Sports is not immune from technology. Football, tennis, basketball, Formula 1 and a host of other sports have accommodated technology to make it safer, less controversial, help decision making and make it more sophisticated.
However, some sports enthusiast are concerned about the “technologization” of sports. Notwithstanding, the bodies in charge of various sports are pressing on as they introduce different technologies to enhance the game.
Innovation Village shares some of these technologies.
Goal Line Technology
Before Goal line technology was introduced, there was huge controversy or argument whether the ball crossed the goal line or not. This controversy could not be resolved by a video camera thus the need for Goal line technology. The call for it was accelerated when Frank Lampard’s goal was ruled not to have crossed the line in England’s match against Germany at the 2010 world cup. Now, there are high-speed cameras to detect if the ball crossed the goal line. The British Hawk-Eye and GoalControl are the available goal line technologies. GoalControl uses 14 high-speed cameras in the stadium roof and image-processing software to track the ball’s position to within a few millimeters.
Video Technology
Some refereeing decisions have cost some teams important points and matches. It has happened in some sports where the referee issued a matching order to the wrong player. So, in order to increase fair play, in-game video refereeing is used in football, rugby, and tennis. This means that decisions can be taken immediately and more accurately within few minutes of the incidence. This has reduced attempts by players to deceive the referee.
Football Analytics
When you watch the analysis of football on television, you will be awed by the amount of statistics at the fingertips of the analysts. This is made possible via 3 major types of modern computerized match analysis systems namely GPS tracking (positional & movement data), Computer tracking (positional & movement data) and Video analysis (Montage & ball actions). This provides data on the number of accurate passes of a player, the ground covered, and statistics on the individual performances of players. These statistics are key to their analysis. Cameras must cover the whole pitch while an outside team of video analyst that monitors proceedings on the pitch.
Google Glass
In individual sports like Golf, Cricket, cycling and tennis, Google Glass have helped in analyzing and developing performance. The glass may not be allowed on the but it can be used for training and can perhaps enhance productivity depending on the knowledge derived using it.
Live streaming
To watch your favourite sports in the past you rely heavily on television. However, with the arrival of technology, many of these sports events are streamed live. For example, premier league lovers can watch a champion’s league match between Barcelona and Manchester city on their phone. In addition, they can follow the match on twitter via live streaming.
Prosthetic legs
South African double amputee and Olympian, Oscar Pistorius is one of the persons that popularised the use of prosthetics in sports. As an athlete, he competed with other amputees and won. Today, athletes using Prosthetics are requesting permission to compete with able-bodied athletes.
