Anna introduces herself as a product manager at Sonar and discusses the ongoing research interview to understand the needs of the swimming community.

Introduction and Research Interview

Anna discusses the motivation for becoming a swim coach and the benefits of swimming as a whole-body, life-saving skill.

Motivation for Becoming a Swim Coach

Anna talks about the challenges of coaching sessions, including access to the pool and dealing with space and time constraints.

Challenges of Coaching Sessions

Anna describes the use of technologies and innovations in coaching sessions, including publishing, journaling, photography, videos, scoreboard, and the AutoCoach stopwatch.

Use of Technologies and Innovations in Coaching

Anna provides feedback on the prototype website of Sonar, discussing the music and communicator features, credibility with athletes, and the potential for research.

Feedback on Prototype Website

Anna and the speaker discuss the capabilities of underwater devices, including depth, communication, and music playback, as well as comparisons with other products.

Discussion on Underwater Devices

The conversation focuses on the advantages of communication and coaching with the Sonar device, including the ability to connect unlimited swimmers, manage swim teams in real time, and switch channels for communication.

Communication and Coaching Advantages

Anna and the speaker compare the prices and features of Sonar devices, including the receiver, microphone, clip, earplugs, charging capabilities, and distribution channels.

Price and Features Comparison

The discussion centers around the placement and usage of Sonar Merge, including considerations for high volume caps, hair accommodation, and optimal placement for sound quality.

Placement and Usage of Sonar Merge

Anna shares the story of Sonar's founding and the development of Sonar Communicator and Sonar Music, as well as the company's expansion and Kickstarter history.

Company Background and Product History

Discussing the need to improve the metronome function for ease of adjustment and user-friendliness.

Improving Metronome Function

Exploring the benefits of a user-friendly metronome function for swimmers and its impact on device purchase decisions.

Metronome Function and User Experience

Discussing the challenges of streaming music and the compatibility of devices for swimmers.

Streaming and Device Compatibility

Conversation about the company background, user feedback, and suggestions for improvement.

Company Background and Product Feedback

Discussion about product clarity, user experience, and the need for more information on the website.

Product Clarity and User Experience

Feedback from coaches, suggestions for product testing, and the importance of convincing coaches about the product's value.

Coaches' Feedback and Product Testing

# Sonar Newsletter

## Interview with a Swim Coach

### Introduction
In this newsletter, we continue our interview with a swim coach to gather insights into the needs and challenges of the swimming community and how Sonar's products can address them.

### About Sonar
Sonar is a company that develops innovative gadgets for water sports, especially swimming. The products are designed to meet the needs of the swimming community and enhance the overall swimming experience.

### Insights from the Coach
- The coach highlighted the importance of swimming as a whole-body, safe, and life-saving skill, making it a valuable activity for individuals of all ages.
- Challenges faced by the coach include access to pool facilities and time constraints, which can impact training sessions.
- The coach uses various technologies and innovations in coaching sessions, including publishing content online, using scoreboards, and utilizing the AutoCoach stopwatch for time trials.

### Product Feedback
- The coach expressed interest in the Sonar Communicator and Sonar Music devices, particularly the ability to communicate with swimmers hands-free and the potential for using a metronome function in the Sonar Communicator.
- The coach also provided valuable feedback on the placement of the devices and the need for clear visuals showcasing their use by both men and women.
- The coach also mentioned the need for easy adjustment of the metronome function and the possibility of streaming music during swimming sessions.

### Pricing and Distribution
- The coach raised concerns about the pricing of the products, prompting a discussion about potential adjustments and the availability of Sonar products on platforms like Amazon.
- Suggestions were made for strategic alliances with other technology providers, such as AutoCoach, to enhance the functionality of Sonar devices.

### Company Background
- The coach inquired about Sonar's history and the development of its products, showing interest in the company's story and the motivation behind its creation.

### Conclusion
The interview provided valuable insights into the needs and preferences of swim coaches, highlighting areas for improvement and potential collaborations to enhance Sonar's product offerings.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the swimming community in our upcoming newsletters!

Thank you for being a part of the Sonar community. If you have any feedback or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us.

Best regards,
The Sonar Team

"Enhance Your Swimming Experience with Sonar's Innovative Gadgets"

- Anna, a product manager at Sonar, is conducting a research interview to understand the needs of the swimming community for product adaptation
- A swim coach discusses the benefits of swimming and the challenges of coaching, including access to facilities and time constraints
- The coach uses technology such as publishing, journaling, videos, and a stopwatch in coaching sessions
- The coach provides feedback on a prototype website for water sports gadgets, discussing features such as bone conduction, depth capability, and communication channels for swimmers and coaches
- The coach compares the prototype to a competitor's product and provides input on potential improvements, including music streaming and internet connectivity for the device.

