Witty SEM indicators can be used in standalone mode or in combination with the photocells and other products in the Witty series (photocells, RFID identification system, display board). Exceptional flexibility and user friendliness make Witty SEM indicators ideal for both sports training and rehabilitation activities.

Specifically, each Witty SEM indicator can display:

• Colours: Red, green and blue
• Arrows in different colours and directions
• Numbers in different colours
• Letters in different colours

Flexible configuration of the system makes it possible to manage and customise various types of tests via the Witty timer and the Witty Manager software:

• Witty SEM indicator as a start semaphore with or without a countdown to manage starts at pre-set times
• Agility tests. Various agility test modes available using the indicator in standalone mode or in combination with a photocell.
• Direction change tests
• Reactivity tests for specific work on motor-cognitive and coordination skills.

Witty SEM shares the same multichannel technology that distinguishes the entire Witty family: up to 8 different radio frequencies managed. This feature allows different types of training with several groups in the same training area (e.g. sports field or gym). For example, one group can work on sprint exercises with recovery, another on agility drills and a third on specific reactivity drills.

WITTY SEM - Start Semaphore
Witty SEM can be used as a start semaphore for all sprint tests managed by the Witty timer (sprint, shuttle, go & back, group timing tests, repetitions, etc.).

Depending on the settings, in this configuration Witty SEM displays a countdown followed by a green "start" signal. You can set up the system to define whether or not the timer will record the "green light trip" as a start pulse. In some cases the athlete's start can be calculated from the time he/she transits in front of a photocell or when the foot shifts from a specific position; in this case the indicator can be configured to display the green "start" signal without transmitting a start pulse.

The countdown management facility is invaluable in all tests requiring a programmed recovery period, such as a classic shuttle test;

Example: shuttle test with Witty SEM and 2 photocells, 10 m sprint with 20 seconds recovery. The athlete starts with the green start signal and breaks the beam of the first photocell, which transmits the start pulse to the timer; after ten metres the athlete breaks the finish beam (second photocell) and the system starts the 20 second countdown for the programmed recovery period; the indicator shows the final 10 seconds of the countdown and then displays the next green start signal. The number of repetitions can be set beforehand by the coach.

The same function is invaluable to stagger starts by a pre-set time when working with several athletes on the same track.

Example: Multistart test with Witty SEM and 1 photocell, 30 m straight sprint with a 10 second interval between each new athlete start. As soon as the indicator shows the green light the timer is triggered and the athlete starts the sprint; in the meantime the indicator starts the 10 second countdown for the next start.

WITTY SEM - Agility Tests
In the majority of sports, training and classic straight sprint work is accompanied by combination agility drills. This type of training allows athletes to boost their coordination and cognitive skills as well as their stamina and muscular performance. These types of exercises are designed to improve the complex process of motor response to stimuli.
Witty SEM offers a range of visual stimuli composed of colours and symbols (numbers, letters and direction arrows) also in different combinations; this makes it possible to use Witty SEM in all aspects of the motor process (stimulus interpretation ability, processing, movement strategy, etc.)
The exceptional flexibility of the system (positioning, number of indicators that can be used together, radio transmission distance up to 150 metres, etc.) makes it possible to replicate different stimuli directly associated with the sports practised and as far as possible connected to a real situation.


Example: an athlete cuts the START gate photocell beam; after a user-settable delay interval Witty SEM displays an arrow to show the direction to follow – the test can terminate when the athlete crosses the STOP gate photocell beam.
The ability to set a specific delay between a pulse and the display of the directional arrow on the indicator is a key factor in situations requiring specific training of stimulus interpretation and reaction times.

WITTY SEM - Reactivity and Coordination Test (Indicator only)
Witty SEM is equipped with a proximity sensor capable of detecting the presence of objects in the immediate vicinity of the indicator (max 40 cm), without direct contact.
This feature can be used for both rehabilitation work and sports training for exercises to stimulate the coordination capacity and reaction times of the patient or athlete. By creating a system of several Witty SEMs with additional elements such as wobble boards or specific sports equipment (racket, ball etc.), athletes can work on the general aspects that form the basis of good sensor motor skills, improving the economy of each action type: stimulus – cognitive and decisional process – strategic processing – movement.

Example: for high intensity exercise, follow a specific symbol (such as a green number 1) shown among several symbols for the duration of 20 tests. The system displays a different symbol simultaneously on each indicator; the timer records the pulse and displays the execution time only when the athlete reaches the indicator showing the green number 1. After 20 tests the exercise is terminated and the total and partial times are shown on the timer display.
Also in this case the facility to set a specific delay interval between one pulse and the next allows the athlete or patient to return to his/her starting position.

WITTY SEM - Reactivity and Coordination Test (Photocell and Indicator)

This type of test can be performed in larger areas to allow the maximum flexibility of execution in tests that require ample space, combining the basic coordination factor also with specific skills (sprinting, ball control...). The indicator can therefore be installed on top of the photocell and the start pulse is transmitted to the timer by the athlete breaking the photocell beam rather than by the Witty SEM internal proximity sensor.


Example: athlete stands in centre of space. Test is set up with "follow green light" for 20 seconds. The athlete observes the indicator and as soon as it shows a green signal he/she sprints to it thus breaking the photocell beam; the athlete then returns to the central area of the exercise space. The exercise is terminated after 20 seconds and the partial times are shown on the timer.

WITTY SEM - Customized tests on WittyManager

The entire Witty system is managed by the Witty·Manager application, which has been enhanced with a new feature that allows users to design a customised training course and transfer it to the timer. This makes it possible to design courses with various elements (indicators, cones, etc.), set directions and define the distance between the various elements so that also the speed of execution can be measured.