24 minute read
Detroit Lions
from Issue 5, 12/6/19
Strava technology helps track athletes evaluate their skills
New phone application allows runners to record their speed, endurance, pace in order to improve during practice, competition
By Andrew Toteda Staff Writer A fter returning from school on a crisp November afternoon, junior Kevin Zhao sets off on his favorite run through the Stanford Campus. He may physically feel drained by his rigorous pastime, but Zhao has found that running helps put him in a clearer state of mind: energizing in its own right.
Later that evening, he posts his route and time on Strava, a personal training app, in an effort to encourage others to run and reap the same benefits that Zhao enjoys from his routine.
Junior Alex Selwyn runs cross country, and like Zhao, has transitioned from earlier downloadable apps such as Nike Run Club to Strava, a popular training software.
While training apps have been around for many years, the technology is getting more sophisticated, using GPS tracking to measure a runner’s pace and distance while allowing users to connect with coaches, team members and friends to share times and places in long-distance runs.
Selwyn has used Strava to manage his runs since he joined the team freshman year. He said he uses the app to track basics like weekly mileage but said the benefits go far beyond that by providing him important data about heart rate and speed that he can use to his advantage.
Selwyn said that because heart rate is a prime indicator of individual fitness, it is rewarding for serious runners like himself to see if they run faster and at a lower heart rate as the season progresses. “For example, I might do an easy five mile run at the beginning of the season with a heart rate of 170 bpm, and then a couple of months into the season I might be able to do a faster-paced seven mile run at a heart rate of 165,” Selwyn said.
Strava app developers say the app tracks and records every performance metric imaginable, including distance, time, elevation, ascent, descent, calories, speed, heart rate and temperature. The graphed data sets then overlay in a variety of combinations to show the user how hard they worked during different sections of a run. A recent iteration of the software lets users see every time they have done a specific route and then compares past to current times in one visual.
These capabilities allow runners to easily identify personal areas for improvement, an extremely important tool for members of the track and field team, where fractions of a second can make a dramatic difference in race performance.
However, the technology is not just for competitive runners. Zhao, who was part of the Paly cross country team but now runs recreationally, said Strava allows him to gauge his progress over time and identify things he can do to perform better.
“The technology is really important to improved training and overall performance,” Zhao said. “Logging runs can definitely help a runner become more knowledgeable about themselves and how they train.”
Sophomore and cross country team member Maia Johnsson agrees.
“Logging my runs is helpful because it lets me see the amount of mileage I have been doing for the past three months,” Johnsson said. “It helps me balance the amount of mileage I do each week.”
The technology also gives runners the chance to experiment with their routine to gauge factors Strava helps runners track their distance, pace and route before races. Not only does it help runners know the distance they’ve run, but it allows for them to get a better understanding of their own abilities and their body as a whole to improve their running speed. ANDREW TOTEDA/THE CAMPANILE
that have the most effect on their runs.
“With Strava, I can test many factors, such as what I might eat before a run, how long to wait after eating before I start running or even which pair of shoes to wear,” Zhao said.
To maintain the social network that connects a worldwide community of over 40 million, Strava collects a lot of real-time personal data, including minute by minute location tracking as well as very specific information about personal health and fitness. Company marketing materials highlight the importance of making location information available to friends and family for safety reasons. Still, Strava provides an optional Privacy Zone that eliminates the original starting point information so users are not able to see exactly where a user lives, just the general area. The company also uses third party components for collecting heart rate information, GPX file (3-D meshes of terrain that are common in mapping software) exporting and providing GPS services.
According to Zhao, the pros of the powerful training software seem to outweigh possible negatives associated with tracking and data privacy concerns, especially when similar data is already gathered by smartphones and watches. And while some runners say they turn off tracking and data sharing capability on occasion, for the most part, the ability to connect socially through the app is an important aspect users say can be motivating.
Encouragement from other athletes can feel very rewarding. Strava’s website states that, “similar to liking a Facebook post or favoriting a tweet, Kudos are a quick thumbs-up you can give to your fellow athletes to congratulate them on a noteworthy activity, achievement or challenge milestone.”
“It is always fun to compare your runs with others,” Johnsson said. “When you get Kudos on your runs, it also makes you feel like your friends and teammates enjoy seeing you run.”