- The speaker discusses the possibility of connecting music to a radio transmitter for swim coaches
- They mention using an adapter for this purpose
- The device can be used for communication and music listening
- The price of the device is discussed, with different sets available
- The speaker also talks about earplugs and high volume caps for swimmers
- They mention the possibility of creating a video about the Sonar Merge device and its usage with different types of swim caps

- Discussion about the placement of a device for swimmers, with men preferring the back of the hat and women preferring the temple
- Conversation about the sound quality and potential placement on the website for women
- Discussion about distribution in the United States and the company's history
- Mention of Kickstarter campaign and the company's founder being an athlete
- Mention of the Sonar Communicator and Sonar Music devices being on the market for 2 years
- Discussion about potential collaborations with other companies and the metronome function in the Sonar Communicator
- Mention of the need for ease of adjustment for the metronome function through a separate application

- The speaker wants the metronome function to be more user-friendly and easily adjustable
- They discuss the challenges of streaming music and adjusting the device
- The depth of the pool can impact the device's performance
- The website needs more information about current events and sponsorships
- Coaches need to be convinced that the device is worth the investment
- The company values the feedback and suggestions from experienced coaches

- Anna, a product manager at Sonar, conducts a research interview with a swim coach
- The coach discusses the benefits and challenges of swimming, and uses technology in coaching sessions
- Feedback on a prototype website for water sports gadgets is provided, with discussion on features and potential improvements
- The possibility of connecting music to a radio transmitter for swim coaches is mentioned
- Discussion about the Sonar Merge device, distribution, company history, and potential collaborations with other companies
- The need for ease of adjustment for the metronome function and the impact of pool depth on device performance is highlighted
- The website needs more information about current events and sponsorships, and coaches need to be convinced of the device's worth
- The company values feedback and suggestions from experienced coaches

So, as you know, my name is Anna and I'm a product manager at Sonar.

We develop innovative gadgets for water sports, for swimming especially, and for our water activities.

Yeah, we want, like right now, we are conducting a research interview to better understand the needs of the swimming community so we can adapt our product, the website of our product to meet these needs and the requirements that exist in the, I don't know, in the swimming, in the current world especially.

Yesterday we had some requirements, now we have this need for more and more gadgets, for more and more innovations in the sport.

So we want to stay up to date with the needs that are currently in the swimming community especially.

Amazing and you mentioned that you kind of changed different sports right throughout your teenage years.

Why did you decide to become a swim coach particularly what was your motivation?

It's whole body, it's safe, it's whole life, there's jobs.

When we talk to our youngsters and they become lifeguards.

You know, And also it's a life-saving skill.

So, you know, it's, it's the best place to be devoted for a lot of reasons.

You know, there's boys and girls together.

And you mentioned, you also mentioned that you do train like different kind of groups, you work with teenagers, you work with college swimmers.

Did you face like as a coach and you may be perhaps challenges during your coaching sessions?

No, you know, there are always challenges, you know often it's you know about the big pool, You know having the space of the time You know, but you know, there's so many challenges it's So, I don't I don't know exactly which which way to begin

They have perhaps something particular on your mind that popped up first?

Well, for a swimmer or coach, it's about the pool or the facility.

You know, if we don't have water or don't have control of the water or have good opportunities to train in the pool as we want, you know, so that's probably, you know, the giant, you know, problems with, you know, the principal at the school, the other activities.

So often, I think the biggest problems are getting access to the kids and the pool.

And also, I'd like to ask you, do you use any technologies, any innovations in your coaching sessions?

I like to have a lot of publishing, you know, so I put things onto the web.

You know, I sometimes ask the kids to journal or to photograph or to do, you know, videos.

Sometimes it's just with your mobile device.

Sometimes it's a little more formal, you know, with a video camera.

And then I also use, you know, the scoreboard and the technology is sometimes with that.

And then I also help a lot with this stopwatch, you know, the AutoCoach stopwatch.

So that helps with the send-offs or the, you know, keeping the time or the time trials

Thank you for sharing it I'm pretty sure that your vast experience will help us a lot and I am so looking forward to hear your Suggestions and your view on our product I'd like perhaps to share with you the prototype of our website and I'd like to know what is your first impression about it

Yeah, it's the music and the communicator.

What I don't know, maybe your thoughts while scrolling.

It looks like you got a lot of Europe involved.

It's nice to have some credibility with athletes.

Yeah, 1 day, sure or I could research it.

Device that can play MP3s that you wear on your head.

Actually, we've had a case with a free diving coach and he told us that in his pool, in the pool where he is training, it went to 2 and 2 and a half meters.

Usually, it's, it will guarantee 1 meter, but it seems that sometimes it can go like the connection in the deep.

The I've used 1 of these before and it was, it would turn off maybe within, you know, 1 third of the meter.

You know you couldn't hear it would and it was it would stop.

So yeah and this is good important because a lot of the underwater time now is so valuable for a swimmer

Did perhaps remember the name of a brand you were using?

