefore for the broader public. Devices like Nintendo Wii and Sony EyeToy allow players to use their body to interact freely with the game. But the real break-through was done by Microsoft with Kinect for XBox 360 because it tracks up to four bodies (including skeleton data) at the same time and no additional technical equipment has to be held by the player. Kinect is the first device that has a computing power that is high enough and a latency low enough to give the player a smooth feeling of real interaction. Ten years ago this would have been impossible but nowadays every teenager knows about that topic and feels comfortable using this technology.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces the sport of indoor climbing, the research hypothesis, the proposed product, and the overarching market context.
Literature Review: This chapter provides a theoretical foundation by reviewing market research methodologies, the structure of the climbing market, and factors influencing climber progression and regression.
Methodology: This chapter details the multi-method research approach, consisting of qualitative interviews and a quantitative follow-up survey conducted at the City Adventure Center.
Results: This chapter presents the data gathered from interviews and the survey, analyzing the findings in relation to the initial research hypotheses and the learning curve of climbers.
Discussion and Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the research results, discusses the product's implications, acknowledges the study's limitations, and provides recommendations for future academic research.
Keywords
Indoor climbing, Market research, Body tracking, Movement projection, Climbing progression, Recreation specialization, Climber motivation, Training intensity, User acceptance, Climbing gyms, Technical skills, Performance analysis, Behavioral research, Sport psychology, Innovation management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on market research regarding the introduction of a new technical product designed to assist indoor climbers in improving their movement, body positioning, and overall performance.
What are the primary themes addressed in this work?
The primary themes include market assessment of climbing facilities, the psychology of climber progression, the identification of training barriers, and the potential for technological innovation within the sport.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to determine why many climbers fail to progress past a certain level, to identify their needs for improvement, and to validate if a projection-based training device would be accepted by the climbing community.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The researcher uses a multi-method design: qualitative research through problem-centered interviews to understand user perception, and quantitative research via an online survey to validate these findings with a larger sample.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The work covers a detailed literature review on market research and climbing sub-worlds, a comprehensive analysis of motivational factors, a breakdown of progression versus regression, and the empirical results from the collected data.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Indoor climbing, Market research, Body tracking, Climbing progression, and Performance analysis.
How does the author define the "crux" in a technical sense?
The author uses "crux" to describe a difficult section or a specific movement problem on a climbing route that challenges the climber and requires a specific technical or mental solution.
What unique observation does the author make about female climbers?
The author notes a significant decrease in female participation at higher performance levels and suggests that future products or training initiatives should specifically focus on the needs and barriers encountered by women in the sport.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dipl.-Inf. Matthias Heise (Autor:in), 2012, Climb Beyond. Market Research for the Introduction of a New Product into the Indoor Climbing Sport, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/263895