Selwyn says he is less likely to use the social aspect during the season for the simple reason that he and his teammates essentially do the same workouts every day. “But at other times it’s interesting to see what people are doing,” Selwyn said. “When people are on vacation, it’s cool to see where they’re running. Also, it’s nice to see former teammates (online) who have already graduated.” Zhao said there is the flip side of too much information, though, noting that tracking applications can be one more distraction for runners.
“It’s not all about technology, and a runner should still be primarily focused on putting their effort out on the road rather than obsessing over the numbers,” Zhao said.
Johnsson said programs like Strava that share user data from friends and teammates help her find inspiration to run.
“I think being able to see everyone’s training on Strava is good because it helps motivate you to go out and run more, building up more miles on your account,” Johnsson said.
Although these applications can help athletes visualize their running and allow for better selfreflection, Selwyn said athletes still have to take the first step to improvement by being willing to put in work and effort.
“I think technology can oftentimes make the entire process of running more convenient, but improvement typically comes from an intrinsic motivation to get better,” Selwyn said. “So in a sense, technology can be very useful for seeing your improvement, but in order to actually improve, you have to be motivated first.” “The technology is really important to improved training and overall performance.” Kevin Zhao “But at other times it’s interesting to see what people are doing. When people are on vacation, it’s cool.” Alex Selwyn
New supervisor Messi Mahe helps students in Paly weight room
Paly alumnus, football team member from class of 2019 accepts unexpected job from athletic department after graduating
By Alex Liu Senior Staff Writer D ownstairs and tucked away in the right-hand corner in the small gym of the Peery Center, the weight room sits, rimmed by bright lights and windows plastered with “no working out without supervision” signs. Rows of dumbbells ranging from 10 to 110 pounds lie ready for student use, but only under the supervision of an adult. Situated near the entrance of the room, on a chair next to a plastic table marks where the weight room supervisor sits; that’s where Messi Mahe, a freshman at Foothill College who graduated from Paly in 2019, comes in.
Mahe said he got a lot out of Paly athletics, both mentally and physically, and part of the reason he wanted to work as a weight room supervisor was to give back to the school.
“I was a hothead my freshman year, and my way of letting go was through football,” Mahe said. “Let’s just say the only place I could hit somebody was on the field. (Also) I was really big into football. I played other sports, but I put most of my time into football because it was something I was really interested in.”
After joining the football team, Mahe said he often found himself spending time in the old weight room.
“I was a hothead my freshman year, and my way of letting go was through football. Let’s just say the only place I could hit somebody was on the football field.” Messi Mahe
“Especially during the offseason, it was my main place after school,” Mahe said. “I’d just go to the weight room try to get as many reps in and gain a certain amount of weight just so that I can go at it in the regular season.” However, because the weight room was so small, Mahe found himself limited in his workouts.
“So basically the old weight room was like a really small classroom,” Mahe said. “It wasn’t even half of the new weight room. It was like a quarter. It was pretty small. And using that weight room, you couldn’t really do anything because there would be other people trying to use it, and if you wanted to use a certain machine, you’d have to wait 15 minutes to use it.”
General concerns about students injuring themselves without weight room supervision led to administrators making it mandatory for an adult supervisor to be present in the weight room in order for students to lift and use Messi Mahe shows the variety of weights the weight room he supervises offers. The job is new for Mahe, as he was not expecting to take it on this year. “As soon as the job popped up, I just thought it’d be a cool side thing to do while I was in college so I applied for it,” Mahe said. “Next thing you know, I’m already talking to coach (Nelson) Gifford about availability, whether or not it would be a good fit for me, and it was.” ALEX LIU/ THE CAMPANILE
equipment, according to Mahe.
However, Mahe said these rules weren’t enforced last year.
“The doors would be open,” Mahe said. “You would go and lift and then after a certain time someone would come down and close it. There would be someone in there but then most of the time they would just leave then come back later. Supervising wasn’t really enforced all the way. It just isn’t like what it is now.”
Mahe said he first heard about the weight room supervisor job opening after talking to Athletic Director Nelson Gifford.
“I would go to the football games,” Mahe said. “He approached me at the football games, when I was watching JV. We were talking and then he just brings it up. Apparently, he was in “I would go to the football games, he approached me at the football games, when I was watching JV. We were talking and he just brings it up.” Messi Mahe need of (a weight room supervisor). And so I just told him, ‘Yeah, I can do it,’ and I gave him my schedule. Then one thing led to another, and here I am.”