They had this on the market and it's like yours that it was a device you would put it on the side of your head And it would You could you know talk now I think in some ways it was better, but this once you went underwater on a flip turn, it would generally, you know, miss, you know, the the communication.

But, and we were that on the side under our cap.

Now they've had it on the market for a while, and now it's been off the market.

Yeah, so it would definitely be a competitor.

I also like that you would be able to communicate with the whole team.

Switch channels on the radio to talk to all the swimmers at the same time or a specific swimmer.

Up to 5 coaches can use it at the same pool.

Okay yeah because the different channels.

I could communicate to all or I could dial it into 1.

And I think for a camp it's really important.

But also when you go to a big natatorium, and there's warm ups, and there's a meet going on, You know, they could be, you know, in the stands or they, you know, people could be all over.

And if you're able to communicate with them, especially in warmup, so, you know, hey, we're over and, you know, lane 4 meet us here.

You know, I think it would have some advantages.

It doesn't look very large, So it looks good.

You know, that's Smaller than this the 1 guy Like a hamburger patty Yours yours is you know, it's it's pretty good So you could play your MP3s or your, can you hook it to the internet?

You know, can I play music off my, how do you do the music?

Is that a different device or is it the same device?

Theoretically, it would be possible to connect music to the, like to stream music through the radio transmitter, but we would need an additional adapter for this.

Do you think that would be something interesting for the swim coaches?

You know, as a lap swimmer, I like to listen to a podcast.

And so what I was able to do is hook an input into the transmitter.

So, you know, but now it would, I guess, have to be Bluetooth To another device that went to here that went to there and it would have to always be on the so I was able to do that with this.

Are the auto coach 1 and it was nice and we could listen to some music or a podcast.

But now the big you so you have a different 1.

So 1 is for communication and then how do you do the other 1?

The product, I guess it would be the music 1, right?

And may I ask you a question before we proceed?

Did I understand it right that like the previous device that you were using you can use it like in 2 modes it can it could be like a device for communication and at the same time a device where you could listen to music right?

Yeah, the wearable didn't care, but the source was either the stopwatch, you would talk into it, Or there was a plug that I could hook my iPad to, you know, from the speaker port into here and then then from here it would go to go to

But before it was just an AUX cable, very simple.

So how do you get the music into this device?

You upload it directly from the drag-and-drop function.

Okay, you hook it to your computer and then you drag it on a USB cable?

Yes, it is because like the Bluetooth itself, it doesn't work underwater.

So we do have this limitation of physical laws, but we realized that if, for example, the swimmer has an Apple watch and it can put the Apple watch under the cup.

And in this case it will work because it's just 2 inches.

The distance would be a smaller than 2 inches, but that's a bit weird, I guess.

But it is possible if you have, like, if you stream the music from your, from your waterproof watch, smartwatch.

So from the, from the Apple watch will stream to the wearable

yes if the distance isn't like bigger than 2 3 inches the bluetooth connection won't lose

the range of ability if underwater it gets way smaller

is how you've had some cases when people just put the watch under the cup.

See And the watch is getting the the signal from where?

Your phone is staying on the deck right or the boat the canoe

like the water gets a signal signal from the internet so that's not an issue You don't have to be connected to your phone as well.

And then how many, how much storage on the wearable?

And how much was it for the other product I didn't This communicator

If you were actually to try to access the Price to try to find the price by yourself.

What button do you think you would press?

Yes, we have buying bulk for the bulk orders.

Yeah 30-day return is good Team set aside team set of 8 Add the cart Okay, there's a price.

$249 is the receiver, the microphone, the clip.

example, if we're talking about a noisy pool, when the, when the heart of a swimmer stays underwater, there are no problems with the sound.

Because it doesn't, the sound doesn't really go underwater.

But when we have some strokes, especially some butterflies and your hat pops up outside of the water, sometimes you have the outside noises interfering.

And these are the picture of the earplugs the radio no radio headset that's different

These are the old earplugs Now we have a more modern version of them, I'd say.

Yeah, I think you need to put more of them onto the screen.

You know, that doesn't give me a lot of confidence.

And This could be for the coach or is this for the...

So the coach can coach by the swimmers hands free.

Yeah, let me see a picture of that in action.

You'd like to see a picture of a coach, like coaching hands-free with the headset.

That's definitely something we have to work on.

And also I wanted to ask you about the price.

So you were kind of surprised when you went to the shop page.

Could you please share with me your thoughts?

Yeah, that's Yeah, we compared to 79 which was just the mp3 the audio player You know that would seem to be You know pretty expensive.

I don't know what I would think and it was just 1 now how much if you add more devices just the

So right now we actually update it a bit our prices the device.

It's cheaper at the moment, so we have 1 99 for the basic set and 3 69 for the dual set and a 809 dollars for the team set x5 a

Yeah, and you get the USB cables to or each device comes with 1

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