Aug 1, 20153 min
So begins Shane Little’s big story. One night, while traveling out of town, Shane wanted to find a game, a challenge match, but could not. He was disappointed, to say the least.
It was not long after that he put together a fascinating idea: to create a map-based app that pinpoints one’s destination, then searches up to a 100 mile radius, any zip code, city, or state to locate a place where or player with whom a challenge match could take place.
Being in the business of financing automobiles for folks, Shane’s big break was just around the corner. In financing, one meets many different people of many different professions. As fate would have it, Shane was on the brink of meeting somebody big — real big, in fact.
He met and financed for a software developer. Not just any software developer, but thee exact man who worked on facial recognition software for The World Cup in Brazil! Yes, you read that correctly. This was no small matter.
To make an even bigger splash, if that is possible, this man, Lucus Darnell, has given speeches at the very prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He knows his stuff, and he knows it well. Shane knew this quite possibly could turn into something huge for the pool playing world, and was not going to get stuck behind the 8-Ball. He jumped on an opportunity to ask Mr. Darnell to lunch where he pitched the idea to him.
Lucus Darnell, being a social pool player himself, immediately saw the utility and business opportunity of Shane Little’s big idea, and accepted the invite to work with him in bringing it to fruition.
To not mention Tisha’s help would be remiss. She “sat hand typing every single pool hall, name, address, etc. into Excel Files,” many times thinking she was just done with it, but continued on. The work was “tedious.” After a year of blood, sweat and tears by everyone involved, the app is now free to all Android and Apple users.
Also, it has been extended to include darts, golf and ping pong. Presently, Action Hound is available through Google Play or the Apple Store. Reviews are excellent. On a five point scale, it’s rating is four point eight, which is huge for new technology!
Players have asked for it to be available in Canada and Peru. Pool is played around the world, so… well I think we all can see where this is going, which is surely worldwide.
There’s an expression which has been applied to different sports, including pool: “If you can’t run with the big dogs, you’d better stay on the porch.” In all, use of this Action Hound will continue to separate the big dogs from the little dogs. Shane and Tisha Little, Lucus Darnell, and their Action Hound app soon will be “household names” among pool players of the world.