Abstract

Information Systems (IS) research has increasingly turned its attention to sports digitalization. As sport becomes more data-driven, disc golf remains reliant on manual scorekeeping: an approach that disrupts player concentration and limits access to real-time performance insights. This study examines how embedded technologies can be designed to preserve contextual integrity and player flow during gameplay. Drawing on Design Science Research (DSR) with Human-Centered Design and SportsHCI as guiding frameworks, we develop SmartMarker: a proof-of-concept system integrating ultra-wideband positioning, Bluetooth connectivity, and a minimal mobile-free interface into a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)-compliant mini marker disc. The artifact demonstrates the feasibility of mobile-free throw logging and automated statistics collection, while surfacing design tensions inherent in digitizing a sport with a strong emphasis on natural rhythm. This study contributes to the IS literature on sports digitalization by offering exploratory design insights from an early-stage DSR evaluation conducted in an underrepresented sport context, and by presenting a field-developed instance of embedded interaction co-designed with practitioners in authentic play conditions.

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