Mahe supervises the weight room after school for three hours. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, he works from 3:35 to 6:35 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he supervises from 2:45 to 5:45 p.m.
As weight room supervisor, Mahe looks forward to helping others.
“I’m here to help,” Mahe said. “If I see you struggling with a lift, I’m here to help you, I’ll spot you. Let’s say if you’re benching, especially when you’re by yourself, I can give you the extra help. I’m also here to give you tips like if you need a workout regimen and making sure you’re lifting correctly so that we can make sure you are getting the most out of your lift.” “I’m here to help, if I see you struggling with a lift, I’m here to help you, I’ll spot you.” Messi Mahe
Chrome extension allows students to bypass restrictions in Schoology
How one student created a snippet of code that enabled students to post comments on posts that were disabled for commenting
By Sloan Wuttke Staff Writer C omments bombard Schoology’s homepage, none of them explicitly authorized through Schoology. A chrome extension made by junior Lesha Seletskiy enabled this, allowing him to void commenting restrictions and, subsequently, comment on one of Librarian Sima Thomas’ posts on Sept. 5.
Seletskiy said he did this by creating a Chrome extension that uses a snippet of code to allow users to comment on posts that would otherwise not be commentable.
“I was like, what if I just package this snippet of code that was before not user-accessible into a Chrome extension, so that’s what I did,” Seletskiy said. “It took like two minutes, and then I published it.”
The extension, named “4,500 Year Old Yeast” on the Chrome Web Store, advises users to press the command key and right-click on a Schoology post in order to comment. Command-clicking on a Schoology post then leads users to a fragmented page where they can add a comment. Seletskiy said his extension directs users to a page that was before inaccessible.
“(Schoology) just created a (user interface) for comments, but they just didn’t create a user interface for you to get there,” Seletskiy said. “So what it does is it just lets you get there and then there’s a disabled button (for commenting). All you have to do is just remove the disabled attribute on the button.”
Seletskiy said he was not the original creator of the code Gunn High School student was who Seletskiy claims to go by the nickname “Sheep”. According to Seletiskiy, all he did was package Sheep’s code into something more user-friendly.
“I don’t steal people’s browser history or get their grades and schedules or other nefarious things. I just made this extension because I was bored.” Lesha Seletskiy
According to Seletskiy, this extension was only possible due to a deficiency in Schoology’s coding framework which allowed for hacks. Seletskiy also said hypothetically these holes could allow for other, more detrimental hacks that could jeopardize more than a person’s commenting abilities.
“When you install an extension, it can read and write all data if you grant it the right permissions,” Seletskiy said. “What that means is that I could execute any piece of JavaScript on your browser . . . so I can track your browser history while you have the Chrome extension installed. I can decide to read your grades or whatever, and you give me the power that would allow me to do this, but you don’t agree to it.”
One example of an allegedly malicious extension is Stylish, which grants users the ability to customize their browsers with themes and colors.
Stylish, however, was and is still suspected to be a covert surveillance tool with augmented spyware, recording each user’s data that could, theoretically, tie them to their real-life identities. Stylish defended these actions per their privacy policy as it states they collect only non-personal data, but Security Software Engineer Robert Heaton said on his blog that such a justification is a “solution in search of a flimsy justification.”
Seletskiy said malicious extensions are an example of everything his extension is not or never was made to be.
“I don’t steal people’s browser history or get their grades and schedules or other nefarious things,” Seletskiy said. “I just made this extension because I was bored. I never expected more than one person to ever use it.”
Junior Teg Singh, one of the extension’s users, said he used the extension for comedic purposes, commenting on posts that were viewable to all Paly students.
“I used it to copy and paste the entire Shrek screenplay onto the Schoology homepage,” Singh said. “A lot of freshmen then began to recognize me as the Shrek Kid, and a lot of people just knew me as the kid who copied and pasted the entire Shrek screenplay (onto Schoology).”
Singh’s comment was deleted minutes after he posted it. Singh claims that most students thought Thomas deleted the comments, as Thomas’ posts were the primary recipient of most unsanctioned comments. Thomas, however, claims that she was unaware of an unsanctioned commenting page. “In hindsight, it probably caused some inconvenience to people who actually needed to use Schoology for academic purposes, but it was fun while it lasted,” Singh said.
