Astonishing Tech Behind Today’s Sports
In today’s world, technology has advanced so much that it’s sometimes nearly impossible to distinguish between the title of a Sci-Fi novel and the headline of a real news article. Of course, tech has inevitably impacted the sporting field in more ways than one. While there are many technologies worth talking about, a few of them truly stand out.
Some technologies allow for better match judgment, others allow for better scouting, and others improve the viewing experience overall. Whatever the case, we’ll be looking at some of the ones that have left a huge mark on this industry.
Table of Contents
Instant Replays Are Truly Instant
All the cameras that focus on the match are connected to one another through a smart network of video streaming algorithms that sync between them seamlessly. As such, whenever a player scores a goal or commits a fault, the ones who control the replays can easily show the goal or the fault from every possible angle so that both the spectators and the referee can clearly see every small detail and make the best possible judgment.
RFID Chips and Health Trackers
You’re probably familiar with smartwatches that track your step count, heart rate, and other relevant health data. The same principles apply to health trackers that players use when training or RFID chips that they carry inside their watches when playing in an actual matchup.
These gadgets allow scouts, betmakers, sportsbooks, and coaches to track statistical data regarding each player’s health and thus pair it with their historical data to predict the outcome of a matchup more accurately than ever before. It’s amazing to think that sportsbooks today give bettors extremely fair odds without losing any money. And it’s partly thanks to this technology.
Smart Helmets and Other Tech-Related Equipment
Have you heard of SpeedFlex helmet technology? It’s not as new as other elements in this article, but it has introduced quite a slew of advantages for NFL players. In short, it offers players a customizable smart helmet experience while also providing them with top-notch brain injury protection.
Sensors and magnets work throughout the helmet to detect collisions in real-time and redistribute the weight evenly on the surface of the helmet so that the player’s head gets the protection it needs. Not only that, but the helmet also sends diagnostic data to the sideline doctors so that they can evaluate the gravity of the concussion as fast as possible.
The great news is that this technology might also be used in the future for consumer-grade helmets. And it won’t be limited just to football helmets; it will also be available for snowboarding, bike, and other sports-related helmets as well. Along with a 5G connection, it could prove immensely useful in detecting injuries and allowing medical emergency specialists to always arrive on time
New Technologies Create New Sports
Sports is no longer just about physical activity. This phenomenon has evolved well beyond that ever since the introduction of chess, for example. However, newer tech allows for even newer sports that don’t involve athletics whatsoever.
The rise of eSports is the best example of such a concept. Players worldwide have participated in large contests with huge prize pools. If you were to ask a regular Joe what he thought about such a concept in the early 2000s, he would’ve laughed in your face. He would’ve called gamers things like “losers” or “nerds”.
Now, things have changed dramatically, and gamers can also partake in sports in their own way. Imagine earning money and entertaining people just by doing what you like most. It’s something that few other domains can pride themselves on. However, with new technologies, we might see even more non-athletic activities becoming sports.
Wrap Up
New technologies are transforming the world of sports as we speak. It’s amazing to think how much everything has evolved during the past few decades. When you sit and compare the 90s to the early 2020s, you can barely even recognize the world of sports anymore given the current context.