Abstract: A portable device for visually indicating portable computing device data via an array of lamps, each lamp including a plurality of individually controllable LEDs, a driver circuit for separately powering each of the LEDs, such that each lamp can project light of a different color or intensity, a receiver for wirelessly receiving portable computing device data indicative of information for visual representation, and a battery for powering the receiver and the driver circuit. A system is also provided in which an SDK is provided portable device, and mobile phone apps use the SDK to represent status data with the LEDs.

Abstract: An invention providing a racing instrument for a sailboat having a smartphone, an app executing on the smartphone for displaying at least speed over ground of the sailboat as sensed by the smartphone, a bracket for receiving at least an edge of the smartphone for mounting the smartphone to the sailboat, and an array of lamps formed in the bracket for visually indicating time to a race start. In another aspect, the invention includes a race starting device for a sailboat having an array of lamps, a mounting fixture for removably attaching the array of lamps to the sailboat, a battery for powering the array of lamps, a receiver for receiving a signal indicative of a race instruction, a processor for interpreting the race instruction signal, and a driver circuit for separately powering each of the lamps in the array of lamps to visually represent the race instruction to the sailors.