Computer science teacher Christopher Bell reprimands these unsanctioned comments.
“The intention of a person who
ART BY SLOAN WUTTKE posts in a forum where (their) comments are disabled is that their post will not be commented on,” Bell said. “If people really want to comment on all school announcements, there are better and more meaningful ways to have your voices heard. . . I would challenge them to do something more productive with their time and ingenuity.”
Bell added that, because of technology, the intentions of these comments often remain unclear, and may become misconstrued.
Bell said, “There are some deeper issues with respect to free speech, anonymity, due process, and how technology magnifies and distorts the communications that provide the substrate of civilized society.”
Students use melatonin supplements to help avoid sleepless nights An in-depth look into how melatonin affects wakefulness and grogginess; the implications, both positive and negative of using them
EMILY ASHER/THE CAMPANILE Paly senior Karina Kadakia pours melatonin pills into her hand, signifying the beginning of a restful night. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that regulates the sleep and wake cycle. Students who find it difficult to fall asleep use its supplements to ensure a state of quiet wakefulness and a night of peaceful sleep. “The effects of melatonin have changed my life forever, and I really mean that,” Kadakia said.
By Emily Asher Managing Editor E verybody knows the feeling of not being able to fall asleep. After a long, tiring day, you come home, get into comfy clothes, jump into your bed, only to find that you are now wide awake. You stare at your ceiling and watch the clock tick away into the early morning.
“I usually take melatonin when I haven’t slept very well for consecutive nights and I need to ensure good night’s rest. I try to avoid taking it on a daily basis.” Natalie Schilling
When melatonin levels are compromised during the night, many people reach for their melatonin pills, which minors can purchase at local drug stores, according to Kadakia.
These supplements mimic the effects of natural melatonin, helping people become “tired.”
“I take melatonin to help me fall asleep because I have a hard time falling asleep late at night,” senior Karina Kadakia said. “The beneficial effects of melatonin (are) how it makes me groggy and I fall asleep within the first 30 minutes of taking it.”
While taking melatonin on a daily basis does not negatively impact health, according to a Johns Hopkins Medicine article, some students, including senior Natalie Schilling, only take it occasionally due to its side effects of grogginess the following day. “I usually take melatonin when I haven’t slept very well for consecutive nights and I need to Suddenly, it is 2 a.m. and you have to be up in less than five hours, but you still cannot seem to close your eyes for good.
As a result of having difficulty sleeping, many Paly students have turned to melatonin supplements.
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in your bloodstream that puts you in a state of “quiet wakefulness” that “helps promote sleep,” sleep expert Luis F. Buenaver said in an article by Johns Hopkins Medicine.
While melatonin is widely known as the “sleep hormone,” in reality, it does not put you directly to sleep.
Rather, the levels of melatonin in your body naturally heighten in the evening, making your body relaxed and allowing it to get ready for sleep.
However, common occurrences in students’ everyday lives, including blue and green light emitted from phones and laptops, disrupt this natural cycle, leading to difficulty sleeping, according to an article by Johns Hopkins Medicine.
These lights neutralize melatonin’s effects, because they trick your brain into thinking it is daytime, according to Buenaver. ensure good night’s rest,” Schilling said. “I try to avoid taking it on a daily basis.”
Kadakia said she also experienced the tiredness associated with taking melatonin late at night.
“If I were to take it around 11:30 p.m. or 12 a.m., it takes about 30 minutes to kick in,” Kadakia said. “When I wake up, I feel myself feeling overly tired and it’s not as easy to wake myself up. I find it harder to pay attention in my classes and I will be a bit slower during the day.”
Another side effect of taking melatonin is the risk of “addiction.” According to Healthline, while there are no current studies proving that melatonin is an addictive substance, many people find that they need to take it every night, or else they are unable to fall asleep.
Fortunately, Kadakia and Schilling both said they have managed to stay away from this dependence.
“I used to feel like I needed it to fall asleep, but that soon went away,” Kadakia said. “Now that I have a lot to do during the day, I find myself feeling naturally tires and not needing it as much. Now, I will only use it if I had taken a nap during the day and screwed up my sleep cycle, but that is very rare.” “I take melatonin to help me fall asleep because I have a hard time falling asleep late at night. The beneficial effects of melatonin (are) how it makes me groggy and I fall asleep within the first thirty minutes of taking it.” Karina Kadakia “When I wake up I feel myself feeling overly tired and it’s not as easy to wake myself up. I find it harder to pay attention in my classes and I will be a bit slower during the day.” Karina Kadakia
THE VERSATILITY OF VIRTUAL REALITY
The screen is black. Straps tightly hug the circumference of his head, supporting the silver contraption which covers the majority of his face. Then, as a light projects from the screen just centimeters from his eyes, junior Saam Mohsenian transcends the couch and begins to detach from reality.
Exhausted from school, Mohsenian has adopted a new way to de-stress and unwind through his virtual reality headset.
“I was mesmerized by the device when it first became popular; I had never seen anything like it,” Mohesenian said. “After bugging my parents relentlessly about it, they finally got it for me during the Christmas of 2017.” Virtual reality, or VR, was first invented in 1968 by American computer scientist Ivan Sutherland. At the time, the then-monstrous headset only showed videos connected to a camera. Now, through brands such as Samsung, Oculus and PlayStation, VR has grown more accessible to the public. The technology has become so useful that even hospitals employ its services to plan challenging operations through the use of 3D models. This technology is becoming increasingly widespread and has also been adopted within many fields of business such as real estate, construction and tourism. Yet these headsets are more commonl y used for their unique experience of video games, virtual drawing and even various interactive tours.
For Mohsenian, what started off as an exciting video game system soon became a private space where he could engage in alone time and self-reflection.
“It’s unrealistic to say that anyone doesn’t need a break from work,” Mohsenian said. “Some people read, others watch television, I use my VR headset. There is an app that creates the effect that you are flying over an ocean. The sounds and visuals are so realistic that you feel like it’s really happening. It’s so freeing.”
The primary subject of virtual reality is simulating the vision. According to technology website New Gen Apps, every headset aims to create the most perfect immersive environment possible. Each headset puts up two screens, one for each eye, then uses autofocus lenses to adjust the screen based on the individual eye positioning and movement. The visuals are then rendered by either a mobile phone or HDMI cable connected to a PC. With some of the more advanced and costly forms of VR, eye and head tracking can be ensured using LED lights, laser pointers or mobile sensors. If very high accuracy needs to be achieved through virtual reality, like that of medicine and construction, then cameras and sensors can be installed in the room where the headset would be used.
Although this technology comes at a steep price — between $199-$1,000 — some believe it is worth the price due to a variety of impactful uses.
Ar t teacher Susan LaFetra recently added this device to her curriculum as she said it possesses benefits for student’s education and mental health.
“About two years ago, I went to the district office and pitched the idea of getting a VR headset for my art students, as I believed it would be immensely useful,” LaFetra said. She now uses this technology to teach her students about various aspects of graphic design and multimedia art, as she believes technology is going to be a quintessential aspect of art in the future. LaFetra hopes to incorporate this form of tech into her curriculum to help students familiarize themselves with the different aspects of art and design.
According to LaFetra, through projects such as designing landscapes and creating self-portraits, students are able to discover a whole new form of exciting art. Yet she finds that the device is most useful for students in search of ways to alleviate stress.
“Because these kids are learning in such a competitive environment, virtual reality is a great outlet for their stresses,” LaFetra said. “Around finals time, we see an influx of kids who just want to paint or play. They leave feeling much better and with a smile on their face.”
Matterport, a Silicon Valley-based company, presents the business aspect of VR, they are a spatial data company that provide 3D digital models of a scanned space for the purpose of renting and selling.
According to Lou Marzano, Matterport Vice President of Hardware and Manufacturing, VR provides a richer experience for the potential buyer or renter, allowing them to explore the property without having to physically visit. “The VR aspect is in how we present the digital information being collected,” Marzano said. “There are other companies creating digital twins of buildings — some for similar purposes. Ours is perhaps the highest fidelity example of combining accurate depth measurements with color photography.”
Popularity of virtual reality is grow- ing both in the s o - cial and business world, ac- cording to Marzano. Marzano said, “Virtual reality is definitely a growing field, particularly in combination with augmented reality, nonetheless the future of this tech is very exciting.” “I was mesmerized by the device when it first became popular; I had never seen anything like it. After bugging my parents relentlessly about it, they finally got it for me during the Christamas of 2017.” Saam Mohsenian “Because these kids are learning in such a competitive environment, virtual reality is a a great outlet for their stresses.” Susan LaFetra
